Abstract
Background: R0 resection is the standard for colorectal liver metastases (CLMs). Adequacy of R1 resections is debated. Detachment of CLMs from vessels has been proposed to prioritize parenchyma sparing and increase resectability, but outcomes are still to be elucidated. The present study aimed to clarify the outcomes of R1 surgery (margin <1 mm) in patients with CLMs, distinguishing standard R1 resection (parenchymal margin, R1Par) and R1 resection with detachment of CLMs from major intrahepatic vessels (R1Vasc). Methods: All patients undergoing first resection between 2004 and June 2013 were prospectively considered. R0, R1Par, and R1Vasc were compared in per-patient and per-resection area analyses. Results: The study included 627 resection areas in 226 consecutive patients. Fifty-one (8.1 %) resections in 46 (20.4 %) patients were R1Vasc, and 177 (28.2 %) resections in 107 (47.3 %) patients were R1Par. Thirty-two (5.1 %) surgical margin recurrences occurred in 28 (12.4 %) patients. Local recurrence risk was similar between the R0 and R1Vasc groups (per-patient analysis 5.3 vs. 4.3 %; per-resection area analysis 1.5 vs. 3.9 %
