[Minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of pulmonary metastases]

Raising surgeons' awareness and sensitivity about the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of patients with pulmonary metastases.

The study was based on the data collected from 10 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for lung metastases in our department between 2003 and 2008.

The most frequently encountered metastases to the lung were from breast and lung carcinoma; the disease free interval was between 6 months and 20 years. Most patients were symptomatic at presentation. Solitary metastases were the most commonly found ones in imagistic studies. We performed mainly atypical resections, postoperative course was uneventful in all cases, without intra- or postoperative complications.

The advantages of minimally invasive surgical techniques are: shorter hospital stay with lower hospital expenses as well as improving the quality of life of patients with pulmonary metastases.