Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been associated with an increased risk of surgery because of chemotherapy-associated steatohepatitis and sinusoidal obstruction. The aim of the current study was to assess for other predictors of steatohepatitis and sinusoidal obstruction and to determine the role of obesity as a risk factor in patients with colorectal liver metastasis (CLM).

An institutional review board–approved prospectively maintained database of 1,605 patients who underwent hepatic procedures for CLM from 2001 to 2009 was reviewed.

In a review of 208 resected patients, body mass index was the only predictor of liver injury according to multivariate analysis (P < .001, odds ratio = 3.88). Diabetes, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, sleep apnea, alcohol use, tobacco use, age, and sex were not significant predictors. Among preoperative chemotherapy patients, BMI was a predictor of chemotherapy liver injury according to multivariate analysis (P < .0001). The rate of obesity (BMI >30) was 36%, and among obese patients (BMI >30) the rate of steatosis or steatohepatitis was 39%.

Obesity is the strongest predictor of steatosis and steatohepatitis in patients with CLM, and this risk is independent of the use of preoperative chemotherapy.