[Results of pulmonary resection for metastatic lung tumors]

The results of pulmonary resection for metastatic pulmonary lesions in our institution are reviewed. Over the period of ten years 43 patients underwent 46 thoracotomies with a 5 years survival rate of 40.8%. The most significant predictors of survival were type of primary tumor, number of lesions removed and disease-free interval, while there were no statistically significant difference in survival rates between partial resection and lobectomy. Recurrence in the early postoperative period was often observed in the patients with bilateral pulmonary metastases and their 5 years survival rate was as low as 21.9%. Though multiple lung metastases is not contraindication for pulmonary resection, we should be prudent to operate for those patients with multiple lung metastases. Our results suggest that the patient with solitary lesion, long disease-free interval and no metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes is the best candidate for resection of the metastatic pulmonary lesions.