Liver Surgery for Breast Cancer Metastases

• Main Authors: Schest, EC, Cerwenka, H, El-Shabrawi, A, Bacher, H, Mischinger, HJ
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0016-5751; 1438-8804
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1225220

Background: Breast cancer metastases to the liver are associated with a poor prognosis. In contrast to colorectal metastases, there are as yet no established guidelines for liver surgery for breast cancer secondaries. Methods: Our retrospective study compared 14 patients with an average age of 55.4 years (range 35 to 81 years) who underwent hepatic resection. Both solitary and multiple liver metastases that seemed to be resectable by R0 were treated. Six patients underwent chemotherapy before and 8 patients after the liver resection. Nine women received hormone treatment, 3 before and 6 after liver surgery. Results: We performed 6 major (hemihepatectomy or more than 3 segments of the liver) and 8 minor (less than 3 segments) resections. The median interval between primary operation and liver resection was 1.8 years (range 4 months to 9 years). Fifty percent of the women had a solitary metastasis with a median size of 3cm. There were liver secondaries in both lobes in 6 patients and in one lobe in 8. No patient died after liver resection. Five of the women had a liver recurrence. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were calculated as 50% and 20%, respectively. Conclusions: For selected patients with liver secondaries from breast cancer, surgical resection in combination with chemotherapy can be a safe option with low morbidity and mortality.