[Surgery for lung metastases in children]

The authors report a series of 76 children with lung metastases followed from 1974 to 1989. Forty-four children were operated on with 64 thoracotomies (50 wedge resections, 5 segmentectomies, 2 pneumonectomies, 6 biopsies, 1 excision of an inflammatory granuloma): 23 of these children are alive, and 17 of them without any adjuvant radiotherapy. Thirty-two were not operated on; of the 13 that are alive, 7 had no adjuvant radiotherapy. The indications for surgery were: to treat a complication of the metastasis, to verify persistent images on CT-scan, but essentially to avoid more aggressive treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy) with its risk of sequelae in children.