Secondary neoplasms of the liver

Abstract Secondary liver tumours are metastases from primary tumours elsewhere and constitute the largest group of malignant hepatic tumours. The liver involvement dictates survival probability in the majority of patients, and surgical resection is the only potential curative therapeutic option. Colorectal liver metastasis is the most common type. Liver resection is the standard of care for colorectal liver metastasis and overall 5-year survival following resection is about 42%, dependent on a range of prognostic factors. Metastases from neuroendocrine tumours may be treated by hepatic resection with a 5-year survival of 50–75%. Liver transplantation is an option for carefully selected patients with non-resectable liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumours with 5-year survival of greater than 80% and a low risk of recurrence. For other types of metastases, like breast cancer, urological and gynaecological cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and sarcomas, surgical therapy may be efficacious, particularly in young patients with oligometastatic disease, long disease-free interval, and favourable tumour biology.