COMPARING APPROACHES FOR RESECTING LIVER METASTASES

Systematic Review of Surgical Management of Synchronous Colorectal Liver Metastases

Lykoudis PM, O'Reilly D, Nastos K, Fusai G

Br J Surg. 2014;101:605-612

Study Summary

When is the best time to remove liver metastases present at the time of surgery for colorectal cancer? To answer this question, Lykoudis and colleagues reviewed 18 articles. Three different surgical approaches were considered:

• Resecting the liver disease first;

• Resecting the primary tumor first; or

• Performing a simultaneous resection.

Mortality rates were similar with all approaches, but length of hospitalization was shorter in the simultaneous resection approach. After reviewing and classifying these reports, no evidence was found showing that any of the three different surgical approaches were inferior to the other approaches.