Neuroendocrine liver metastases
Neuroendocrine
tumors are slow growing tumors that are most often discovered when they
have multiple metastatic deposits within the liver, or outside the liver
(extrahepatic), making them unresectable. Because of hormone secretion,
these patients experience higher death rates.
Even though few patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors are appropriate
for resection, significant symptom relief can be accomplished by treatments
intended to reduce, if not eliminate, the tumor. Treatment options include
hepatic artery ligation and chemoembolization to limit the sustaining
blood supply to the tumor(s) as well as local ablation techniques including
radiofrequency ablation, alcohol injection and cryotherapy.
However,
in patients with resectable disease, resection may delay the most debilitating
symptoms for several years. A 1996 study reported five-year survival
rates of 79%, with 52% of these patients not experiencing any recurrence
during this period.
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Last modified: Friday, October 10, 2003
