Improvement of prognosis for colorectal metastases by major hepatectomy after portal vein embolization

Abstract

Background/aims: A few studies have documented the prognosis of liver metastases from colorectal cancer by major hepatectomy after portal vein embolization (PE). Our objective was to decide whether PE improved the outcome and contributed to the patients with colorectal metastases.

Methodology: Thirty patients with liver metastases, who had undergone right-sided major hepatectomy were classified into the two groups, PE group (15 patients) and non-PE group (15 patients). The two groups were comparable in terms of survival rate.

Results: The patients in the PE group had no advantage of the prognostic factors of colorectal metastases. The respective figures of the actual survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 78%, 70% and 53% in the PE group and 87%, 45% and 27% in the non-PE group. There were no significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusions: PE appears to improve the outcome of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer by consecutive hepatectomy.