Interdisciplinary management of resectable colorectal liver metastases

The liver is the most common site of distant relapse after primary surgical therapy for colorectal cancer. Liver resection is the standard treatment for isolated and locally resectable liver metastases, with low perioperative mortality and significant long-term survival rates. Repeat liver resections for recurrent liver metastasis are feasible and have resulted in encouraging survival. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy after potentially curative resection of liver metastases is still uncertain, and patients should be included in clinical trials. This also applies to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Local ablative techniques may be used instead of or in addition to surgical resection, but no evidence-based recommendations can be given at the time. OncoSurge (TM), a newly developed decision model based on available study results as well as expert consensus may allow for better patient selection for liver resection.