Authors' reply: Treatment of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors in relation to the extent of hepatic disease (Br J Surg 2009; 96: 175-184)

摘要

As stated in our paper, we agree that there is only little place for palliative hepatic resection in the management concept of neuroendocrine (NET) liver metastases (LM). Candidates for cytore-ductive hepatic surgery are patients with hormonally active LM inducing symptoms not amenable to medical or interventional treatment. Palliative hepatic surgery is sometimes necessary in order to achieve better quality of life in patients with gigantic tumour bulk in the liver causing local discomfort. Finally, palliative resection of LM can be indicated in case of complications of non-surgical treatment.