Table 1. Profile of patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal metastases.

Dukes' stage of primary	Number of patients	Sex M : F	Syn.	Met.	Mean CEA (ng ml−1)	Mean Ca 19-9 (U ml−1)	H1 : H2 : H3
A	1	1 : 0	0	1	5	13	0 : 1 : 0
B	41	23 : 18	22	19	254	666	19 : 21 : 1
C	34	16 : 18	28	6	176	158	11 : 22 : 1

Syn., synchronous colorectal liver metastases; Met., Metachronous colorectal liver metastases; mean CEA, at time of initial liver resection (normal levels 1–5 ng ml⁻¹); mean CA 19-9, At the time of initial liver resection (normal levels 17–37 U ml⁻¹); H1, solitary metastasis; H2, 2–5 liver metastases; H3, >5 liver metastases.