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Background: The rate of recurrence after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) is high, and repeat resection (RR) is reserved with curative intent in selected patients. This study evaluated the benefit of RR for recurrence after liver resection for CLM., Methods: Data were collected on 287 consecutive patients who underwent primary curative hepatectomy between January 1999 and October 2008 for CLM at our institution., Results: After median follow-up of 63 months, 211 patients (73 %) developed recurrence and RR was conducted in 102 (48 %) patients. Five-year overall survival (OS) was significantly higher in the RR group than in those patients not selected for RR (70 vs. 45 %, P = 0.002). On multivariate analyses, RR was identified as an independent factor for good prognosis. According to the first recurrence sites, 5-year OS after recurrence was significantly better in patients with liver or lung only recurrence (55, 51 %, respectively) than in locoregional/lymph node metastases and other/multiple sites recurrence (33, 9.0 %, respectively). In patients with liver- or lung-only recurrence, 5-year OS after recurrence was significantly higher in RR patients than in those without RR (liver; 67 and 0 %, lung; 88 and 24 %, respectively; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Given similar indication criteria as the primary CLM, nearly half of all recurrence cases after liver resection for CLM could be salvaged by RR. In patients with liver-or lung-only recurrence, RR warrants a favorable outcome.

Background: The efficacy of repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases is widely accepted. However, the benefits of such treatment for intrahepatic recurrence of gastric cancer liver metastasis remain unknown. This study sought to clarify the survival benefit for patients undergoing repeat hepatectomy for gastric cancer liver metastasis., Methods: A total of 73 patients underwent hepatectomy for gastric cancer liver metastasis from January 1993 to January 2011. Macroscopically curative surgery was performed in 64 patients. Among them, repeat hepatectomy was performed in 14 of the 37 patients with intrahepatic recurrence. Among these 14 patients, clinicopathologic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis to identify the factors affecting survival., Results: The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after a second hepatectomy were 71, 47, and 47 %, respectively. The median survival was 31 months. Operative morbidity and mortality rates of repeat hepatectomy were 29 and 0 %, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified the duration of the disease-free interval as the only independent significant factor predicting better survival., Conclusions: In selected patients, repeat hepatectomy for recurrent gastric cancer liver metastasis may offer the same chance of cure as the primary hepatectomy. Disease-free intervals exceeding 12 months predict good patient survival after repeat hepatectomy.

Background/aims: The significance of surgical resection for non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine tumor liver metastasis (NCNNLM) remains controversial. The present study sought to clarify the long-term outcomes of surgical resection for NCNNLM and prognostic factors after hepatectomy in a single institution., Methodology: From 1993 to 2009, 145 patients underwent hepatectomy for NCNNLM. The primary sites of the hepatic tumors were gastrointestinal carcinoma in 80 cases, breast in 30, genitourinary in 12, gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 11, and miscellaneous in 12., Results: The cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of those who underwent hepatectomy for NCNNLM were 83.9, 55.4, and 41.0%, respectively, with median overall survival times of 41.8 months. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative complication was the only independent poor prognostic factor impacting on survival. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rate were 17.9% and 1.4%. There are 38 cases survived more than 5 years including 21 patients without remnant tumors due to the repeat hepatic and/or pulmonary resection for recurrence. A total of 32 patients survived without tumor and without any kinds of chemotherapy in the latest condition., Conclusions: Hepatectomy for NCNNLM may be beneficial and might relieve patients from excursive chemotherapy in selected patients. Meticulous surgery avoiding complication may enhance the outcome.

Liver resection is now widely accepted as a potentially curative treatment for colorectal liver metastasis. However, the efficacy of surgical resection for gastric cancer liver metastasis(GLM)remains unclear. Based on our 18-year experience with 64 patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for GLM, we discuss the indication and efficacy of surgical resection for GLM. From January 1993 to January 2011, 73 patients underwent hepatectomy for GLM in the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital(Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research), Japan. The actuarial1 -, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of those 64 patients who achieved curative resections were 84, 50, and 37%, and 42, 27, and 27%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, serosal invasion of the primary gastric cancer and larger hepatic tumor(>5 cm in diameter)were found to be independent indicators of poor prognosis. Based on the multivariate analysis results, all patients were divided into three groups no poor prognostic factor(n=38), one poor prognostic factor(n=24), and two poor prognostic factors(n=2). The actuarial overall survival rates of each group were 63, 36, and 0% at 3 years, and 53, 15, and 0% at 5 years. GLM patients having hepatic tumors with the maximum diameter of <5 cm, and without serosalinvasion of the primary gastric cancer, are the best candidates for hepatectomy.

A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography(CT)and colonoscopy revealed transverse colon cancer with multiple liver metastases, with involvement of the hepatic pedicle and superior mesenteric artery lymph nodes. The patient received eight courses of XELOX plus bevacizumab, and CT showed a decrease in the size of the liver metastases and hepatic pedicle lymphadenopathy. Right hemicolectomy, partial hepatectomy, and hepatic pedicle lymph node resection were performed. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue revealed no residual cancer cells, suggesting a pathological complete response. The patient remains well 7 months after operation, without any signs of recurrence. Surgical resection should be considered for patients with initially unresectable colon cancer with liver metastases and hepatic pedicle lymph nodes involvement if systemic chemotherapy is effective.

Background/aims: The safety and effectiveness of hepatic resection for recurrent or refractory hepatocellular is not established, particularly in cases treated by non-surgical treatment., Methodology: Surgical outcomes of 38 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection for recurrent or refractory disease after previous treatment were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic predictors., Results: There were no postoperative deaths, morbidity occurred in 9 patients (prolonged ascites retention, 5; biliary fistula, 3; intraabdominal abscess, 1), and all of them were treated conservatively. Recurrence-free and overall 1, 3 and 5-year-survival rate was 54, 28 and 24%, and 78, 60 and 55%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed hepatitis B or C virus infection (HR=12.8; 95% CI=2.3-245.1), tumor size >5 cm (HR=5.9; 95% CI=5.9-25.6), and vasculo- biliary invasion (HR=5.2; 95% CI=1.4-21.0) were independent predictors of poor overall survival. Type of previous treatment did not influence prognosis., Conclusions: Hepatic resection for recurrent or refractory hepatocellular carcinoma is safe and achieves long survival in selected patients.

Background/aims: The effects of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) prior to hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are controversial., Methodology: Clinicopathological profiles and prognosis were compared between patients who underwent hepatic resection following preoperative TACE (Group A, 69 patients) or only resection (Group B, 158 patients). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate whether TACE influenced patient prognosis., Results: Profiles of Group A were comparable with those of Group B except for younger age, higher frequency of major hepatectomy, higher incidence of positive surgical margin, vascular invasion and poorly differentiated HCC. Overall survival was significantly worse in Group A than in Group B (5-year survival rate; 29% vs. 69%; p<0.001). A subset of patients in Group A with complete tumor necrosis by TACE showed comparable survival with Group B. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative TACE (hazard ratio (HR)=4.3; 95% confidential interval (CI), 2.8-6.6), non-anatomic resection (HR=1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), blood loss >1L (HR=1.8; 95% CI=1.1-2.8) and vascular invasion (HR=2.3; 95% CI=1.4-3.6) were independent predictors of poor survival. Preoperative TACE was also an independent predictor of extrahepatic metastases (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% CI=1.1-7.1)., Conclusions: Preoperative TACE should not be routinely applied for HCC.

Background: Preoperative chemotherapy has become more common in the management of multiple resectable colorectal liver metastases; however, the benefit is unclear. This study examined clinical outcomes following liver resection for multiple colorectal liver metastases with the surgery up-front approach., Methods: Data collected prospectively over a 16-year period for 736 patients who underwent hepatic resection at two different centers were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the number of tumors as follows: group A, between one and three tumors (n = 493); group B, between four and seven tumors (n = 141); and group C, eight or more tumors (n = 102)., Results: The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 51 and 21 %, respectively, for the entire patient cohort, 56 and 29 % in group A, 41 and 12 % in group B, and 33 and 1.7 % in group C. Multivariate analysis showed that decreased survival was associated with positive lymph node metastasis of the primary tumor, the presence of extrahepatic tumors, a maximum liver tumor size >5 cm, and tumor exposure during liver resection., Conclusions: In patients with multiple liver metastases, the number of liver metastases has less impact on the prognosis than other prognostic factors. Complete resection with repeat metastasectomy offers a chance of cure even in patients with numerous colorectal liver metastases (i.e., those with eight or more nodules). A further prospective study is necessary to clarify the optimal setting of preoperative chemotherapy.

Purpose: The indication for hepatectomy in cases of gastric cancer liver metastases (GLM) remains unclear and it remains controversial whether surgical resection is beneficial for GLM. The objective of this retrospective study was to clarify the indications for and benefit of hepatectomy for GLM., Methods: Seventy-three patients underwent hepatectomies for GLM from January 1993 to January 2011. Macroscopically complete (R0 or R1) resection was achieved in 64 patients. Among them, 32 patients underwent synchronous hepatectomy with gastrectomy and the remaining 32 patients underwent metachronous hepatectomy. Repeat hepatectomy was done in 14 patients for resectable intrahepatic recurrences. Clinicopathological factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses among patients who received macroscopically complete resection for those affecting survival., Results: The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after macroscopically complete (R0 or R1) liver resection (n = 64) for GLM were 84, 50, and 37 %, respectively, with a median survival of 34 months. Univariate analysis identified serosal invasion of the primary gastric cancer and blood transfusions during surgery as poor prognosis indicators. By multivariate analysis, serosal invasion of the primary gastric cancer and larger hepatic tumor (>5 cm in diameter) were found to be independent indicators of poor prognosis., Conclusions: GLM patients with the maximum diameter of hepatic tumors of <5 cm and without serosal invasion of the primary gastric cancer are the best candidate for hepatectomy.

Background/aims: Repeat hepatectomy is widely accepted as a treatment for primary or metastatic liver malignancy. However, it entails a longer operative time and is associated with additional operative risks. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of previous hepatectomy on the short-term outcomes of repeat hepatectomy, especially in operative time., Methodology: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary hepatectomy (n=166) and repeat hepatectomy (n=65) in a single institution., Results: Operative time was significantly longer for repeat hepatectomy than for primary hepatectomy (284min vs. 250min, p=0.04). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion, morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that third or subsequent hepatectomy and tumor location in the caudate lobe at the repeat hepatectomy significantly prolonged operative time., Conclusions: Repeat hepatectomy has similar short-term outcomes to primary liver resection. However, repeat hepatectomy is a time-consuming operation, especially in patients with tumors in the caudate lobe or for those undergoing their third or subsequent hepatectomy.

Purpose: Although it remains controversial whether local ablation or surgery is better for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), surgical resection is the first choice for advanced HCC. Anatomic hepatic resection is the preferred procedure to improve prognosis, but to date, its superiority has been demonstrated only for early-stage HCC. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of anatomic resection in advanced HCC in which surgical resection is the first choice., Methods: The prognosis of 210 patients who underwent curative resection for primary HCC was analyzed. Sixty-three patients with no more than three tumors, none of which were larger than 3 cm in diameter, and with no macroscopic vascular invasion were classified as early HCC (group E); the other 147 patients were classified as advanced HCC (group A)., Results: The 5-year survival rate was better in group E (73% vs. 55%, P < 0.01), but the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was equivalent between the two groups (E vs. A; 30% vs. 32%, P = 0.19). Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of good survival in group E were indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min ≤20% [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.30; 95% confidential interval (CI),  0.10-0.88) and tumor differentiation grade of well or moderate or complete necrosis (HR = 0.14; 95% CI,  0.03-0.95), while predictors in group A were anatomic resection (HR = 0.48; 95% CI,  02.27-0.85) and no macroscopic vascular invasion (HR = 0.35; 95% CI,  0.17-0.72)., Conclusion: For advanced HCC, anatomic resection should be performed to improve patient prognosis.

Background: Colorectal liver metastases with hepatic vein (HV) involvement may require combined resection of the liver and HV. However, the short- and long-term outcomes of such a procedure remain unclear., Methods: We reviewed 16 cases of liver resection with major HV resection and reconstruction., Results: The patients had a median age of 58.5 years (range, 50-74 y). In total, 18 HVs were reconstructed using a customized great saphenous vein graft (n = 10), direct anastomosis (n = 1), external iliac vein (n = 2), portal vein (n = 1), umbilical vein patch graft (n = 3), or ovarian vein patch graft (n = 1). There was no hospital mortality, and the morbidity rate was 50%. With a median follow-up period of 30 months (range, 4-89 mo), 3 patients died of tumor recurrence and 13 were alive with (n = 6) and without (n = 7) disease. Cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 93%, 76%, and 76%, respectively., Conclusions: HV resection and reconstruction combined with liver resection can be performed safely with reasonable long-term results., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually recurs repeatedly and locoregional treatment is attempted unless liver function has deteriorated. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated treatment on patient prognosis., Methods: The HCC recurrence pattern and types of treatment for recurrence after hepatic resection were reviewed in 134 patients. The effects of repeated treatment on prognosis were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the prognostic predictors after initial recurrence., Results: Median number of treatments after recurrence was 3 (range, 0-12). Transarterial chemoembolization was the most common treatment. The number of treatments, but not the type of treatment, was associated with the prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that a >20% indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.65; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.53-5.62), size of primary tumor >5 cm (HR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.05-3.08), recurrence-free interval <1 year (HR = 2.17; 95% CI, 1.28-3.81), size of recurrent tumor >3 cm (HR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.03-5.77-0.95), and extrahepatic recurrence (HR = 6.35; 95% CI, 3.49-11.39) were independent predictors of poor survival., Conclusion: The prognosis after recurrence is poor in cases with large tumors or poor liver function. Repeated locoregional treatment contributes to prolong patient prognosis, especially in cases with a small tumor size, long recurrence-free interval, and no extrahepatic metastases.

Background: Bile leakage is the most common complication after hepatectomy and its incidence is not declining. The aim of the present study was to identify predictive factors for bile leakage., Methods: Clinical data from 505 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy without extrahepatic bile duct resection in our department between January 2006 and December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively., Results: The incidence of bile leakage was found to be 6.7%. Multivariate analysis identified three independent factors that were significantly correlated with the occurrence of bile leakage: (1) repeat hepatectomy (P = 0.002; odds ratio [OR] 3.439; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.552-7.618), (2) a cut surface area ≥57.5 cm(2) (P = 0.004; OR 5.296; 95% CI 1.721-16.302), and (3) intraoperative blood loss ≥775 ml (P = 0.01; OR 2.808; 95% CI 1.280-6.160)., Conclusion: More meticulous management is needed to prevent bile leakage in high-risk patients.

Background/aims: Although laparoscopy is accepted for treatment of colorectal cancer, there is no established consensus for its use when resection of synchronous liver metastases is performed simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether laparoscopic colorectal resection with simultaneous resection of synchronous liver metastases was technically feasible and whether it may be a therapeutic option., Methods: Ten patients underwent laparoscopic resection for primary colorectal cancer, combined with synchronous resection of liver metastases., Results: The primary tumor location was in the sigmoid colon in 3 patients and the rectum in 7. All laparoscopic colorectal resections were successful, with no conversion to open surgery. Simultaneously, there were 7 conventional open and 3 laparoscopy-assisted liver resections. The median total operating time was 446 (range 300-745) min, including 222 (range 152-313) min for colorectal resection. The median total estimated blood loss was 175 (range 30-1,200) ml, including 10 (range 0-550) ml for colorectal resection. There was no major morbidity, except 1 patient who developed decubitus., Conclusion: This preliminary report suggests that laparoscopic resection for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer, combined with synchronous resection of liver metastases, is a safe and feasible procedure in selected patients., (Copyright (c) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The prognosis of solitary liver metastasis involving the caudate lobe is unclear. This study analyzed the outcomes after resection of the caudate lobe for solitary colorectal liver metastasis., Methods: We reviewed the records of 114 cases in which potentially curative hepatectomy were performed for solitary colorectal liver metastasis. Solitary liver metastasis involving the caudate lobe was seen in 14 cases (Caudate group). The outcomes were compared with those of the remaining 100 cases with metastasis in a site other than the caudate lobe (Other group)., Results: No hospital deaths occurred. The 5-year survival rate for all cases was 61%. Recurrence-free and cumulative survivals were similar in the two groups, as were the intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, and postoperative hospital stay. The distance of the surgical margin was significantly shorter in the Caudate group than in the Other group (0.6 mm vs. 6.6 mm; p = 0.001). A concomitant resection of the inferior vena cava was performed in four patients in the Caudate group but in no patients in the Other group (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Despite a minimal surgical margin, the resection of solitary colorectal liver metastasis offers favorable short- and long-term outcomes comparable to those for colorectal liver metastasis at other sites.

Background: The indication for liver resection for gastric metastases remains controversial and few previous studies have reported the outcome of surgery in the treatment of liver metastases of gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to clarify the effectiveness of surgical resection for liver metastases arising from gastric cancer., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the outcome of 42 consecutive patients with synchronous (n = 20) or metachronous (n = 22) gastric liver metastases that were curatively resected., Results: The overall 1, 3 and 5 year survival rates after hepatic resection were 76, 48 and 42%, respectively, and the median survival was 34 months. Univariate analysis revealed that survival significantly differed between cases of solitary and multiple metastases (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that solitary liver metastasis and the absence of serosal invasion by primary gastric cancer were favorable independent prognostic factors (P = 0.005 and P = 0.02, respectively). All eight patients who survived for more than 5 years after initial hepatectomy had a solitary metastasis, and six of these had no serosal invasion by the primary gastric cancer. No patient with multiple metastatic diseases survived beyond 3 years., Conclusions: Patients with a solitary liver metastasis are good candidates for surgical resection, whereas those with multiple gastric liver metastases should be treated by multimodal approaches.

The outcome after resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer is influenced not only by factors of metastatic lesions but also those of primary disease. To clarify whether primary disease factors are predictive of post-resection outcome of colorectal liver metastases, 180 patients (male : female = 114 : 66; 61.1 +/-10.5 yrs; synchronous: metachronous = 95 : 85; colon: rectum = 124 : 56 who underwent surgery of colorectal liver metastases in Cancer Institute Hospital from 1995 to 2005 were recruited for analysis. Post-resection outcome of the patients with colorectal liver metastases was significantly influenced by 1) depth of invasion, 2) grade of lymph node metastasis , 3) number of metastatic lymph nodes and 4) Dukes stage of primary disease. The patients with lymph node metastases further than grade 3 showed median survival time of less than 2 years and did not survive longer than 5 years. Thus such condition seemed not warrant resective treatment for liver metastases. In case of synchronous metastatic disease, primary disease information, such as lymph node metastases, depth of invasion, and Dukes stage, were significant predictive factors after hepatectomy. Meanwhile, such factors did not show significant influence in the patients with metachronous liver metastases. In conclusion, influence of primary disease factors should be considered for deciding the indication of hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases, especially when patients have synchronous lesions.

Background and Aims: Segmental resection of major hepatic veins or the portal vein is sometimes required if one is to secure adequate surgical margins from hepatic or pancreatic malignancies. An external iliac vein is widely sacrificed as a vein graft to replace the defect, but this is associated with postoperative edema of the lower leg. We developed a new method for constructing the great saphenous vein to interpose the hepatic or portal veins., Patients and Methods: The great saphenous vein was divided transversely into three sections, which were aligned side-to-side. The three pieces were anastomosed to make a sheet 3 x 2 cm, which was rolled up into a cylindrical form of approximately 1 cm in diameter and 2 cm in length. We applied the finished vein grafts to interpose the major hepatic veins in three patients with metastatic liver tumors and the portal vein in two patients with pancreatic malignancies in cylindrical form and to reconstruct the portal vein in one patient with a pancreas cancer, using a three-row sheet as a patch graft., Results: No patient developed venous thrombosis of the graft or edema of the lower leg., Conclusions: The newly customized vein graft was safe and useful for the reconstruction of the major hepatic or portal veins.