AIMS: We assessed the morbidity, mortality and efficacy of cryotherapy for primary and secondary @entity96 in a prospective case control study. METHODS: Since 1996 we performed 77 cryosurgical procedures on 71 @entity1 . 6 @entity1 had @entity157 , the remainders metastases, mainly of colorectal origin (n = 49). Cryotherapy was used when a complete @entity5 resection was not feasible, but complete @entity5 destruction by cryotherapy seemed possible. Mean follow-up was 21 months. RESULTS: The mean number of lesions per @entity1 was 2.6 (1-10) with a mean maximum diameter of 3.7 cm (1-11). In 36 of 71 @entity1 cryotherapy was used in combination with liver resection. Morbidity and hospital mortality were 23 % and 2.8 %. In 25 of 34 @entity1 with colorectal primary and preoperatively elevated @entity787 it returned to normal postoperatively (74 %). 40 of the 60 @entity1 with "R0-treatment" developed @entity5 recurrence, 10 of these at the cryosite (17 %). Median survival for all @entity1 (colorectal metastases) was 28 (29) months with a 3- and 5-year survival rate of 38 % (43 %) and 30 % (33 %), respectively. CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is an effective parenchyma sparing method for the treatment of @entity96 in a curative approach. It can be performed safely and a long-term local @entity5 control is achieved in a high percentage of @entity1 . Survival rates following cryotherapy appear comparable to the results of liver resection. It seems justified to conduct a prospective randomised trial comparing liver resection and cryotherapy for resectable @entity5 .

[Cryotherapy for primary and secondary XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity96 :: ('MESH:D008113', 'Disease') :: ['malignant liver tumours'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumours', 'tumour'] @entity787 :: ('1084', 'Gene') :: ['CEA'] @entity157 :: ('MESH:D006528', 'Disease') :: ['hepatocellular carcinoma']
@entity96 :: (MESH:D008113,Disease) :: ['liver tumours']
