Clinical Outcome of Pulmonary Metastasectomy in Patients with Pulmonary Metastasis

Lee, Young Ok; Lee, Eung Bae; Ryu, Kyoung Min

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is accepted widely as the standard therapy for complete resectable pulmonary metastases. The number of cases of pulmonary metastasectomy and its survival rate is increasing due to the development of the therapeutic modalities. We attempted to analyze the survival rate and prognosis factors of pulmonary metastasectomy during the last 10 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 89 patients who underwent 96 procedures of pulmonary metastasectomy between January 1996 and December 2005. The factors that may influence the long term prognosis such as completeness of resection, the type of primary cancer, the disease-free interval, the number and size of metastasis and the laterality were investigated. RESULT: There was no operative mortality. The mean disease free interval (DFI) was 29.6+/-27.9 months and there were 3 cases of synchronous metastasis (3.4%). The overall 3, 5 and 10 year survival rate was 52.5%, 32.1% and 20.7%, respectively. The median survival time was 38 months. The 5-year survival rate according to the IRLM appraisal was 63.5%, 33.3%, 22.1% and 0% for stage I, II, III and IV, respectively. Univariate analysis showed a better prognosis for patients with a disease free interval of 36 months or more, unilateral metastasis and 4 or less metastases.
CONCLUSION
The survival rate for completely resectable pulmonary metastasectomy was favorable. The disease free interval, laterality and the number of metastasis were the prognosis factors.