Elective Bowel Resection for Incurable Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Prognostic Variables for Asymptomatic Patients

Stage IV patients selected for elective palliative resection of asymptomatic primary colorectal cancers had substantial postoperative survival that was significantly better than those never having resection. Limited metastatic tumor burden and less extensive liver involvement were associated with better survival and a higher likelihood of benefit from elective bowel resection in asymptomatic patients with incurable stage IV CRC.