[Current state of surgery in the treatment of lung metastases]

64 resections and 51 instances of cryosurgical treatment in 102 patients with pulmonary metastases are reported. Under clearly established conditions, parenchyma-saving resection is often the only curative treatment for pulmonary metastases. Survival rates are 72% after one year and 35% after 5 years. Resection is also indicated after a short interval between the treatment of the primary tumor and onset of lung secondaries. Prognostic factors are histology of the primary tumor and progress of pulmonary metastases, measurable by tumor doubling time and the onset of new secondaries during a given short time interval. Cryosurgery for multiple metastases or local inoperable tumor has a one-year survival rate of 48% and a 5-year survival rate of 26%. While systemic therapy will change the role of surgery, its importance will increase as a factor in combined treatment modalities.