Surgical Resection for Liver Metastases Developing 10 and 21 Years After Primary Surgery for Mucinous Colon Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

Optimal management for liver metastases from colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma is still controversial. Here, we report such a case of liver metastases that developed twice with 10-year intervals after curative resection. An 84-year-old man had undergone a radical left hemicolectomy for descending colon cancer at age 63 years. The histopathologic diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma. Ten years later, he was found to have a cystic tumor in liver and underwent partial hepatectomy of segment 5. Moreover, 10 years after that hepatic resection, computed tomography showed a low-density tumor with calcification in remnant liver, and partial hepatectomy of segment 8 was performed. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of each liver tumor indicated metastasis from primary colon mucinous adenocarcinoma. It is rare for colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma to recur twice after long intervals of 10 years. However, in a patient with a history of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma, possibility of recurrence more than 10 years after curative surgery also must be kept in mind. Long-term clinical follow-up after curative surgery for primary colon cancer or liver metastases may be necessary to detect early signs of recurrence of colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma.