Surgeon's awareness of the synchronous liver metastases during colorectal cancer resection may affect outcome

Abstract 

Aim

There is conflicting evidence about the importance of synchronous metastases upon tumor outcome. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of finding synchronous colorectal liver metastases on the performance of the surgeon whilst operating on primary colorectal cancer.

Methods

Patients with completed colorectal cancer data who underwent liver resection for colorectal metastases between 1993 and 2001 were included. Two hundred seventy patients were categorised according to the site of the primary tumour (colon or rectum) and knowledge of the presence of liver metastases by the colorectal surgeon (SA=surgeon aware, n=112, SNA=surgeon not aware, n=158). The number of retrieved lymph nodes and colorectal resection margin involvement were used as surgical performance indicators. Survival and local recurrence rate were monitored.

Results

The SA group had a higher rate of colorectal circumferential resection margin involvement, the local and intra-abdominal recurrence rate was also significantly higher in this group (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Awareness of the presence of liver metastases by the operating surgeon is an independent predictor of intra abdominal extra hepatic recurrence of colorectal cancer following potentially curative hepatic resection. This is related to an increased rate of primary colorectal resection margin involvement.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer, Liver metastases, Synchronous