Favorable indications for hepatectomy in patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer

Abstract

Background: The prognosis of patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer (LMGC) is dismal. The purpose of this study was to review our recent outcomes of hepatectomy for LMGC and to determine the suitable candidates for surgery.

Study design: The outcomes of 37 patients with LMGC who underwent hepatectomy between 1990 and 2005 were assessed. No extrahepatic distant metastasis and feasibility of macroscopic curative resection were requisite indications for surgery. The prognostic values of clinicopathological factors were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: There was no in-hospital mortality. The median survival time and overall 5-year survival rate after hepatectomy of the patients with LMGC were 31 months and 11%, respectively. Intrahepatic recurrence following hepatectomy was found in 23 patients (62%). Variables independently associated with poor survival were bilobar metastasis (P = 0.002, CI = 1.9-16.3) and a maximum tumor diameter of >or= 4 cm (P = 0.006, CI = 1.4-7.7). The depth of the primary tumor and the timing of metastasis were not associated with survival.

Conclusions: Surgical resection for LMGC may be indicated in patients with unilobar metastasis and/or tumors less than 4 cm in diameter. Synchronous metastasis is not a contraindication for hepatectomy.