Background/aims: This retrospective study aimed to define the role of hepatic lymph node dissection in the surgical management of patients with resectable colorectal carcinoma liver metastases.
Methodology: Fourteen of the 130 consecutive patients who had hepatectomy for colorectal carcinoma liver metastases underwent concomitant hepatic lymph node dissection for nodal disease suspected during the operation. A total of 125 hepatic lymph nodes (median, 8 per patient) were examined histologically for metastases. The therapeutic value index of hepatic lymph node dissection was estimated by multiplying the incidence of hepatic lymph node metastasis by the 5-year survival rate of patients with hepatic lymph node metastasis. The median follow-up time was 98 months.
Results: Mortality occurred within 30 days after resection in 1 patient. Hepatic lymph node metastases were detected in 7 patients, of whom 2 with no residual tumor survived for 10 years. The incidence and 5-year survival rate for patients with hepatic lymph node metastases were 50% and 29%, respectively. The therapeutic value index of hepatic lymph node dissection was 14.5.
Conclusions: Hepatic lymph node dissection provides a survival benefit for some patients with hepatic nodal disease of resectable colorectal carcinoma liver metastases, provided that a potentially curative (R0) resection is feasible.