Hepatic resection for metastatic gynecologic carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE

To report a series of cases of hepatic resection for metastatic gynecologic carcinomas.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent hepatic resection for metachronous liver metastases from gynecologic carcinomas at our institution from 1986 to 1996.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were identified with a median age of 60 years (range 30-73 years). The primary sites of carcinoma were as follows: ovary, 7 (58%); cervix, 2 (17%); endometrium, 2 (17%); and fallopian tube, 1 (8%). The median disease-free interval before the diagnosis of liver metastasis was 32 months (range 1-243 months). The types of liver resections were as follows: trisegmentectomy, 4 (33%); lobectomy, 4 (33%); segmentectomy, 3 (25%); and wedge resection, 1 (8%). To remove all visible tumor with adequate margins, additional surgery included the following: resection of a portion of the diaphragm, 5 (42%); wedge resection of the right lung, 3 (25%); resection of a portion of the pericardium, 2 (17%); and adrenalectomy, 1 (8%). One patient (8%) had pulmonary wedge resections of bilateral pulmonary metastases. There was no perioperative mortality. Ten patients (83%) received additional chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 25 months (range 8-94 months), the median survival time is 27 months. Three patients (25%) have no evidence of tumor recurrence at 8, 17, and 38 months of follow-up. Nine patients (75%) have had tumor recurrence at a median of 12 months from the time of surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic resection of metachronous metastases from gynecologic carcinomas can be performed safely and may help prolong survival in carefully selected patients.