Between 1980 and 1987, 38 patients with liver metastases have been operated on. In 28 cases the primary tumor was a colo-rectal carcinoma. 11 lobectomies and 27 minor resections or segmentectomies have been performed. The post-operative mortality was 5%. The actuarial survival for the metastases of colo-rectal carcinomas was 54% at 2 years, 27% at 3 years and 18% at 5 years. The results of this series are compared to those of the literature, to discuss indications, technical modalities and prognostic factors of the surgical treatment of liver metastases.