Surgical treatment of liver metastases from kidney cancer: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Liver metastases are present in 20.3% of metastatic kidney cancers. The aim of this literature review was to assess the efficacy of surgical treatment for hepatic metastasis from kidney cancer.

METHODS: An extended web search of the literature was independently performed in March 2018 by two authors according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

RESULTS: Through electronic searches, we identified 935 potentially relevant citations. Thirteen articles were finally included in the systematic review. Median survival after resection ranged from 15 to 142 months while the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival ranged from 69% to 100%, 26% to 83.3% and 0% to 62%, respectively. Median disease-free survival ranged from 7.2 to 27 months.

CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of hepatic metastases is performed in approximately 1% of patients with liver metastases and in select patients may be potentially curative. Surgical resection of liver metastases from kidney cancer represents a valid option for selected patients with metastatic renal cancer.