[Response to hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy for metastases of colorectal cancer. Anatomo-pathological evaluation apropos of 3 cases of secondary hepatic excision].

Following intra-arterial chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil), wide hepatic resection was performed in three patients with metastases from colorectal cancer. These surgical procedures had been considered to be unfeasible before chemotherapy in two of the three cases because of the extension of the metastases. In contrast to the results of preoperative imaging techniques (CT scan, ultrasonography), the histologic response of tumors to chemotherapy was found to be significant (1/3) or complete (2/3). Since after chemotherapy these imaging procedures are unable to determine whether the observed lesions are tumoral, fibrotic or necrotic, a laparotomy after hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy is proposed to obtain specimens for histopathologic examination and an assessment of resectability. This procedure should be reserved for patients in whom substantial benefit can be expected considering the extension of primary and metastatic disease.