[Surgical treatment of oral cancer pulmonary metastases]

We examined the efficacy of surgical resection of oral cancer pulmonary metastases. Between April 2001 and October 2010, 12 patients with pulmonary metastases underwent thoracic operations. There were 8 men and 4 women with a median age of 66.5 years (range, 27~76). All tumors were squamous cell carcinomas and the most common primary site was tongue (7 patients). Overall survival rate after metastasectomy was 50% at 3 years. Overall survival rate at 2 years by lobectomy was greater than by partial resection. For patients with oral cancer pulmonary metastasis, surgical resection is the effective treatment option.