Resection of Solitary Lung Metastasis of Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Cancer Can Prolong Survival in Selected Patients

Abstract

There are only a few small published studies on pulmonary metastasectomy for urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In this study, we examined the long-term outcome and the prognostic survival factors associated with pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC, as based on our centre's 20-year experience. Between 2000 and 2020, curative pulmonary metastasectomy was performed in 18 patients (14 males and 4 females). Clinical, demographical and surgical data were retrospectively analysed. The disease-free interval between treatment of the primary tumour and pulmonary metastasectomy ranged from one to 48 months. Survival analysis was conducted with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 84.7% and 52.9%, respectively. Resection of solitary metastases was a positive and independent factor for survival (p=0.04). Pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC is associated with a favourable outcome and solitary metastasis is associated with long-term survival. Surgical resection of solitary pulmonary metastasis and repeated lung metastasectomy by pulmonary recurrence from a urinary tract TCC is feasible in selected patients.