Resecting Pulmonary Cancer of a Colorectal Origin-To the Editor

Abstract

Communications for this section will be published as space and priorities permit. The comments should not exceed 350 words in length, with a maximum of five references; one figure or table can be printed. Exceptions may occur under particular circumstances. Contributions may include comments on articles published in this periodical, or they may be reports of unique educational character. Please include a cover letter with a complete list of authors (including full first and last names and highest degree), corresponding authors address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address (if applicable). Specific permission to publish should be cited in the cover letter or appended as a postscript. CHEST reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.We are interested in the article written by our Dutch colleagues, van Halteren and coworkers, (June 1995)1Van Halteren HK Van Geel AN Hart AAM et al.Pulmonary resection for metastases of colorectal origin.Chest. 1995; 107: 1526-1531Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (94) Google Scholar entitled “Pulmonary Resection for Metastases of Colorectal Origin.” The limited number of patients known to be resected for colorectal cancer metastases of the lung amazed us. We can remember several cases in our hospital alone. Our pathologist (R.A.J.V) searched the Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatlseerd Archief database for cases from the 5 hospitals in our region (4% of all hospital beds in the Netherlands). He found at least eight proven cases of resection for metastases of colorectal cancer. We doubt therefore whether, as was stated, all patients operated on for this particular condition have been included. If not, a considerable number has been missed because of inadequate research in the Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatlseerd Archief. Despite the above, we support the conclusion that patients with three or fewer pulmonary metastases of colorectal origin may benefit from resection. Communications for this section will be published as space and priorities permit. The comments should not exceed 350 words in length, with a maximum of five references; one figure or table can be printed. Exceptions may occur under particular circumstances. Contributions may include comments on articles published in this periodical, or they may be reports of unique educational character. Please include a cover letter with a complete list of authors (including full first and last names and highest degree), corresponding authors address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address (if applicable). Specific permission to publish should be cited in the cover letter or appended as a postscript. CHEST reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. We are interested in the article written by our Dutch colleagues, van Halteren and coworkers, (June 1995)1Van Halteren HK Van Geel AN Hart AAM et al.Pulmonary resection for metastases of colorectal origin.Chest. 1995; 107: 1526-1531Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (94) Google Scholar entitled “Pulmonary Resection for Metastases of Colorectal Origin.” The limited number of patients known to be resected for colorectal cancer metastases of the lung amazed us. We can remember several cases in our hospital alone. Our pathologist (R.A.J.V) searched the Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatlseerd Archief database for cases from the 5 hospitals in our region (4% of all hospital beds in the Netherlands). He found at least eight proven cases of resection for metastases of colorectal cancer. We doubt therefore whether, as was stated, all patients operated on for this particular condition have been included. If not, a considerable number has been missed because of inadequate research in the Pathologisch Anatomisch Landelijk Geautomatlseerd Archief. Despite the above, we support the conclusion that patients with three or fewer pulmonary metastases of colorectal origin may benefit from resection.