Background: Data from the Brandenburg Tumor Documentation Center (TDCB) in Germany were analyzed for an overview of the current treatment standards of liver surgery in that state.
Material and methods: The analysis was based on prospective data from a total of 37,165 patients diagnosed with malignant tumors between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004. Of these patients, 3,986 were diagnosed with liver metastases and 554 had primary tumors of the liver or bile duct. Liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma were reported in 1,299.
Results: Analysis confirmed that resection of colorectal metastases (51%) and primary liver or bile duct tumors (23.1%) is by far the most frequent indication for liver surgery. Liver metastasis was developed by 29.2% (n=1299) of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Of the patient total, 71.5% showed evidence of liver metastasis already present when colorectal carcinoma was diagnosed. Of 248 patients who had received liver surgery after diagnosis of liver metastases of a colorectal carcinoma, 114 (46%) underwent hepatic segment resection, which was thus performed in only 8.8% (n=114) of patients with liver metastases after colorectal carcinoma (n=1299).
Conclusions: Since only 8.8% of those with liver metastases underwent curative hepatic segment resection, we can conclude that if patients and doctors were provided with adequate information on the curative potential of this surgical method along with regular consultations with surgeons experienced in liver surgery, the result on resection rates would be positive. Data from tumor documentation centers enable selective analysis of the oncological situation of specific diseases.