Initial and reoperative pulmonary metastasectomy: indications, technique, and results

The ability to predict which patients will derive a survival benefit from pulmonary metastasectomy is limited. Most patients remain asymptomatic until the disease becomes advanced, and therefore computerized tomography (CT) of the chest has become the standard of care for follow-up of patients at risk for pulmonary metastases. The most important predictor of post-thoracotomy survival in patients at the National Cancer Institute with soft tissue, osteogenic, and pediatric sarcomas as well as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma has been the ability to render the patient disease-free. Tumor histology, disease-free interval, and possibly number of nodules are also determinants of survival. Median sternotomy is the preferred approach for initial and repeat metastasectomies and every effort should be made to preserve pulmonary parenchyma. Resection of pulmonary metastases has become an accepted therapeutic modality, but selection of surgical candidates, and operative planning needs to be individualized.