Editorial
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World J Hepatol. Jun 27, 2013; 5(6): 298-301
Published online Jun 27, 2013. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v5.i6.298
Synchronous resections of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis by laparoscopic approach
Tan To Cheung, Ronnie Tung Ping Poon
Tan To Cheung, Ronnie Tung Ping Poon, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Ronnie Tung Ping Poon, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Both authors conceived and designed the study, wrote, revised and approved the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Tan To Cheung, FRCS, Honorary Associate Professor at Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. tantocheung@hotmail.com
Telephone: +852-22553025 Fax: +852-28165284
Received: February 21, 2013
Revised: April 18, 2013
Accepted: May 16, 2013
Published online: June 27, 2013
Processing time: 125 Days and 22.3 Hours
Abstract

Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer is common. Resection of solitary tumors of primary and metastatic colorectal cancer can have a favorable outcome. Open resection of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis in one operation or in separate operations is currently common practice. Reports have shown that synchronous resections do not jeopardize short or long-term surgical outcomes and that this is a safe and effective approach in open surgery. The development of laparoscopic colorectal surgery and laparoscopic hepatectomy has made a minimally invasive surgical approach to treating colorectal cancer with liver metastasis feasible. Synchronous resections of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis by laparoscopy have recently been reported. The efficacy and safety of laparoscopic colorectal resection and laparoscopic hepatectomy have been proven separately but synchronous resections by laparoscopy are in hot debate. As it has been shown that open resection of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis in one operation results in an equally good short-term outcome when compared with that done in separate operations, laparoscopic resection of the same in one single operation seems to be a good option. Recent evidence has shown that this new approach is a safe alternative with a shorter hospital stay. Large scale randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this minimally invasive approach.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Hepatectomy; Laparoscopic; Liver resection; Simultaneous; Synchronous

Core tip: Open resection of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis in one operation or in separate operations is currently common practice but synchronous resections of the same by laparoscopy are controversial. Since open resection of primary colorectal tumor and liver metastasis in one operation results in an equally good short-term outcome when compared with that done in separate operations, laparoscopic resection of the same in one single operation seems to be a good option. Recent evidence has shown that this new approach is a safe alternative with a shorter hospital stay. Large scale randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate its effectiveness.