Colorectal Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Colorectal Cancer, including details on symptoms, genetics, screening, treatment, information.

Treatment strategies for the management of advanced colorectal liver metastases detected synchronously with the primary tumour.

Mentha G, Majno P, Terraz S, Rubbia-Brandt L, Gervaz P, Andres A, Allal AS, Morel P, Roth AD

Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. gilles.mentha@hcuge.ch

The review summarises the contributions of chemotherapy, interventional radiology and surgery to the improved survival observed in patients with colorectal liver metastases. The rationale in favour of modern neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, of pro-generative manoeuvres to increase the volume of the future remnant liver, and of resection techniques that preserve its function is discussed. For advanced synchronous colorectal metastases, the arguments in favour of a reversed approach with systemic chemotherapy, liver surgery and colon surgery in that order, as opposed to the traditional approach of colon surgery first, or to a simultaneous liver and large bowel resection, are presented.

Published 12 December 2007 in Eur J Surg Oncol, 33: S76-83.
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