ABSTRACT
Distant metastases, particularly liver deposits, represent the major cause of death of patients treated for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Depending on the stage of the primary tumour, liver metastases occur in 20-70% of patients and lung metastases in 10-20%. Brain and adrenal metastases are less frequent. Unlike many other types of cancer, in colorectal cancer, the presence of distant metastases does not preclude curative treatment. Surgical resection remains the only treatment that can ensure long-term survival in some patients. However, selection criteria for surgical resection of metastases should be strict, and less than 10% of liver metastases and 4% of lung metastases are suitable for surgery. We shall discuss the preoperative assessment, surgical techniques, and results of surgical resection for lung metastases, and shall also give some information on the few available data on the surgical treatment of brain metastases. Resection of liver metastases is discussed in Chapter 31.
