Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Metastatic colorectal cancer traditionally has been considered incurable. Over the past 3 decades, however, resection of low-volume hepatic disease has been recognized as beneficial in some cases. ⋯ Resection of metastases to more unusual sites (ovary, brain, peritoneal cavity) is more controversial; nevertheless, retrospective data suggest that a few patients may be cured with resection of these tumors. In this article, we review the history and current status of metastasectomy in stage IV colorectal cancer.