Background: Simultaneous resection of primary colorectal cancer (CRC) and syn chron ous liver metastases (LM) is gaining interest. We describe management and out comes of patients undergoing simultaneous resection in the general population. Methods: All patients with CRC who underwent surgical resection of LM between 2002 and 2009 were identified using the populationbased Ontario Cancer Registry and linked electronic treatment records. Synchronous disease was defined as having resection of CRCLM within 12 weeks of surgery for the primary tumour. Results: During the study period, 1310 patients underwent resection of CRCLM. Of these, 226 (17%) patients had synchronous disease; 100 (44%) had a simultaneous resection and 126 (56%) had a staged resection. For the simultaneous and the staged groups, the mean number of liver lesions resected was 1.6 and 2.3, respectively (p < 0.001); the mean size of the largest lesion was 3.1 and 4.8 cm, respectively (p < 0.001); and the major hepatic resection rate was 21% and 79%, respectively (p < 0.001). Post operative mortality for simultaneous cases at 90 days was less than 5%. Fiveyear overall survival and cancerspecific survival for patients with simultaneous resection was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] 26%-45%) and 37% (95% CI 25%-50%), respectively. Simultaneous resections are common in the general population. A more conservative approach is being adopted for simultaneous resections by limiting the extent of liver resection. Postoperative mortality and longterm survival in this patient population is similar to that reported in other contemporary series. Conclusion: Compared with a staged approach, patients undergoing simultaneous resections had fewer and smaller liver metastases and underwent less aggressive resec tions. Onethird of these patients achieved longterm survival.