Bone metastasis after a resection of stage I and II primary lung cancer

In the present study, we reviewed the patients who developed bone metastase s after a surgical resection of primary lung cancer and evaluated their cli nicopathological features. From 1992 to 1995, 177 patients with stage I and II primary lung cancer underwent a surgical resection at the Kitakyushu Mu nicipal Medical Center. Bone metastases were detected in 14 patients (7.9%) by follow-up examinations including bone scintigraphy (scan). Bone metasta sis was one of the most frequent extra-thoracic recurrent forms. Patient,: with adenocarcinoma tended to develop bone metastases more frequently than those with squamous cell carcinoma. In the preoperative bone scans. an abno rmal uptake was observed in 76 patients (42.9%), and 10 (13.1%) of them wer e found to develop bone metastases in the follow-up studies. A microscopic examination of the primary tumor demonstrated close correlation between int ratumoral and peritumoral lymphatic vessel invasion and postoperative devel opment of bone metastases. A bone scan is a very useful and indispensable p rocedure for diagnosing bone metastases. However, this scan may also show f alse positive finding in a number of benign conditions. Therefore, a surgic al resection should be considered as the first-line treatment for patients with positive findings in the bone scan when the diagnosis of bone metastas is can not be confirmed based on both their symptoms and other. clinical ex aminations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.