Association between the lymph node ratio and hepatic tumor burden: importance for resectable colorectal liver metastases?

Prognosis in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) and liver-only metastases is first and foremost determined by resectability of the liver metastasis (as well as the primary disease), which can usually be entertained in about 20% (1). However, within the resected group of patients, there is a wide variability in outcome, related to a number of factors.