Synchronous liver metastases of rectal cancer and the possibility of simultaneous resection

Treatment of metastatic rectal cancer and liver metastases continues to pose a major challenge. Synchronous liver metastases are present in up to one fifth of patients diagnosed with rectal carcinoma. Multidisciplinary cooperation is essential for determination of the consequent diagnostic and therapeutic plan. Only tight collaboration of experts from different medical fields allows for optimal timing of various medical procedures leading to a maximal benefit for the patient. Given the complexity of the problem, different specific methods and combinations thereof are applied in the course of the therapy, making the design of straightforward guidelines impossible. Since open surgery is complicated by the vastly distant locations of the rectum and liver, minimally invasive approach brings more perspectives in simultaneous surgery. A novel possibility of robotic and/ or laparoscopic surgery performed by two teams is currently being developed. Despite the progress in surgical technology, optimal strategy has not yet been established.