Background: The prognosis of solitary liver metastasis involving the caudate lobe is unclear. This study analyzed the outcomes after resection of the caudate lobe for solitary colorectal liver metastasis.
Methods: We reviewed the records of 114 cases in which potentially curative hepatectomy were performed for solitary colorectal liver metastasis. Solitary liver metastasis involving the caudate lobe was seen in 14 cases (Caudate group). The outcomes were compared with those of the remaining 100 cases with metastasis in a site other than the caudate lobe (Other group).
Results: No hospital deaths occurred. The 5-year survival rate for all cases was 61%. Recurrence-free and cumulative survivals were similar in the two groups, as were the intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, and postoperative hospital stay. The distance of the surgical margin was significantly shorter in the Caudate group than in the Other group (0.6 mm vs. 6.6 mm; p = 0.001). A concomitant resection of the inferior vena cava was performed in four patients in the Caudate group but in no patients in the Other group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Despite a minimal surgical margin, the resection of solitary colorectal liver metastasis offers favorable short- and long-term outcomes comparable to those for colorectal liver metastasis at other sites.