Metastatic Liver Cancer
Metastatic liver cancer is a disease in which cancer that originated in another organ has spread to the liver. Among these, colorectal and rectal cancers are prone to liver metastasis, and long-term survival can be expected by performing liver resection, making it a representative disease. In recent years, with advances in chemotherapy, cases that were previously considered difficult to resect are increasingly becoming resectable after treatment.
Treatment of Metastatic Liver Cancer in Our Department
In our department, we actively perform liver resection for metastatic liver cancer, focusing on liver metastasis from colorectal and rectal cancers. We comprehensively evaluate the number and size of tumors, their distribution within the liver, residual liver function, and the condition of the primary tumor and extrahepatic lesions to determine the optimal treatment plan for each patient. We also work closely with the departments of gastroenterology, oncology, diagnostic radiology, and radiation therapy to provide multidisciplinary treatment combined with chemotherapy.
Features of Our Department
In our department, we are actively involved not only in initial liver resection but also in re-resection for recurrence, two-stage liver resection, and complex liver resections involving resection and reconstruction of blood vessels. We are also actively introducing laparoscopic liver resection to reduce the physical burden on patients and aim for safe and high-quality surgery.
Before surgery, we utilize 3D image analysis technology developed in collaboration with MeVis to thoroughly evaluate the three-dimensional structure of the liver and blood vessels, enabling safe and precise liver resection. Furthermore, we plan to introduce robot-assisted liver resection and will continue to work on the further development of minimally invasive surgery.
Treatment Results
The Yokohama City University Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery Group has performed 1,089 liver resections for liver metastasis from colorectal and rectal cancers from 1991 to the end of 2025. In 2025, 49 liver resections were performed, and in recent years, laparoscopic liver resection has been introduced in approximately 50% of cases. Furthermore, in recent years, no in-hospital deaths have been observed, and the rate of severe complications of Clavien–Dindo classification IIIa or higher is 6.7%, maintaining good perioperative outcomes. The 5-year survival rate for initial liver resection cases is 54.7%, and we provide medical care that aims to balance safety and radical cure.
Our Department's Initiatives
- Preoperative Chemotherapy → Liver Resection Strategy After Tumor Shrinkage
- Resection Combined with Portal Vein Embolization / Multistage Liver Resection
- Vascular Resection Using 3D Images
- Laparoscopic Liver Resection
- We also handle liver metastases from cancers other than colorectal cancer (e.g., gynecological, neuroendocrine, gastric cancer).