Resection Liver Metastases Colon Cancer
Published on Mar 18 2010, in the categories: Survival Statistics
Colon cancer, like other types of cancer has different stages of evolution. The first stage is the easiest to treat and the last stage the most difficult. Colon cancer last stage, stage four corresponds to the metastases of the disease, and it can spread to other parts of the body, like liver and lungs.
The metastastic disease that has spread to the liver is a common situation at cancer patients. Approximately 146,970 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year and 49,920 die because of it, most of the times with metastatic tumors. Way is the liver affected by this disease is not well known, but about 20% to 25% of patients with colon cancer have liver metastases at the time of their diagnosis. Many studies based on the autopsy results showed that almost 70 percent of colon cancer patients have developed liver metastases some time during their illness.
Like in every type of colon cancer, the early detection of the liver metastases of colon cancer is very important. The new tumors can appear before or after the disease has been diagnosed. In most cases, the presence of liver metastases indicates the non-resectability of the primary tumor. In these cases, chemotherapy is the treatment applied. However, in some cases, the resection of liver metastases improved the survival expectancy of the patients. Colon cancer is a type of cancer in which the presence of limited synchronous liver metastases or metachronous metastases requires surgical resection.
In order to determine the respectability of the metastases the doctor has to know exactly the number, size, and regional distribution of the tumors. Determined by number and localization of the liver metastases and taking into account everything regarding the general medical situation of the patient, only approximately 30% of the colon cancer patients with liver metastases can have resection. If they can have the intervention, their 5-year survival rate increases. Patients who suffered resection have a 5-year survival rate between 30% and 48%, compared to a survival that is less than 5% for patients with liver metastases of colon cancer that are not able to suffer a liver surgery.
However, the majority of colon cancer liver metastases can not be respectable because of extrahepatic disease or extensive liver involvement. That is way in the last years researches regarding the liver metastases of colon cancer have improved. In order to prevent unnecessary laparatomies in patients that can have a medical intervention, a detailed analyze of the patients health and the function of the organs should be done. Precise anatomic information about the tumor, it’s location and it’s structure should be known before the intervention, for it to be effective. The ideal preparation should combine high sensitivity and high specificity, with a low false-positive rate for metastases detection and characterization.
The metastastic disease that has spread to the liver is a common situation at cancer patients. Approximately 146,970 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer every year and 49,920 die because of it, most of the times with metastatic tumors. Way is the liver affected by this disease is not well known, but about 20% to 25% of patients with colon cancer have liver metastases at the time of their diagnosis. Many studies based on the autopsy results showed that almost 70 percent of colon cancer patients have developed liver metastases some time during their illness.
Like in every type of colon cancer, the early detection of the liver metastases of colon cancer is very important. The new tumors can appear before or after the disease has been diagnosed. In most cases, the presence of liver metastases indicates the non-resectability of the primary tumor. In these cases, chemotherapy is the treatment applied. However, in some cases, the resection of liver metastases improved the survival expectancy of the patients. Colon cancer is a type of cancer in which the presence of limited synchronous liver metastases or metachronous metastases requires surgical resection.
In order to determine the respectability of the metastases the doctor has to know exactly the number, size, and regional distribution of the tumors. Determined by number and localization of the liver metastases and taking into account everything regarding the general medical situation of the patient, only approximately 30% of the colon cancer patients with liver metastases can have resection. If they can have the intervention, their 5-year survival rate increases. Patients who suffered resection have a 5-year survival rate between 30% and 48%, compared to a survival that is less than 5% for patients with liver metastases of colon cancer that are not able to suffer a liver surgery.
However, the majority of colon cancer liver metastases can not be respectable because of extrahepatic disease or extensive liver involvement. That is way in the last years researches regarding the liver metastases of colon cancer have improved. In order to prevent unnecessary laparatomies in patients that can have a medical intervention, a detailed analyze of the patients health and the function of the organs should be done. Precise anatomic information about the tumor, it’s location and it’s structure should be known before the intervention, for it to be effective. The ideal preparation should combine high sensitivity and high specificity, with a low false-positive rate for metastases detection and characterization.
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