Surgical removal of pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma

Thirty-three patients operated on for pulmonary metastases from renal cancer were followed up for a minimum of 5 years or to death. The 5-year survival was 21%. There was a tendency to better survival in patients operated by lobectomy rather than limited resection. Extended operations carried a grave prognosis. Manifest metastatic disease within one year after the primary operation showed shortened survival. Repeated operations were possible, with good results. It is concluded that operations for pulmonary metastases can be performed with good results. However, the effect is a palliative one as the ultimate cause of death in all instances was the spread of the cancer disease.