Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases

In 1971, the author reported 22 children with multiple pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma. Six of these 22 (27%) were alive and well 10 to 15 years later. Two of the six developed new different tumors. Since these patients with multiple pulmonary metastases did well with aggressive multiple thoracotomies, the author treated numerous other patients with pulmonary metastases from various diseases. In general, patients with multiple pulmonary metastases have the same curability as those with solitary metastases, i.e., approximately a 27% 5-year survival rate.