SURVIVAL AFTER SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF RECURRENT PULMONARY METASTASES

Objective: Resection of lung metastases is a generally accepted therap eutic strategy today. This retrospective study was performed in order to estimate the value of an aggressive surgical approach in recurrent metastatic disease of the lung. Methods: The survival rates of 42 pati ents undergoing repeated resectional treatment for recurrent lung meta stases (group A) were compared to the outcome of a total of 288 patien ts after a single surgical intervention for lung metastases (group B). Survival rates and the relative effects of the various prognostic fac tors were calculated according to Kaplan-Maier and Mantel-Cox or Wilco xon test. Histology of the primary tumors in group A consisted of 18 c arcinomas, 22 sarcomas and two melanomas, in group B the distribution was 64% carcinoma, 27% sarcoma and 9% melanoma. The mean follow-up per iod was 88.5 months for group A and 27 months for group B. Results: Th e overall survival rate for group A was 48% at 5 years and 30% at 10 y ears, the survival rate for group B was 34% at 5 years. Conclusion: Lo ng-term survival rates superior to those after single resectional trea tment for lung metastases encourage an aggressive surgical approach fo r this disease. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.