Analysis of hepatic recurrence of colorectal cancer after resection of hepatic metastases.

Forty patients with history of resected hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer were examined for pattern of recurrence. The 5-year survival rate was 41.3% for 40 patients. Recurrences of the malignancy were seen in 25 of the patients, with hepatic recurrence in 42.5% of them. The hepatic recurrence rate did not correlate with the lobar distribution of metastases or surgical methods. The pathological margins of less than 1 cm, 3 or more liver metastatic lesions, and the metastatic lesions of greater than 5 cm were at increased risk of hepatic recurrence. The recurrence rate was high, or 56% for aneuploid tumors, while it was 18.5% for diploid tumors.