Repeat hepatic surgery for colorectal cancer metastases

From '83 to '96 344pts. have undergone radical surgery for colorectal cancer; 69 developed liver metastases (mts.) and 43 underwent liver resection. Six pts. have undergone a second liver resection while 2 of them a third one. The 5 years survival and disease free survival of the operated pts. was 40% and 38% respectively. Three out of 6 pts. undergone a 2nd liver resection are alive. The 2 pts. undergone 3 hepatic resections are at present alive and disease free at 4 and 6 years. Consequently an aggressive attitude towards recurrence of colorectal liver mts. seems to be at the present the only effective therapy.