Outcomes after resection of synchronous or metachronous hepatic and pulmonary colorectal metastases

Abstract

Background: Surgical resection of isolated hepatic or pulmonary colorectal metastases prolongs survival in selected patients. But the benefits of resection and appropriate selection criteria in patients who develop both hepatic and pulmonary metastases are ill defined.

Study design: Data were prospectively collected from 131 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent resection of both hepatic and pulmonary metastases over a 20-year period. Median followup was 6.6 years from the time of resection of the primary tumor. Patient, treatment, and outcomes variables were analyzed using log-rank, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier methods.

Results: The site of first metastasis was the liver in 65% of patients, the lung in 11%, and both simultaneously in 24%. Multiple hepatic metastases were present in 51% of patients, and multiple pulmonary metastases were found in 48%. Hepatic lobectomy or trisegmentectomy was required in 61% of patients; most lung metastases (80%) were treated with wedge excisions. Median survival rates from resection of the primary disease, first site of metastasis, and second site of metastasis were 6.9, 5.0, and 3.3 years, respectively. After resection of disease at the second site of metastasis, the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 91%, 55%, 31%, and 19%, respectively. An analysis of prognostic factors revealed that survival was significantly longer when the disease-free interval between the development of the first and second sites of metastases exceeded 1 year, in patients with a single liver metastasis, and in patients younger than 55 years old.

Conclusions: Surgical resection of both hepatic and pulmonary colorectal metastases is associated with prolonged survival in selected patients. Patients with a longer disease-free interval between metastases and those with single liver lesions had the best outcomes.