[Pulmonary Metastases of Colorectal Carcinoma]

Treatment strategies for patients with pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma are continuously evolving. This applies mostly to new systemic therapeutic approaches. For carefully selected patients surgical removal of pulmonary metastases remains an important interdisciplinary therapeutic option and is recommended as first treatment option by the guidelines. Five-year survival rates of up to 60 % are reported following pulmonary metastasectomy. Parenchyma sparing resection has been well established in this setting with low morbidity and mortality. Prognostic factors are, among others, complete resection, thoracic lymph node involvement, the number of metastases and the disease free interval. Although data result mostly from retrospective studies, these factors currently help in patient selection.