Published online Feb 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i7.2124
Peer-review started: July 14, 2014
First decision: August 15, 2014
Revised: September 1, 2014
Accepted: September 29, 2014
Article in press: September 30, 2014
Published online: February 21, 2015
Processing time: 212 Days and 17.1 Hours
AIM: To investigate the survival outcomes of secondary hepatectomy for recurrent colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).
METHODS: From October 1994 to December 2009, patients with CRLM who underwent surgical treatment with curative intent were investigated. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who underwent primary hepatectomy (Group 1) and those who underwent secondary hepatectomy for recurrent CRLM (Group 2).
RESULTS: Survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. A total of 461 patients were included: 406 patients in Group 1 and 55 patients in Group 2. After a median 39-mo (range, 3-195 mo) follow-up, there was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of disease-free survival (P = 0.029) although there was no significant difference in overall survival (P = 0.206). Secondary hepatectomy was less effective in patients with multiple recurrent CRLM than primary hepatectomy for initial CRLM (P = 0.008). Multiple CRLM and radiofrequency ablation therapy were poor prognostic factors of secondary hepatectomy in multivariate Cox regression analysis (P = 0.006, P = 0.004, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Secondary hepatectomy for single recurrent CRLM is as effective as primary surgical treatment for single recurrent CRLM. However, secondary hepatectomy for multiple recurrent CRLM is less effective than that for single recurrent CRLM.
Core tip: Secondary hepatectomy for single recurrent colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is as effective as primary surgical treatment for single recurrent CRLM. However, secondary hepatectomy for multiple recurrent CRLM is less effective than that for single recurrent CRLM.