Background: Liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumours may give rise to symptoms due to hormone production or mass effect. Accepted management options include administration of somatostatin-analogues, selective chemoembolisation or hepatic resection. The aim of this study was to review the management of hepatic neuroendocrine metastases in our unit.
Methods: Patients with neuroendocrine tumours presenting between 1989 and 1999 were identified from pathology, radiology and surgical databases. Case notes were retrospectively reviewed for demographic data, treatment modality and outcome. Response to treatment was based on biochemistry, radiology or symptoms, and response rates were defined accordingly.
Results: Thirty patients with a mean age of 55 years presented with, or later developed liver metastases. The most frequent presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (63%), diarrhoea (40%), weight loss (33%) and flushing (13%). Five patients underwent liver resection with complete symptomatic response, nine underwent chemoembolisation with a 75% response rate (either biochemically, radiologically or symptomatic) and fifteen were treated with a somatostatin-analogue, with a response rate of 86%. Median survival from detection of metastases was 45 months.
Conclusions: Liver resection provides good symptomatic relief, but it is only indicated in a small proportion of patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumours. Both chemoembolisation and somatostatin-analogues offer useful symptomatic control for these patients with good survival prospects.