Incidence, prognosis, and treatment options for patients with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases from colorectal origin.

Background: Peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases are common metastatic sites in patients who have colorectal cancer. Quite frequently, patients present with both synchronous liver and peritoneal metastases, which may result in a dilemma regarding the optimal treatment.

Objective: In the absence of reliable data, the aim of the current study was to provide population-based data on such patients and to review the literature for possible treatment options.

Design: This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospective database and a review.

Patients: All patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2010 with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases were identified from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry.

Outcome Measures: Incidence and survival were analyzed. Next, the literature was reviewed for articles reporting on the results of treatment with curative intent.

Results: In total, 27,632 patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, of whom 5638 patients (20%) presented with metastasized disease. Synchronous liver metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis were present in 440 patients, being 11% of patients with liver metastases, 34% of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, 8% of patients with metastasized disease, and 2% of all patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Median survival for patients with liver metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis was 5 months, in comparison with 95 months for patients with nonmetastasized disease. No improvement in survival was noted over time. None of the patients underwent treatment with curative intent during this period.

Limitations: No data on the extent of peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastases were available in the population-based study. This complicates comparison with treated patients from the literature review, which probably reflects a highly selected patient population.

Conclusions: Both liver metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis were present in 8% of patients presenting with metastasized colorectal cancer. Population-based survival was only 5 months, with none of the patients undergoing treatment with curative intent. Median survival rates of up to 36 months after treatment with curative intent as published in the literature may be regarded as promising for selected patients.