From 1974 to 1987, 48 patients received liver resection for hepatic metastases mainly from colorectal cancer. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 23.6% in overall cases. The subset of colorectal patients whose primary lesions and also hepatic metastases were curatively removed had a 5-year survival rate of 24.5%. No significant differences in survival rate were noted in the number and size of metastases, time interval from the initial operation to the second operation for metastases (synchronous versus metachronous) and the extent of the operation. Autopsies after unsuccessful hepatic resection for metastases from colorectal cancer showed very few localized hepatic relapses (9.5%), which indicates that surgery alone is an inadequate form of therapy and adjuvant therapy should be considered.