Neuroendocrine liver metastases

Abstract

This review summarizes regional strategies for management of neuroendocrine liver metastases (NLM), including hepatic resection, ablation, liver transplantation, and hepatic arterial embolization/chemoembolization. Despite early disease recurrence and/or progression, resection of NLM with or without combined ablation provides long-term survival and symptom improvement. When complete resection of gross liver disease is not feasible, resection as a tumor debulking strategy should be considered in patients with extreme hormonal symptoms refractory to other treatments or with tumors in locations that would affect short-term quality of life. Hepatic arterial embolization with or without local instillation of chemotherapy may induce disease response, symptomatic improvement, and prolonged survival in patients with unresectable NLM. Early disease recurrence, high postoperative mortality, the absence of extensive experience, and lack of universal indications for organ allocation preclude orthotopic liver transplantation as an option for most patients with unresectable NLM.