ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of surgical treatment in the management of primary and secondary liver endocrine tumors. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed our experience of surgical treatment for primary and secondary liver endocrine tumors in 34 patients from 1980 to 1999. There were 31 cases of liver metastases from distant primary endocrine tumors treated by curative resection in 11 patients, cytoreductive surgery in 15 and orthotopic liver transplantation in 5. The remaining 3 consisted of primary liver endocrine tumor in 2 patients, liver invasion from primary bile duct endocrine tumor in 1, and all of them were treated by curative liver resection. RESULTS: In patients with distant primary endocrine tumors, the actuarial 5-year survival after curative liver resection, cytoreductive surgery, and orthotopic liver transplantation was of 91%, 50% (being 90% for non-functioning tumors), and 60%, respectively. In patients with primary liver endocrine tumors, long-term survival and disease-free survival (52-240 months) was achieved after curative resection. CONCLUSIONS: When indicated, liver surgery can offer cure and/or improve survival in patients with primary or secondary liver endocrine tumors. The choice of the surgical modality should be evaluated carefully.
