Lung Metastasectomy Improves Survival in Patients Affected by Grade 2 and 3 Chondrosarcoma

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the role of pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) in patients affected by lung metastasis (LM) of grade 2 and 3 chondrosarcoma (CS).

The study included 61 patients affected by LM. Patients unfit for PM were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The patients' mean age was 51 years, ranging from 17 to 84 years; 44 (66.7%) patients had grade 2 CS, while 17 (25.8%) patients had grade 3 CS. Fifty-one patients presented multiple nodules: 44 of those cases were bilateral LM (72.1%). Twenty-nine (47.5%) patients underwent PM, whereas 32 (52.5%) patients underwent chemotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy alone. At the final follow-up (average of 83 months, range 13-298), 47 (77.0%) patients had died of the disease. A better post-relapse survival rate was observed in patients who underwent PM (55.1 vs. 13.1% at 5-year follow-up, p < 0.001) and in patients with unilateral LM (60.4 vs. 25.6% at 5-year follow-up, p = 0.016). The number of LM also played a prognostic role.

Until significant improvements in chemotherapy can be made, PM can be a valid option in the attempt to improve post-metastatic survival.