J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 99(12): 855-860, 1998

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Editorial

SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PULMONARY METASTASES

The results of surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal, breast, and renal cell carcinomas, soft tissue sarcoma, and osteosarcoma are reviewed. The number of pulmonary metastases, the presence of hilar or mediastinal involvement, and extraplumonary foci are discussed in terms of surgical treatment. The size of pulmonary tumors or tumor doubling time has no significant effect on survival, while the number of metastatic foci does. Although a slight survival advantage has been noted for patients without hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer before pulmonary metastases occur, the difference in survival rates among patients with and without hepatic metastases is not significant. The role of surgery is less clear in breast cancer patients, and therefore further prospective study is considered essential. Higher relapse rates have been reported in patients with soft tissue sarcoma and osteosarcoma, although patients with these metastases can achieve long-term survival after a second metastasectomy. VATS is not be recommended for metastatic cancer surgery, because intraoperative identification of metastatic foci is often difficult.

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