Perspectives on Hepatic Metastases and the Minimally Invasive Approach to Resection
The liver is the most common site for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases, accounting for 80% of patients with Stage IV CRC and 40% as the only site of distant disease. Of the patients with CRC, 20–25% present with synchronous metastases and 50–60% will develop metachronous disease. Liver metastases develop in the absence of lymph node involvement and, presumably, this occurs via the haematogenous route (the portal circulation) in gastrointestinal tumours from where tumour cells can embolise via the mesenteric veins.