The Extent of Tumor in the Peritoneum and Liver Influences Outcomes After Surgery for Synchronous Liver and Peritoneal Colorectal Metastases: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRSH) or liver resection have led to increased survival in patients with peritoneal or liver metastases of colorectal cancer. Selected patients undergo concomitant CRSH and liver resection. Differences in survival and morbidity between patients who underwent concomitant surgery, CRSH or liver resection for peritoneal and/or liver metastases were compared. Methods Patients who underwent liver resection and/or CRSH for colorectal liver and/or peritoneal metastases, 2006–2016, were included. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between baseline characteristics and survival. Results Overall, 634 patients were studied. Twenty-eight patients had peritoneal and liver metastases, 121 patients had peritoneal metastases only, and 485 patients had isolated liver metastases. Median survival after concomitant treatment was 23.8 months (95% CI 12.8–43.8), after CRSH 34.5 months (95% CI 27.1–41.9), and after liver resection 54.2 months (95% CI 47.4–61.0) (p < 0.001). Increased hepatic tumor burden (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.8) and high-volume peritoneal disease (HR 6.0, 95% CI 3.7–9.8) were associated with decreased survival in multivariate analysis. Postoperative complications according to a Clavien–Dindo score > 3a were observed in 11% in the liver resection group, 15% in the CRSH group, and 11% in the concomitant treatment group (p = 0.945). Conclusions Patients treated with concomitant surgery for liver and peritoneal metastases experienced a shorter median overall survival than patients treated for metastases at an isolated site but had a similar rate of severe postoperative complications. The extent of peritoneal spread seemed to impact survival more than the tumor burden in the liver.