Disparities in resection of hepatic metastases in colon cancer

Current literature supports the safety and efficacy of hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer (1,2). While colorectal cancer (CRC) has been decreasing over recent years in older patients (3), there has been an overall increase in rates of liver resections performed for metastatic disease, particularly those from colorectal cancer (4). Furthermore, favorable outcomes have been reported, with 5-year survival rates following hepatic metastasectomy ranging from 24–58% (5-9) and 10-year survival rates of approximately 25% (5-7). There are limited data however, describing national population trends of patients with stage IV colon cancer undergoing resections for synchronous hepatic metastases (SHM). Furthermore, there is no information about patient-level differences in the use of this aggressive surgical strategy