Management of Pulmonary Metastases in Osteogenic Sarcoma

Twenty-three patients presented with isolated pulmonary metastases from osteogenic sarcoma following primary treatment by amputation or limb salvage, combined with chemotherapy. The metastases were treated by conservative surgical excision, combined with chemotherapy; surgicl excision was repeated for recurrent pulmonary metastases provided there were none elsewhere. Six patients are alive and disease free following their initial surgery. Of the remaining 17, 10 had recurrence confined to the lungs, and seven developed extra pulmonary metastases. The ten with isolated pulmonary metastases all had further thoracotomies but eventually seven died, as did all those with extra pulmonary metastases. There were in all 45 operations, with one hospital death and one serious complication. Actuarial survival at 1,3,5 and 7 years was 87, 45, 39 and 31% respectively. In the ten patients who had recurrence of isolated pulmonary metastases, survival at 1 and 3 years was 70 and 34%.