Abstract Introduction In the literature, results after surgical treatment of non-colorectal non-neuroendocrine liver metastases (NCNNLM) are reported that are often inferior to those from colorectal liver metastases. The selection of patients with favorable tumor biology is currently still a matter of discussion. Materials/methods The retrospective data analysis was based on data that were collected for the multicenter study “Role of surgical treatment for non-colorectal liver metastases” in county Thuringia. Results For the study, 637 patients were included from 1995 to 2018. 5 and 10-year survival of R0 resected patients were 33% and 19%, respectively. In the multi-variate analysis of the entire group, sex, timing, disease-free interval, number of metastases, R-classification as well as lymph node status of the primary lesion showed an independent statistical influence on the 5-year survival. In the group of R0 resected patients, disease-free interval, number of metastases and lymph node status of the primary lesion influenced the 5-year survival in the multi-variate analysis. In kidney malignancies, R-classification, timing and number of liver metastases were statistically significant in the multi-variate analysis of the 5-year survival, in mamma carcinomas only the R-classification. Conclusion The Adam score identifies some risk factors which influence prognosis in most but not in all tumor entities. For kidney cancer and breast cancer it can be simplified.