Reginelli A, Patanè V, Cappabianca S. Colorectal cancer liver metastases: A radiologic point of view. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2025; 17(8): 103473 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i8.103473]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Vittorio Patanè, MD, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Piazza Luigi Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Campania, Italy. vittorio.patane@unicampania.it
Research Domain of This Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Aug 15, 2025; 17(8): 103473 Published online Aug 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i8.103473
Colorectal cancer liver metastases: A radiologic point of view
Alfonso Reginelli, Vittorio Patanè, Salvatore Cappabianca
Alfonso Reginelli, Vittorio Patanè, Salvatore Cappabianca, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80138, Campania, Italy
Author contributions: All three authors contributed equally to the conception and development of this letter to the editor; Reginelli A conceptualized the manuscript, led the literature review, and drafted the initial version; Patanè V contributed significantly to the analysis of the literature, critically revised the manuscript for intellectual content, and assisted in refining the key messages; Cappabianca S provided substantial input on data interpretation, coordinated collaborative revisions, and ensured the overall coherence of the final version; all authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript for submission.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Vittorio Patanè, MD, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Piazza Luigi Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Campania, Italy. vittorio.patane@unicampania.it
Received: November 20, 2024 Revised: February 23, 2025 Accepted: March 13, 2025 Published online: August 15, 2025 Processing time: 267 Days and 10.6 Hours
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite advances in early detection and treatment, approximately half of patients with CRC develop liver metastases (LM), complicating therapeutic strategies and reducing survival rates. Radiological imaging is critical in managing colorectal LM by guiding detection, staging, treatment planning, and response evaluation. This letter to the editor provides a comprehensive overview of both traditional and emerging imaging modalities, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography, and their specific roles in clinical decision-making. It further explores advanced techniques such as radiomics, artificial intelligence, and radiogenomics, which integrate quantitative imaging features with genetic and clinical data to enhance prognostication and tailor personalized treatment approaches. Specific examples of how these innovations are applied in treatment response assessment and pre-surgical planning are highlighted. The discussion also emphasizes the need for large-scale prospective clinical trials and standardized protocols to validate current predictive models and fully integrate these advanced methodologies into clinical practice.
Core Tip: This letter underscores the pivotal role of radiological imaging in managing colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). It details advanced imaging techniques, radiomics, artificial intelligence, and radiogenomics, illustrating how integrating imaging biomarkers with genomic and clinical data enhances detection, treatment planning, and prognostication. Such innovations pave the way for precision oncology, enabling more personalized and effective therapeutic strategies for CRLM patients.
