Prognostic significance of intrahepatic lymphatic invasion in patients with hepatic resection due to metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic spread from liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma has been well described; however, its prognostic value after hepatectomy is controversial. To clearly determine factors predicting survival after hepatectomy in such patients, the authors evaluated 14 clinicopathologic factors of liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma with special reference to intrahepatic lymphatic invasion.
METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed data obtained from 67 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. Intrahepatic spread was classified into discreet categories that were evaluated separately: invasion to the portal vein, hepatic vein, bile duct, and lymphatic or perineural space. Overall survival and disease free survival periods were examined as functions of clinicopathologic determinants by univariate and multivariate analyses.
RESULTS: Intrahepatic spread was found in a total of 28 (43.1%) of the 65 evaluable cases. Portal vein invasion was found in 15 (23.1%) of these cases, hepatic vein invasion in 3 (4.6%), bile duct invasion in 10 (15.4%), and intrahepatic lymphatic invasion in 10 (15.4%). Five year overall and disease free survival rates after hepatectomy were 33.4% and 28.5%, respectively. A short interval (< 12 months) from treatment of primary colorectal carcinoma to liver metastasis and the presence of intrahepatic lymphatic invasion significantly and adversely affected the overall and disease free survival rates.
CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic lymphatic invasion was shown statistically to be an independent predictor of recurrence and death after hepatectomy in patients with liver metastases from primary colorectal carcinoma. Copyright 2002 American Cancer Society.