Hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma: an analysis of survival rates and histopathology.

Out of 338 patients undergoing laparotomy and resection of a primary colorectal carcinoma, 49 (14-5%) were folnd to have liver metastases. The average age was 70 years. The median period of survival was 11-4 months. The histological grade of malignancy of the primary tumour did not appear to influence the survival rate. Compared with similar tumours in patients without hepatic metastases, the primary growth showed a significantly increased incidence of venous invasion, a higher grade of malignancy, and a more frequent origin from the right colon. When the local spread of the primary tumours was investigated it was found that one-third of them had not progressed beyond Stage Dukes A or B.