OBJECTIVETo explore the indications and effect of surgical resection for hepatic metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma and to discuss the implications of clinicopathologic features on the prognosis.

METHODSA retrospective study of 61 patients undergoing hepatectomy for metastatic tumors from colorectal adenocarcinoma from January 1991 to December 2000 in our hospital was performed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates after hepatic resection were 72.13%, 58.10% and 26.01% respectively. Complications occurred in 8 cases. Tumor pesudomembrance was found in 20 cases. Dukes stage, pathologic type,the number of hepatic metastases and tumor pesudomembrance were all significant factors for prognosis after surgery (P< 0.05). The 3-year survival rate of the patients with postoperative comprehensive treatment was higher than that with non-postoperative treatment (P< 0.05). The size of hepatic metastases and the resecting time didn't affect the prognosis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer should be treated by a surgical approach. The earlier stage of clinical pathology,higher differentiation extent, metastases less than 3, the formation of pesudomembrance of the metastatic tumor and the postoperative comprehensive treatment predict a better survival.