Resection of lung metastases from sarcomas

Between 1977 and 1987, 19 patients were candidates for resection of lung metastases from pretreated extrathoracic primary tumours. Primary tumours comprised 10 osteosarcomas, one Ewing sarcoma and eight soft tissue sarcomas. All 19 patients presented with metachronous metastases. Twenty-eight thoracotomies were performed in these 19 patients. Nine patients underwent multiple surgical explorations. All the metastases were removed by wedge resection. Seven out of 10 patients treated for osteosarcoma received pre- and postoperative chemotherapy, and three out of 10 postoperative chemotherapy only. The projected survival rate at 3 years is 33%. Seven out of 19 patients survived more than 2 years; four of them were free of disease at 33, 54, 56 and 137 months. Good prognosis appears to be long metastases-doubling time, metachronous metastases, small number of lung metastases, pathological evidence of tumour necrosis and/or fibrosis after chemotherapy and, of course, complete control of the primary tumour and no extrathoracic metastases.