SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF METASTASES IN PATIE NTS WITH RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of surgic al excision of metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Eighteen patients with metastatic RCC underwent resection of metastas es between 1988 and 1994 (pulmonary: n = 6; skeletal: n = 6; cerebral: n = 3; local relapse: n = 3). Two patients suffered from synchronous appearance of metastases, whereas in 16 cases a metachronous occurrenc e was observed. In 12 out of a total of 18 patients metastases were co mpletely resected. These patients survived longer than patients in who m metastases were incompletely resected (30 vs. 12 months). Six out of these 12 patients with a complete resection of metastases are present ly free of disease for a mean duration of 24 months (10-34 months). Th e resection of lung metastases seems to be associated with longer surv ival times. In conclusion, surgical resection of metastases - solitary or single organ site - especially in the lung appears to be justified in patients with RCC. The surgical excision of skeletal metastases at least improves quality of life.