Simultaneously Detected Liver and Lung Metastases from Colorectal Carcinoma: A Potential Treatment Strategy

Abstract

Background/aim: No clear treatment strategy for simultaneously detected liver and lung metastases (SLLM) of colorectal carcinoma has been established, to date. We aimed to identify the prognostic factors for SLLM and propose an appropriate treatment option.

Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 64 patients with SLLM: 32 underwent pulmonary resection after hepatectomy in 32, while the other 32 underwent hepatectomy alone in 32. Poor prognostic factors and a suitable strategy for SLLM were assessed.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥20 ng/ml (p=0.001) and unresected lung metastases (p=0.001) were independent prognostic factors for poor overall survival. Compared with the non-pulmonary resection group, the rate of R1 resection of liver tumors (46.8% vs. 15.6%; p=0.007), incidence of complications after hepatectomy (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III: 21.8% vs. 0%; p=0.005) and having four or more metastatic lung nodules (40.6% vs. 3.2%; p=0.001) were significantly higher in the group that underwent hepatectomy only.

Conclusion: Preoperative CEA ≥20 ng/ml and unresectable pulmonary nodules were prognostic factors for poor survival of patients with SLLM. Furthermore, the presence of more than four pulmonary nodules was a preoperative predictive factor for unresectable pulmonary nodules. R1 resection and the occurrence of complications after hepatectomy should be avoided; a smooth transition from hepatectomy to pulmonary resection is important.

Keywords: Liver metastasis; carcinoembryonic antigen; liver tumor; lung metastasis; nodule; resection.