OBJECTIVETo screen the clinicopathological factors of synchronous hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer for early diagnosis and therapy.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 367 cases with colorectal cancer from Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2006 in our department were collected to set up the database. All the patients were divided into two groups according to hepatic metastases or not. Clinicopathological factors were analyzed, such as age, sex, blood type, tumor family history, hepatitis and cirrhosis history, peritoneal or pelvic metastases, bowel obstruction, CEA, CA19-9, tumor localization and size, histological type, infiltration depth, lymph node metastases etc.

RESULTSOut of 367 colorectal cancer cases, there were 56 cases with synchronous hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer, accounting for 15.3%. The age, bowel obstruction, peritoneal or pelvic metastases, and tumor invasion depth were associated with the hepatic metastases. The primary tumor located in the right colon resulted in more right lobe hepatic metastases than those in the left lobe. The serum CEA level was associated with hepatic metastases. When serum CEA was more than 22.1 microg/L, the occurrence rate of hepatic metastases increased.

CONCLUSIONPeritoneal or pelvic metastases, bowel obstruction, age and serum CEA level are associated with synchronous hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.