An Overview of the Surgical Management of Hepatic Neuroendocrine Metastases

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) frequently metastasise to the liver (NLM) and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Numerous treatment options have been implemented both for cure, and to implement disease control. Surgical treatment includes curative resection, palliative cytoreductive resection and transplantation. Complete surgical resection is only possible in a subset of people with NLMs due to excessive metastatic burden and anatomical location. Ablative therapies may be used either as an adjunct to surgery or as a primary treatment. The purpose of the following article is to summarise surgical treatment strategies in the management of patients with hepatic neuroendocrine metastases, based on the available literature. © 2012 Indian Association of Surgical Oncology.