Purpose: The postoperative outcome and survival of patients undergoing surgery for metachronous solitary liver metastases of renal cell carcinoma were evaluated.
Materials and methods: Between 1983 and 1993, 17 patients with metachronous liver metastases of renal cell carcinoma underwent laparotomy for metastatic liver disease. All patients had undergone radical nephrectomy a mean of 3.6 years before the diagnosis of liver metastases.
Results: Surgical resection was feasible in 13 of 17 patients with right hemihepatectomy in 9 (3 multivisceral resections), wedge resection in 4 and ex situ (mobilization and eversion out of the abdomen) resection in 1. Stage R0 resection (complete removal, negative surgical margins with no macroscopic disease left behind) was possible in 11 of 13 cases (85%). In patients with metastatic liver tissue resection the mortality rate was 31% (4 of 13) with additional significant morbidity in another 2. Mean survival of patients with nonresectable disease was 4 months, which increased to 16 months after resection.
Conclusions: Complete resection of metachronous liver metastases can be achieved in the majority of patients. However, significant morbidity and mortality as well as the limited prognosis even after R0 resection strongly suggest careful patient selection.