Liver metastases from breast cancer. Results of surgical resection

Background/Aims: Purpose of this study is to define the effectiveness of surgical resection of liver metastases from operated breast cancer. Methodology: Nineteen patients underwent, surgical exploration to resect liver metastases from previously operated breast carcinoma. Seventeen patients were resected: 15 patients had unique metastases and were submitted to a wedge liver resection while 2 had multiple lesions; in these cases a V-VI segmentectomy and a right hepatectomy was required. After liver resection 11 patients received chemotherapy, 2 chemotherapy plus hormone therapy, 2 hormone therapy alone and in the remaining 2 no adjuvant treatment was done. Results: Postoperative mortality was nil and morbidity consisted of 1 subphrenic abscess and 1pleural effusion. Actuarial 5-year survival rate was 46%. Eight patients are still alive, 7 of whom are disease-free. Nine patients died for neoplastic progression. Conclusions: Surgical resection of liver metastases from breast cancer seems to be able to improve long-term survival in selected patients with unique and isolated lesions especially in association to systemic chemotherapy and hormone therapy.