[Surgery of pulmonary metastasis]

Between April 1993 and December 2007, 92 patients underwent the complete resection of pulmonary metastases, 47 mens (51.1%) and 45 womens (49.9%). 26 patients (27.2%) had solitary pulmonary metastasis, 25 (26.1%) multiple pulmonary metastasis and 41 (44.5%) patients presented bilateral pulmonary metastasis. 42 patients (45.6%) presented pulmonary metastasis recurrence, 14 patients (15.2%) a second recurrence and 6 patients (6.5%) a third pulmonary metastasis recurrence. 49 patients (53.2%) were reoperated. The mean cumulative survival after complete resection was 78.4 months (+/- 52.5 months). There were no operative mortality.

Thys work demonstrated that every attempt should be made to completely ressect all clinically detected metastases. Complete resection of pulmonary metastasis, even in recurrent disease is compatible with long-term survival.