Compared with their nondiabetic counterparts , cancer patients with preexisting diabetes are ∼50 % more likely to die after surgery .
OBJECTIVE Diabetes appears to increase risk for some cancers , but the association between preexisting diabetes and  postoperative mortality in cancer patients is less clear .
Our objective was to systematic ally review postoperative mortality in cancer patients with and without preexisting diabetes and summarize results using meta- analysis .
Diabetes is associated with increased perioperative mortality but equivalent long-term outcome after hepatic resection for colorectal cancer
Diabetes is associated with alterations in liver metabolism and immune response that may influence post-operative recovery and long-term survival after hepatectomy for cancer . Patients with type I or type II diabetes mellitus su bmi tted to a potentially curative hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer were identified from the prospect i ve data base , and compared with patients with hepatic colorectal metastases su bmi tted to resection during the same time interval , but without diabetes mellitus . Data on operative morbidity and mortality and long-term survival were analyzed . Between December 1990 and July 1999 , a total of 727 patients underwent hepatic resection , 61 of whom ( 8.1 % ) had type I and type II diabetes mellitus .  Operative mortality in the diabetic patients was significantly greater than in nondiabetic patients ( 8 % vs. 2 % , P < 0.02 ) . Among patients with diabetes mellitus , four of the five perioperative deaths were due to liver failure after major hepatic resection ( lobectomy or greater ) . All four of these patients had significant parenchymal abnormality ( three with steatosis ) . Long-term survival was identical to that in nondiabetic control subjects . We conclude that the presence of diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of perioperative mortality . In patients with diabetes mellitus and parenchymal steatosis , major hepatic resection should be undertaken with caution
Compared with their nondiabetic counterparts , cancer patients with preexisting diabetes are ∼50 % more likely to die after surgery .
OBJECTIVE Diabetes appears to increase risk for some cancers , but the association between preexisting diabetes and  postoperative mortality in cancer patients is less clear .
Our objective was to systematic ally review postoperative mortality in cancer patients with and without preexisting diabetes and summarize results using meta- analysis .