Abstract
Clinical studies of liver metastasis of esophageal cancer were made in 94 patients in whom the outcome was clear. Liver metastases were found in 16 patients (17%) and these metastases were multiple and non-resectable. In 11 of the 16 patients (69%), the lesion was located in the lower thoracic esophagus. Of 12 patients with liver metastasis after complete resection, the incidences of lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion were high and 9 of the 12 patients (75%) had stag IV disease. Average survival of 9 patients given postoperative chemotherapy was longer than that of the 3 without chemotherapy (10.6 months vs. 5.3 months). Above all, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy was effective against liver metastasis of esophageal cancer. Of 4 patients with liver metastasis after incomplete resection, the outcome was very poor (mean survival 3.0 months).
