Purpose: Resection is the only chance for cure in patients with colorectal liver metastases (LM). Five-year survival rates are close to 25%. Unfortunately, recurrences occur in most patients. Some recurrent LM are technically resectable. The aim of this study was to determine the risks and benefits of repeat resections for recurrent LM.
Patients and methods: Data from 130 patients who received 143 repeat liver resections for recurrent LM were collected. In 116 patients, only the liver was involved, while 14 had both liver and extrahepatic recurrences.
Results: In the first group, the operative mortality and morbidity rates were 0.9% and 24.7%, respectively. Two- and 3-year survival rates were 57% and 33%, respectively. Recurrences were observed in 66% of patients. Twelve patients underwent a third hepatectomy for recurrence. The mortality rate was nil, and the mean survival time was 12.5 months. In the group with liver and extrahepatic metastases, the operative mortality and morbidity rates were 0% and 25%. The mean survival time was 16 months. Eleven patients died and 13 had recurrences during the follow-up period.
Conclusion: Some hepatic recurrences after surgical excision of colorectal metastases can be resected with a low operative risk and with a long-term survival rate similar to that obtained after first resections. This emphasizes the need for a careful follow-up after hepatectomy for colorectal metastases to detect resectable recurrences.