[Surgery of lung metastasis in childhood]

From 1975 to 1987, we have operated 20 cases with lung metastases. They were 12 females and 8 males with ages between 1,6 and 12 years old (average of 5 years). The histology of the primary neoplasia was: 13 cases with Wilms' Tumors, 3 cases with Ewing's Sarcoma and 1 case with Neuroblastoma, Rhabdomiosarcoma, Hepatoblastoma and Neuroectodermic Tumor of Askin. We found 38 metastases and there were performed through a Thoracotomy 28 wedge resection, 7 pulmonary lobectomies and 3 biopsies. The operative mortality was 0%. The most frequent location of the lesion were on medium and lower lobule of the right lung. The survival was 70% (14 cases) after 4 years of average of the follow up. The survival for Wilms Tumors was 61% (8 cases) and all patients with Ewing's Sarcoma, Rhabdomiosarcoma, Neuroblastoma and Neuroectodermic Tumor of Askin were alive. The Thoracotomy is a useful method for therapy of tumors in children with lung metastases associated to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.