Resection Of Pulmonary Metastases Research Articles

Benefits of video-assisted thoracic surgery for repeated pulmonary metastasectomy

The use of repeated pulmonary resection for metachronous pulmonary metastasis has increased. We assessed whether video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) produced greater benefits than classic thoracotomy for repeated pulmonary metastasectomy procedures. A total of 46 patients who had undergone two or more pulmonary metastasectomies from 1995 to 2008 were analyzed in this study. These patients were classified into four groups as follows: group A (previous VATS/present VATS); group B (previous VATS/present thoracotomy); group C (previous thoracotomy/present VATS); group D (previous thoracotomy/present thoracotomy). The clinical features of these four groups were then compared. The operating time and the duration of thoracic drainage were longer in group D than in group A or B. The operating time was also longer in group C than in group A. Intraoperative bleeding was greater in group D patients than in other three groups. There were no discernible morbidities resulting from VATS in groups A or C. No differences were found in the occurrence of relapse among the groups. The mean interval from the previous to the present pulmonary metastasectomy also did not differ significantly among groups. VATS can result in a shortened operating time, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and generally fewer complications compared with repeated classic thoracotomy. VATS is also potentially a curative procedure as it is not inferior to classic thoracotomy in terms of the relapse rate after repeated pulmonary metastasectomy.

Tumor Infiltrated Hilar and Mediastinal Lymph Nodes are an Independent Prognostic Factor for Decreased Survival After Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma

Surgical resection remains the most effective treatment in patients with pulmonary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge the prognostic significance of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis during pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma is unknown. We analyzed the value of computerized tomography to predict mediastinal/hilar lymph node involvement as well as the impact of systematic lymphadenectomy on survival in patients with pulmonary renal cell carcinoma metastasis. We analyzed survival in 110 patients who underwent resection of pulmonary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was done by Cox regression analysis. Lymph node metastasis was histologically proved in 35% of patients. Metastasis was not associated with initial tumor grade, lymph node status, the number of pulmonary metastases or recurrent pulmonary metastasis. Computerized tomography had 84% sensitivity and 97% specificity to predict lymph node metastasis. Sensitivity was markedly better for detecting mediastinal than hilar lymph node metastasis (90% vs 69%). Patients with lymph node metastasis had significantly shorter median survival than patients without lymph node metastasis (19 vs 102 months, p <0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor infiltrated mediastinal lymph nodes were an independent prognostic factor for patient survival. Match paired analysis showed that after lymph node dissection patients showed a trend toward improved survival. Mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastases significantly correlate with decreased survival. Systematic lymphadenectomy provides valuable information on staging and prognosis in patients with pulmonary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma, and may prolong survival.

Operative treatment for metachronous pulmonary metastasis from esophageal carcinoma

The clinical significance of operative treatment for metachronous pulmonary metastasis from esophageal carcinoma is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed 23 consecutive patients who underwent operative resection for metachronous pulmonary metastasis from esophageal carcinoma from 1991 to 2008. Patient baseline characteristics, survival probability, and prognostic factors were analyzed. The median follow-up period was 31 months for surviving patients. There were 19 men and 4 women, with a median age of 66 years at the time of pulmonary resection. The median disease-free interval was 15.5 months. Cervical or mediastinal lymph node metastases preceded pulmonary metastases in 4 patients. Seven patients (30.4%) had multiple metastases with a maximum number of 4. The median operative time and blood loss were 94.5 minutes and 18 mL, respectively. The median length of postoperative stay was 12.5 days. The predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates using the Kaplan-Meier method were 73.9%, 43.5%, and 43.5%, respectively, with a median survival time of 28.7 months. Univariate analysis revealed that an extrapulmonary metastasis as the initial recurrence site was an unfavorable prognostic factor (P = .0411). Multivariate analyses, however, did not identify the initial recurrence site as an independent prognostic factor (P = .0542). Operative resection for metachronous pulmonary metastasis from esophageal carcinoma is an acceptable treatment. This study of a limited number of patients may have created a constitutional selection bias. An antecedent extrapulmonary metastasis was found to be an unfavorable prognostic factor.

Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Overall Survival After Resection of Pulmonary Metastases from Colorectal Cancer at a Single Center

The goal of this study was to validate a survival nomogram at a single center, originally developed at multiple institutions in Japan, which combines readily available preoperative variables to predict overall survival after resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. An external patient cohort from a prospective pulmonary metastases database at the Aichi Cancer Center in Japan was used to test the validity of the pulmonary metastases from a colorectal cancer nomogram. The cohort included 58 consecutive patients who had surgery between January 1999 and December 2005. Nomogram predictions for 3- and 5-year overall survival were calculated for each patient and compared with actual survival. The concordance index was used as an accuracy measure. Data for all necessary variables were available for all patients. At the last follow-up, 30 patients were alive, with a median follow-up of 39 (range, 5-94) months. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 96.6, 84.5, 70.5, and 48.9%, respectively. The nomogram concordance index was 0.81 with excellent calibration for both 3- and 5-year overall survival rates. The high predictive accuracy of pulmonary metastases from a colorectal cancer nomogram demonstrates that this predictive tool derived at multiple institutions can be applied to a small cohort of patients in a single center.

Outcome of surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

There is little information on pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). In this study, we examined the long-term outcome and the factors associated with long-term survival after pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC based on a 20-year single center experience. Between 1984 and 2005, 18 patients (12 men, six women) underwent pulmonary metastasectomy of the urinary tract TCC in our hospital. The clinicopathological and surgical data of these patients obtained from the medical records were analyzed in this retrospective study. The time interval between lung resection and death, or latest follow-up ranged from two to 200 months (median 52). Survival analysis was conducted by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The cumulative three- and five-year survival rates were 59.8% and 46.5%, respectively. The number of resected metastatic tumors (solitary vs. multiple) was associated with long-term survival (P<0.05). The five-year survival rate of patients with solitary metastasis was 85.7% while that of patients with multiple metastases was 20.0%. Pulmonary metastasectomy of urinary tract TCC is associated with a favorable outcome, and solitary metastasis is associated with long-term survival. Aggressive management of solitary pulmonary metastasis from a urinary tract TCC is feasible in selected patients.

Long-term results of surgical resection for pulmonary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: a 25-year single-institution experience

Despite the report of new treatment options, surgery remains the best treatment for pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Repeat resection is also an effective means for recurrent pulmonary metastases. The aim of the present study was to define the prognostic factors for survival after pulmonary metastasectomy from RCC based on a 25-year single-centre experience. Between 1973 and 2008, 59 thoracotomies on 48 patients (38 men, 10 women) were performed in our hospital. Repeat resections were performed in eight patients. The clinicopathological and surgical data of these patients obtained from the medical records were analysed. The time interval between lung resection and death, or latest follow-up, ranged from 3 to 177 months (median 39 months). Survival analysis was conducted by the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox multivariate proportional hazard model. The cumulative 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 60%, 47% and 18%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified disease-free interval (DFI) (≥ 2 years) and complete resection as significant prognostic factors for survival. Among eight patients, who underwent repeat resection, two remain alive with no evidence of disease. These two patients had long DFI and long DFI-2 (time from first pulmonary metastasectomy to diagnosis of recurrent pulmonary metastasis). The results showed that (1) surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from RCC has a favourable outcome in selected patients, (2) DFI and completeness of resection are prognostic markers for survival after pulmonary metastasectomy and (3) repeat lung resection for metastatic RCC is a safe procedure that provides satisfactory patient outcomes.

Repeat Resection of Pulmonary Metastasis Is Beneficial for Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

The role for repeat pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal carcinoma has not been well defined. To identify the class of patients who benefit from pulmonary resection of recurrent pulmonary metastases, we herein reviewed our institutional experience. Between 1990 and 2007, 84 patients with pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinomas underwent complete pulmonary resection, and 22 of them (26%) later underwent complete resection for repeat pulmonary metastasis. Various perioperative variables were investigated retrospectively in these patients to confirm a role for repeat metastasectomy and analyze prognostic factors after repeat pulmonary metastasectomy. Overall survival and disease-free survival after repeat pulmonary metastasectomy were, respectively, 61 and 32% at 5 years. On univariate analysis, male gender and less than 1 year of disease-free status after the first pulmonary metastasectomy demonstrated significantly adverse overall survival (p = 0.01 and p = 0.009, respectively). Elevated preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and maximum tumor size larger than 3 cm were also significantly adverse prognostic factors for disease-free survival (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). The overall survival curve after repeat pulmonary metastasectomy was almost identical with that after complete resection of the first pulmonary metastasis. Patients with more than 1 year of disease-free status after the first pulmonary metastasectomy demonstrated a significantly better overall survival. Normal preoperative serum CEA level and maximum tumor size <3 cm were significantly adverse prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Our data imply that repeat pulmonary metastasectomy might be beneficial as it can salvage a subset of patients with colorectal carcinoma who retain favorable prognostic determinants.

Short disease‐free interval is a significant risk factor for intrapulmonary recurrence after resection of pulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer

Surgical resection has been the first choice of treatment for resectable pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer. However, early intrapulmonary recurrence is often observed and appropriate assessment of prognostic factors is controversial. The aim of this study was to define the factors affecting survival and intrapulmonary recurrence after surgical treatment of metastatic pulmonary tumours from colorectal cancer. A retrospective analysis was performed of 56 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary resection for colorectal metastases with a focus on prognostic factors and risk factors for intrapulmonary recurrence. The overall 5-year survival rate was 48.2%. In a univariate analysis, a short disease-free interval (DFI), multiple pulmonary metastases and abnormal prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were poor prognostic factors. In a multivariate analysis, a short DFI and abnormal prethoracotomy CEA levels were independent prognostic factors. Twenty-two (39.3%) of the 56 patients had recurrences in the remnant lung after resection for pulmonary metastases, and 8 (36.4%) of these 22 patients underwent repeated pulmonary resections. The median DFI between first and second lung metastasis was 13 months. Univariate analyses revealed that multiple and bilateral lung metastases were risk factors for intrapulmonary recurrence. There was also a strong correlation between the DFI for intrapulmonary recurrence after the first pulmonary resection and the DFI for first pulmonary metastases. A short DFI was a risk factor for early tumour recurrence after resection for pulmonary metastases. The DFI might reflect oncological characteristics such as the tumour doubling time in colorectal cancer.

Pancreatic Resection for Metastatic Melanoma. Case Report and Review of the Literature

Pancreatic metastasis from several malignancies are increasingly encountered in clinical practice, and the usefulness of surgical resection has been suggested for certain neoplasms. Isolated pancreatic metastasis from malignant melanoma is a rare occurrence, and the role of surgery as an adjunct to systemic therapy for melanoma metastatic to a solitary or multiple sites is still debated. We report a patient with melanoma of unknown primary site metastatic simultaneously to the lung and pancreas 3years after axillary lymph node dissection. Distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and video thoracoscopic assisted resection of pulmonary metastasis were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, but 6months after surgery, the patient experienced single pulmonary recurrence. During chemotherapy with different drugs, pulmonary lesion remained stable for 1year, and no abdominal recurrence occurred. After then, the size of the lesion progressively increased and a second metastasis occurred in the lung. Five months later, brain metastases occurred, and the patients died 24months after surgery. Sixteen pancreatic resections for metastatic malignant melanoma, reported with adequate clinical details, were also retrieved from the literature. In spite of the very limited experience, it appears that surgical resection is only a palliative procedure, because long-term survival is a rare event. However, considering the lack of effective systemic therapy, surgery may be considered as a part of an aggressive multidisciplinary approach in selected cases with malignant melanoma metastatic to single or multiple visceral sites.

Reported Outcome Factors for Pulmonary Resection in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal cancer is widely practiced in surgical oncology. However, only a highly selected subset of patients is eligible for resection, and the average recurrence rate is still high. We reviewed the recent literature on pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer and tried to address the issue of patient selection based on prognostic parameters associated with long-term survival. No randomized phase III trials are available, and data for this review were retrieved only from retrospective studies. We excluded papers reporting on patients earlier than 1990. In summary, there is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that resection of pulmonary metastases can be performed safely and with a low mortality rate. For a subset of highly selected patients, the overall results of a 5-year actuarial survival rate after complete resection ranged between 40 and 68%. These outcomes exceed those normally associated with metastatic colorectal cancer. It is this perception that has encouraged surgeons and caused the practice to grow.

Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer has been defined as a systemic disease. Although resection of pulmonary metastases is a common treatment in other primary malignancies, the role of breast cancer metastasectomy is more contentious. Solitary or fewer numbers of pulmonary metastases and longer disease-free interval are, as in other cancers where pulmonary metastasectomy is performed, significant prognostic factors. For proven pulmonary metastases, the level of evidence for a curative approach is low, but some patients might benefit from a metastasectomy followed by an elective and appropriate complementary oncological treatment.

Results of a surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from malignant head and neck tumor

There have been only a few reports about a surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from malignant head and neck tumor. Here we investigate the survival after a pulmonary metastasectomy, and discuss the prognostic factors. We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients who underwent a pulmonary metastasectomy from malignant head and neck tumor at Kyushu University Hospital from 1981 through 2008. We assessed the five year overall survival by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test using the Stat View software program. The three- or five-year overall survival after a metastasectomy was 53.3% and 50.0%, respectively. We investigated the clinico-pathological prognostic factors including gender, age, histology, disease free interval, number or size of pulmonary metastatic tumors, and the operative procedure. Both age (older than 60 years) (P=0.0189) and pulmonary metastases from squamous cell carcinomas in either oral cavity or pharyngeal region (P=0.0002) were identified to be adverse prognostic factors. To obtain a long survival, a positive surgical resection is considered to be an effective and standard treatment for pulmonary metastasis from malignant head and neck tumor. It is also necessary, however, to elucidate fully the primary site and histology of such pulmonary metastasis.

A retrospective survival analysis of with pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer

To evaluate the survival rate after pulmonary resection for metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC). Clinical data of 77 patients with pulmonary metastasis from CRC between January 2005 and October 2008 in the Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 38 patients with synchronous pulmonary metastasis, of whom 2 underwent resection for pulmonary metastasis. The median survival time of two groups was 25 months and 18 months, which was not significantly different (P=0.33). There were 39 cases of metachronous pulmonary metastasis, of whom 28 received pulmonary metastasis resection. The 1-year and 3-year survival rates of 2 groups were 93.3% and 58.5%, and 38.8% and 19.1%, respectively. The median survival time of two groups was 26.7 months and 8 months, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.004). Surgical resection can improve the survival rate in patients with pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Role of surgical resection for pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction The lung is one of the most important organs affected by metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, pulmonary metastasectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term outcome after pulmonary metastasectomy due to metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Between January 1998 and December 2008, 41 patients underwent pulmonary metastasectomy. Retrospective reviews of medical records and telephone surveys were conducted to identify risk factors of long-term survival. Results Median time between a complete remission of hepatocellular carcinoma and pulmonary metastasectomy was 11 (4–105) months. During median 25-month follow-up time after metastasectomy, hepatocellular carcinoma recurred in 33 patients. Overall survival rate was 66.9 ± 10% in all 41 patients and disease free survival was 24.5 ± 10% in 24 patients who had no viable hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver preoperatively. An analysis of recurrence revealed that survival was better in patients whose recurrence was limited to either in the liver or lungs compared to that in patients whose recurrence took place in the distant organ other than the liver or lungs (extrahepatic/extrapulmonary metastasis) ( p = 0.004, log-rank). Conclusions Pulmonary metastasectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma can be performed safely without major morbidity. Recurrence at organs other than the liver or lung was found to result in poor survival, which suggests that a careful search for distant metastasis at other locations is mandatory for patient selection. This study demonstrated that pulmonary metastasectomy can play an important role in selected patients with pulmonary metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Extended Resection: Is It Feasible for Pulmonary Metastases?

Extended resections may be necessary to achieve tumor-free borders for secondary pulmonary malignancies. This study was performed to analyze the outcomes that result from extended resections of pulmonary metastases. Between February 1991 and December 2008, a total of 25 extended pulmonary resections (resection of the chest wall and diaphragm, vascular procedures, sleeve resections, pneumonectomies, atrial resections, and completion pneumonectomies) were performed on 250 patients undergoing 319 metastasectomy procedures. The extended resection group was analyzed in terms of disease-free interval, type of resection, operative morbidity, mortality, and survival and was then compared with patients who underwent lobar or sublobar resections. The extended resection group consisted of 14 male and 11 female patients. The mean disease-free interval was 36.02 (minimum 6, maximum 132) months. The extended resection rate was 10%. After 30 days, all patients were alive. For all extended metastasectomy groups, actuarial 5-year survival rates from the time of the extended metastasectomy were 16.3%. Mean survival times of patients who underwent extended resection and lobar or sublobar resection were 40 months (SD = 11) (95% confidence interval, 19-61) and 20 months (SD = 3) (95% confidence interval, 14-26), respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09) (Fig. 2). In the subgroup analysis, survival in the extended resections and lobar or sublobar resections groups was not statistically significant (osteosarcoma, P = 0.758; epithelial tumor, P = 0.11). Extended resections, which can be performed during pulmonary metastasectomies of patients with tumor-free surgical borders, may establish curative benefits, with low rates of mortality and morbidity.

Surgical resection for pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma: Analysis of prognosis in relation to primary control

Advances in local treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have seen better prognosis. There were few studies on surgery for pulmonary metastasis from HCC controlled by local treatment. This study was conducted to analyze prognostic factors after surgery for pulmonary metastasis from HCC. We reviewed 32 patients who underwent surgery for pulmonary metastasis from HCC and analyzed prognostic factors. HCC was controlled by surgery in 16 patients and by local treatment in 16 patients at the time of pulmonary resection. The median survival time after pulmonary resection was significantly better for HCC controlled by surgery, disease-free time >or=12 months, TMN stage I-II, and T factor 1-2 of primary HCC. The median survival time was better for lesion <or=2 and Child-Pugh score A, but they were not significant (P = 0.053, 0.069). In multivariate analysis, HCC controlled by surgical treatment (P = 0.008), and lesion <or=2 (P = 0.030) were independent prognostic factors. Our Results indicated that surgical resection for pulmonary metastasis from HCC might be beneficial for patients whose HCC was controlled by surgery and the number of lesions was lower than 3.

Surgical resection for lung metastases from colorectal cancer.

PurposeThe lung is the second most common site of metastasis from colorectal cancer. Of all patients who undergo a curative resection for colorectal cancer, 10% to 15% will develop lung metastasis. As a hepatic resection of colorectal liver metastases results in improved survival, many reports have suggested that a pulmonary resection of a colorectal lung metastasis would also improve survival. The aim of this study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes of and the prognostic factors for a surgical resection of a lung metastasis.MethodsBetween August 1997 and March 2006, 27 patients underwent surgical resections for colorectal lung metastases at Seoul St. Mary's hospital. A retrospective review of patients' characteristics and various tumor factors was performed.ResultsThe mean interval between colorectal resection and lung metastasis was 24.0 ± 15.1 months. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 76.5% and 22.2%, respectively. The mean follow-up after pulmonary resection was 39.5 ± 21.6 months (range, 3.3 to 115 months). Except for the existence of hilar-lymph-node metastasis (P < 0.001), no risk factors that we studied were statistically significant. Two patients had hilar-lymph-node metastasis. They survived for only for 3.3- and 11.6-months, respectively.ConclusionIn our study, we found that a pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal cancer may improve survival in selected patients.

Factors influencing survival after complete resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (Br J Surg 2009; 96: 1058–1065)

Factors influencing survival after complete resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (<i>Br J Surg</i> 2009; 96: 1058–1065)

Author's reply: Factors influencing survival after complete resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (Br J Surg 2009; 96: 1058–1065)

Author's reply: Factors influencing survival after complete resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (<i>Br J Surg</i> 2009; 96: 1058–1065)

Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Colorectal Carcinoma

Purpose: Surgical resection is an important curative treatment for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the outcomes and the prognostic factors related to the post operative mortality after surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: Between January 1994 and December 2009, 28 patients underwent complete pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. We performed a retrospective review of the patient’s characteristics and the factors affecting survival. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparison between groups was performed by a log-rank analysis. Results: The median survival was 53.07 months (Kaplan-Meier method). The number of pulmonary metastases (p=0.0151) and a prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level over 5 ng/mL (p=0.0217) were significantly related with survival. Conclusion: The prethoracotomy CEA level and the number of metastases were significantly related with the survival rate. Resection of pulmonary metastatic lung lesion from colorectal cancer may improve the survival rate in a selected group of patients. (J Lung Cancer 2010;9(2):91 󰠏 96)