Publication:

Clinical outcome after liver resection for colorectal versus non-colorectal metastasis: a comparative study

Background Liver resection is the only curative treatment option for specific types of metastatic neoplasms. Comparative studies on the clinical outcome of liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and non CRLM (N-CRLM) in Egypt remain inadequate.

Methods Medical records of patients who underwent liver metastasectomy (April 2013-May 2017) at Sohag University Hospital were reviewed. Patients were categorized according to the origin of the primary tumor into CRLM versus N-CRLM. Demographic, clinical, operative and histopathologic data, postoperative surgical complications and survival were analyzed.

Results Twenty-six patients (15 CRLM and 11 N-CRLM) were retrospectively enrolled. N-CRLM group comprised metastatic gall bladder (6), pancreas (2), breast (1) lung (1) and recurrent ovarian (1) cancers. There was no significant difference regarding age or gender predilection. The complication score in CRLM group was not significantly different compared with N-CRLM patients. However, subgroups of multivisceral resections showed significantly higher grades of postoperative complications compared with sole liver resection in both groups. Elderly patients (>70-year-old) exhibited high risk of morbidity compared with younger patients. Early post-operative mortality within the first month was 7.7% (2 patients died, one per each group). After a mean follow up of 32 months, the overall survival rate among patients with CRLM and N-CRLM was 75% and 64% respectively.

Conclusions Liver resection for CRLM and N-CRLM can be safely accomplished. Multivisceral resection and advanced age were associated with increased severity of postoperative complications irrespective of the location of primary neoplasm.