Twenty-nine patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal metastases from 1980 to 1986 were studied. The overall cumulative survival rates were 82%, 63% and 32% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. The possible prognostic factors, i.e., Dukes' staging of the primary lesion, the number of metastatic nodes, synchronous versus metachronous appearance of metastases, and curative versus non-curative resection were estimated. Evaluation of those categories did not provide any significant information for prognosis after hepatic resection for liver metastases. The growth patterns of the tumor boundary were classified into three types as sinusoidal, expansive, and mixed. There was no significant difference in the survival rates among these groups. The significant factor affecting prognosis was only whether the secondary tumors were encapsulated or not. Patients with encapsulated tumor of the interval longer than 2 years between colon resection and hepatic resection had a significantly better survival rate.