The surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases

Is Surgical Resection of the Primary Site Associated with an Improved Overall Survival for Patients with Primary Malignant Bone Tumors Who Have Metastatic Disease at Presentation?

BACKGROUND

The management of primary malignant bone tumors in patients with metastatic disease at presentation remains a challenge. Although surgical resection has been a mainstay in the management of nonmetastatic malignant bone tumors, there is a lack of large-scale evidence-based guidance on whether surgery of the primary site/tumor improves overall survival in malignant bone tumors with metastatic disease at presentation.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

(1) Is surgical resection of the primary tumor associated with improved overall survival in patients with primary malignant bone tumors who have metastatic disease at presentation? (2) What other factors are associated with improved and/or poor overall survival?

METHODS

The 2004 to 2016 National Cancer Database (NCDB), a national registry containing data from more than 34 million cancer patients in the United States, was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 3rd Edition, topographical codes to identify patients with primary malignant bone tumors of the extremities (C40.0-C40.3, C40.8, and C40.9) and/or pelvis (C41.4). The NCDB was preferred over other national cancer registries (that is, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database) because it includes a specific variable that codes for patients who received additional surgeries at metastatic sites. Patients with malignant bone tumors of the head or skull, trunk, and spinal column were excluded because these patients are not routinely encountered and treated by orthopaedic oncologists. Histologic codes were used to categorize the tumors into the following groups: osteosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, and Ewing sarcomas. Patients whose tumors were classified as Stage 1, 2, or 3 based on American Joint Commission of Cancer guidelines were excluded. Only patients who presented with metastatic disease were included in the final study sample. The study sample was divided into two distinct groups: those who underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor and those who did not receive any operation for the primary tumor. A total of 2288 patients with primary malignant bone tumors (1121 osteosarcomas, 345 chondrosarcomas, and 822 Ewing sarcomas) with metastatic disease at presentation were included, of whom 46% (1053 of 2288) underwent surgical resection of the primary site. Thirty-three percent (348 of 1053) of patients undergoing surgical resection of the primary site also underwent additional resection of metastases. Patients undergoing surgical resection of the primary site typically were younger than 18 years, lived further from a facility, had tumors involving the upper or lower extremity, had a diagnosis of osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma, and had a greater tumor size and higher tumor grade at presentation. To account for baseline differences within the patient population and to adjust for additional confounding variables, multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to assess whether undergoing surgical resection of the primary tumor was associated with improved overall survival, after controlling for differences in baseline demographics, tumor characteristics (grade, location, histologic type, and tumor size), and treatment patterns (resection of distant or regional metastatic sites, positive or negative surgical margins, and use of radiation therapy or chemotherapy). Additional sensitivity analyses, stratified by histologic type for osteosarcomas, chondrosarcomas, and Ewing sarcomas, were used to assess factors associated with overall survival for each tumor type.

RESULTS

After controlling for differences in baseline demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment patterns, we found that surgical resection of the primary site was associated with reduced overall mortality compared with those who did not have a resection of the primary site (hazard ratio 0.42 [95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.49]; p < 0.001). Among other factors, in the stratified analysis, radiation therapy was associated with improved overall survival for patients with Ewing sarcoma (HR 0.71 [95% CI 0.57 to 0.88]; p = 0.002) but not for those with osteosarcoma (HR 1.14 [95% CI 0.91 to 1.43]; p = 0.643) or chondrosarcoma (HR 1.0 [95 % CI 0.78 to 1.50]; p = 0.643). Chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival for those with osteosarcoma (HR 0.50 [95% CI 0.39 to 0.64]; p < 0.001) and those with chondrosarcoma (HR 0.62 [95% CI 0.45 to 0.85]; p = 0.003) but not those with Ewing sarcoma (HR 0.7 [95% CI 0.46 to 1.35]; p = 0.385).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection of the primary site was associated with an overall survival advantage in patients with primary malignant bone tumors who presented with metastatic disease. Further research, using more detailed data on metastatic sites (such as, size, location, number, and treatment), chemotherapy regimen and location of radiation (primary or metastatic site) is warranted to better understand which patients will have improved overall survival and/or a benefit in the quality of life from resecting their primary malignant tumor if they present with metastatic disease at diagnosis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Effect of timing of pulmonary metastasis occurrence on the outcome of metastasectomy in osteosarcoma patients

BACKGROUND

Complete metastasectomy is the best predictor of survival in patients with osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases. There has been some controversy in the literature regarding the prognostic significance of the timing of occurrence of lung metastasis.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical course of all osteosarcoma patients with pulmonary metastases treated by metastasectomy in our hospital from January 2008 through December 2016. Each patient who underwent metastasectomy was placed into one of three groups based on whether lung metastases were present at initial presentation (Group 1), developed during chemotherapy (Group 2), or appeared after completion of chemotherapy (Group 3). Data were obtained retrospectively and follow-up was obtained until the end of June 2017.

RESULTS

We identified 170 patients with pulmonary nodules of whom 99 (58.2%) underwent at least one metastasectomy (149 thoracotomies). Eleven patients had benign pulmonary nodules and were excluded. The other 88 patients were classified as Group 1 (37), Group 2 (18) or Group 3 (33). The median follow-up was 35 months (range 8 to 99). Postmetastasis 5-year overall survival (OS) was 38.1 ± 6.4%; event-free survival (EFS) was 25 ± 5.3%. By group, postmetastasis 5-year OS and EFS were 34.3 ± 13% and 18 ± 9.3% in Group 1, 8 ± 6.5% and 6.5 ± 5% in Group 2, and 52 ± 11.4% and 25 ± 9% in Group 3 (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, the only significant factors associated with survival were timing of occurrence of lung metastasis and the number of lung nodules found.

CONCLUSION

The timing of occurrence of lung metastasis is an important prognostic factor among osteosarcoma patients eligible for metastasectomy. Patients whose metastases occurred during chemotherapy had the worst survival.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

[Treatment plan and prognosis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma with lung metastasis]

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a common malignant tumor in the oral and maxillofacial region and accounts for approximately 3%-5% of all head and neck carcinomas. SACC always occurs in the palatal salivary gland and parotid gland. The tumor has the characteristics of strong invasion, perineural invasion, high hematogenous metastasis, and low lymph node metastasis rate. The biological characteristics of SACC determine the specificity of clinical treatment. Thus far, few clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of systemic therapy owing to the rarity of SACC with lung metastasis. Moreover, long-term results are poor, and no consensus on standard treatment has been reached yet. This systematic review aims to provide a retrospective analysis of treatment options and prognosis for SACC with lung metastasis and evidence for future clinical treatment.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastasis: report from a tertiary care center

Objective This retrospective analysis aimed to determine the factors influencing prognosis in adult patients who presented to our thoracic surgery service with lung metastases and were eligible for pulmonary metastasectomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 296 patients who underwent resection of 575 lung metastases from January 2000 to January 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed based on age, sex, histology of the primary tumor, disease-free interval, number and size of metastases. Results Sixty-eight (22.97%) patients developed lung metastases from bone sarcoma, 68 (22.97%) from soft-tissue sarcoma, 56 (18.9%) from head and neck cancers, 46 (15.5%) from colorectal cancer, and 58 (19.6%) from other epithelial tumors. The mean size of the lung nodules was 2.48 cm. Open surgical resection was performed in 217 (73.3%) patients. After a mean follow-up of 43 months, 120 (40.7%) patients had died or were lost to follow-up. Univariate analysis confirmed that patients with bone cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, or colorectal carcinoma had a worse prognosis ( p = 0.0003). Moreover, those with a disease-free interval >24 months had a better 5-year survival ( p = 0.0001). The number and size of metastases, age, and sex had no effect on prognosis. The actuarial survival after complete metastasectomy was 71.6% (95% confidence interval: 66-75) at 2 years and 59.3% (95% confidence interval: 56-64) at 5 years. Conclusions Pulmonary metastasectomy provides good long-term survival. The type of primary tumor and disease-free interval are independent prognostic factors for survival.

Microwave ablation versus radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of pulmonary tumors

To retrospectively compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of pulmonary tumors, a total of 75 patients with lung tumor who underwent thermal ablation therapy in Guangdong General Hospital into the study from March 2007 to December 2014 were enrolled. Of the patients, 43 received radiofrequency ablation and 32 received microwaves ablation. The response rates, overall survival (OS), and complications rates between the RFA group and MWA group were compared. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between two groups. The overall response rates of in RFA and MWA groups were 79% (34/43) and 69% (22/32), respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.309). The 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-year overall survival (OS) rates in RFA group and MWA group were 77%, 55%, 42%, 34% and 75%, 44%, 40%, 27%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the OS rates between two groups (P = 0.653). The complication rates were 49% (21/43) in RFA group and 50% (16/32) in MWA group; there was no significant difference between two groups (P = 0.921). No patients died during the perioperative period. Our study shows that no significant differences exist in efficacy and safety between RFA and MWA for the treatment of pulmonary tumors, which indicates that MWA could be a substitute therapy for RFA in terms of effectiveness and safety for treating pulmonary tumors.

Pulmonary metastasectomy in uterine malignancy: outcomes and prognostic factors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes in uterine cancer patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy and prognostic factors associated with survival after the procedure.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed in 29 uterine cancer patients who underwent surgical resection of pulmonary metastatic lesions at Samsung Medical Center between June 1995 and December 2011.

RESULTS

Histopathology showed carcinoma in 17 patients (58.6%) and sarcoma in 12 patients (41.4%). Of the 29 patients, 17 (58.6%) had less than three pulmonary metastatic lesions. Eight (27.6%) had symptoms related to lung metastasis. The 5-year survival rate after pulmonary metastasectomy for the entire cohort was 48.2%. On univariate and multivariate analysis, the presence of pulmonary symptoms and more than three lesions of metastasis were associated with poor survival after pulmonary metastasectomy.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary metastasectomy for uterine cancer is an acceptable treatment in selected patients. Patients with more than three pulmonary metastatic lesions and pulmonary symptoms related to lung metastasis could expect to have worse prognosis after pulmonary metastasectomy.

Image-guided thermal ablation of lung malignancies

Primary and secondary lung malignancies are often treated with surgery. Many patients are poor surgical candidates owing to advanced age or medical comorbidities. Alternatives to surgery for localized disease include radiation therapy and the newer treatments known as image-guided thermal ablation. Image-guided thermal ablation involves the use of needlelike applicators that are placed directly into tumors by using imaging guidance. Tumors are destroyed by the application of either intense heat or cold. The specific ablative modalities of radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, laser ablation, and cryoablation are reviewed with respect to the various clinical indications for treatment of both primary and secondary lung malignancies.

Clinical reports of pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer: a citation network analysis

Introduction:

Pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer is a commonly performed and well-established practice of ∼50 years standing. However, there have been no controlled studies, randomised or otherwise. We sought to investigate the evidence base that has been used in establishing its status as a standard of care.

Methods:

Among 51 papers used in a recent systematic review and quantitative synthesis, a citation network analysis was performed. A total of 344 publications (the 51 index papers and a further 293 cited in them) constitute the citation network.

Results:

The pattern of citation is that of a citation cascade. Specific analyses show the frequent use of historical or landmark papers, which add authority. Papers expressing an opposing viewpoint are rarely cited.

Conclusions:

The citation network for this common and well-established practice provides an example of selective citation. This pattern of citation tends to escalate belief in a clinical practice even when it lacks a high-quality evidence base and may create an impression of more authority than is warranted.

Risk factors for pulmonary complications in patients with sarcoma after the resection of pulmonary nodules by thoracotomy

OBJECTIVE

To identify the risk factors for pulmonary complications after thoracotomy for the resection of pulmonary nodules in patients with sarcoma.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study involving 68 consecutive patients diagnosed with sarcoma and submitted to a total of 174 thoracotomies for the resection of pulmonary nodules. The dependent variable was defined as the occurrence of any postoperative pulmonary complications. The independent variables were related to the patient, underlying diagnosis, and type of surgical procedure. We analyzed the data using a multivariate generalized estimating equations model with logistic link function and a symmetric correlation structure.

RESULTS

Complications were observed in 24 patients (13.8%, 95% CI: 9.0-19.8), and there was one death. The mean length of hospital stay was twice as long in the patients with postoperative complications as in those without (18.8 ± 10.0 days vs. 8.6 ± 6.0 days; p < 0.05). The variables that correlated with the outcome measure were the type of resection (wedge vs. anatomic; OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.5-8.8), the need for blood transfusion (OR = 9.8; 95% CI: 1.6-60.1), and the number of nodules resected (OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.1). The multivariate model showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative pulmonary complications were common after pulmonary nodule resection in patients with sarcoma, occurring in approximately 10% of the procedures. The occurrence of such complications can be expected when techniques other than wedge resection are employed, when blood transfusion is required, and when a great number of nodules are resected. Therefore, it is possible to identify patients at risk for pulmonary complications, who should be closely monitored in the immediate postoperative period. In such patients, all preventive measures should be taken.

The evaluation of lymph node metastasis by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: crucial for selection of surgical candidates with metastatic lung tumors

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary metastasectomy is accepted as an effective treatment for properly selected patients with metastatic lung tumors. In such patients, the presence of mediastinal and/or hilar lymph node metastasis is a significant negative prognostic factor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the detection of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis in patients with potentially resectable metastatic lung tumors.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic lung tumors with radiologically defined mediastinal and/or hilar lymph nodes on chest computed tomographic scans referred to our department for pulmonary resection were retrospectively analyzed. Successful lymph node aspiration was evidenced by the presence of malignant cells or normal lymphocytes. Cytologic and histologic analysis was used to confirm metastasis in surgically resected specimens unless metastasis was proven by EBUS-TBNA.

RESULTS

A total of 106 patients were referred for metastasectomy during the study period. EBUS-TBNA was performed in 60 lymph nodes (37 mediastinal and 23 hilar nodes) from 43 patients. Cytologic and/or histologic samples were diagnostic in 41 (95.3%) patients. EBUS-TBNA detected lymph node metastasis in 23 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy rate of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis were 92.0%, 100%, and 95.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

EBUS-TBNA is a highly sensitive modality for the evaluation of mediastinal and hilar lymph node metastasis in patients with metastatic lung tumors. EBUS-TBNA allows preoperative histologic as well as cytologic evaluation of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes.

Preoperative Workup and Postoperative Surveillance for Patients Undergoing Pulmonary Metastasectomy

The workup of patients suspected of having pulmonary metastases is complicated by the fact that a high percentage of pulmonary metastases are 6mm or less at presentation. Helical CT scans and high-resolution CT scans currently miss many of the lesions eventually detected at thoracotomy and many of the lesions detected are benign. The follow-up of patients after pulmonary metastasectomy is a controversial topic because of the lack of evidence-based practice guidelines. Though it is unlikely that current follow-up recommendations will ever be tested in randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses of existing retrospective data could improve the quality of the existing literature.

Bilateral staged versus bilateral simultaneous thoracotomy in the pediatric population

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of simultaneous bilateral thoracotomy in pediatric patients compared with traditional bilateral staged thoracotomy.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of 30 consecutive patients 18 years or younger undergoing either bilateral staged or bilateral simultaneous thoracotomy between March 1994 and July 2004. Follow-up (mean, 47 months) was available for all patients.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (17 boys, 13 girls; average age, 12 years) underwent bilateral staged or bilateral simultaneous thoracotomy. Eighteen patients underwent staged thoracotomy, 9 patients underwent simultaneous thoracotomy, and 3 patients underwent both procedures. Diagnosis included sarcoma (n = 21), Wilms tumor (n = 4), indeterminate pulmonary nodules (n = 3), and germ cell tumor (n = 2). When we compared outcomes for patients undergoing simultaneous versus staged bilateral thoracotomy, mean hospital stay (5.2 vs 10.6 days; P < .002), intensive care unit stay (1 vs 2 nights; P < .0001), days with tube thoracostomy (4 vs 8 days; P < .0005), and time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (13 vs 30 days; P < .05) were all significantly less for patients undergoing bilateral simultaneous thoracotomy. In addition, postoperative complications were less frequent in patients undergoing simultaneous versus staged thoracotomy (0 vs 3 events; P = .25).

CONCLUSIONS

In selected patients, bilateral simultaneous thoracotomy is safe and may lessen morbidity and hospital stay while avoiding delay in initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Lung metastasectomy in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland

To define the role of surgical management of lung metastases in ACC. Twenty ACC patients referred to lung metastasectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-six operations were performed; at the first metastasectomy, a resection with clear margins (R0) was achieved in 11 patients (55%), 3 are alive and well. Four out of 9 patients with residual disease (R2) are still alive. Median survival after metastasectomy was 78 and 52 months for R0 and R2 (p=0.4); median freedom from progression (FFP) in R0 and R2 groups was 30 and 15 months (p=0.2), respectively. A better outcome was obtained for patients with a disease-free interval 36 months and 6 metastases and bilateral involvement were critical in achieving a R0 intervention. Lung metastasectomy provided a prolonged FFP in a high selected subset of patients with ACC. However, if this could be translated into a survival benefit, it is still to be demonstrated.

Accuracy of helical CT in the detection of pulmonary metastases: is intraoperative palpation still necessary?

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary metastasectomy is well accepted in patients with isolated metastases from an extrathoracic malignancy. The standard approach involves careful intraoperative palpation of the lungs because more metastases are frequently found than were seen by preoperative conventional computed tomography (CT). Helical CT detects more nodules than conventional CT, raising the question of whether palpation of the lungs is still necessary if helical CT is used.

METHODS

Retrospective review was done of medical records of patients undergoing metastasectomy with curative intent at the University of North Carolina (UNC) from 1999 to 2003. During this time at UNC, helical CT was routinely performed using a standardized technique, and all metastasectomy patients underwent manual lung palpation. The primary outcome measure of this study was whether malignant nodules (palpated, resected, and proven histologically) were reliably detected preoperatively by helical CT.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were identified who underwent 41 cases of pulmonary metastasectomy with lung palpation. Our analysis revealed that in 22% (9/41), more malignant nodules were found intraoperatively than were detected by helical CT. Of 88 malignant intraparenchymal nodules, 69 were detected by helical CT (sensitivity 78%). Subset analyses of tumor histology, disease-free interval, the presence of a single lesion versus multiple lesions, the interval between the CT and metastasectomy, and the size of the largest lesion were unable to identify a cohort in which lung palpation was no longer needed after preoperative helical CT.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the advent of helical CT, palpation of the lung is necessary if the goal is to resect all detectable disease.

Pulmonary metastasectomy for pediatric solid tumors

Most pediatric thoracic malignancy is pulmonary disease secondary to solid tumors of childhood. The management of isolated pulmonary metastases in adulthood is well documented. Little has been published to document the long-term outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy in childhood. A retrospective study was undertaken to assess the results of surgery for isolated pulmonary metastases. Twenty children underwent surgery over 12 years (mean follow-up 8 years). Five had Wilms' tumor (mean age 51 months), eight had osteogenic sarcoma (mean age 141 months), three had rhabdomyosarcoma (mean age 92 months), two had hepatoblastoma (mean age 30 months) and two had teratoma (mean age 72 months). Four had bilateral synchronous metastases and thoracotomies, and one had bilateral metachronous metastases and thoracotomies. Nineteen children were discharged well within 10 days of surgery. There was one early complication: a death due to pneumonia. Four children subsequently died postoperatively with cranial metastases (mean 29 months postoperatively). The remaining 16 children remain alive and well. As part of the combined therapy, these results would support an aggressive surgical approach to this disease. Preoperative assessment should include contrast enhanced computed tomogram of the head and chest as well as chest X-ray taken immediately preoperatively to exclude metastases. Bilateral synchronous and metachronous thoracotomy is well tolerated in childhood.

Role of metastasectomy in the management of thyroid carcinoma: the NIH experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

We studied the impact of metatasectomy on disease outcome in 29 advanced nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma (ThyrCa) patients who were operated on between 1969 and 2001 at NIH to further define its role in the management of this malignancy.

METHODS

Data were extracted by retrospective chart review. A Kaplan-Meyer survival curve was constructed, and comparative stratification for various parameters was performed.

RESULTS

During 47 surgeries, the following lesions were resected from mid-mediastinum/hila, 17; lung parenchyma, 12; skeleton, 14; kidneys, 2; and brain, 2. All patients received multiple radioiodine (RAI) treatments. External-beam radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other palliative measures were used in selected patients. Six patients (21%) died within 74.7 +/- 54.7 months after the first distant metastasectomy. The outcome of the remaining patients was as follows: complete remission, 3; partial remission, 10; and 10: progressive disease, 10, with a follow-up of 175 patient-years. Metastasectomy led to a decrease of 38% in thyroglobulin levels in 23 patients. Cumulative survival rates were 78.5 +/- 8.4% at 5 years and 50.2 +/- 12.5% at 10 years (mean +/-SEM) after initial distant metastasectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that extensive targeted metastasectomy in the setting of a tertiary center can be beneficial to patients with disseminated ThyrCa with persistent or recurrent distant disease, when used in conjunction with nonsurgical treatment modalities.

[Simultaneaous bilateral pulmonary metastasectomy of carcinoma of the sweat glands]

A 51-year-old woman with carcinoma of the right axillary sweat glands was treated by radical surgery and radiotherapy. Six years later she developed multiple bilateral lung metastases. Nine nodes were resected from both lungs using a clamshell approach (bilateral transsternal, anterolateral thoracotomy). After surgery, the patient received 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil. Three years after treatment, no intrathoracic recurrences had occurred and the patient was asymptomatic, with good quality of life.

The Role of Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Pulmonary Metastasectomy

Management of isolated metastatic deposits to the lungs and the role of surgical resection, specifically video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) techniques, have been controversial. The inability to perform a detailed bimanual palpation of the lung for occult lesions has been considered an inherent weakness in this approach. We have performed VATS resection for 205 patients with pulmonary metastatic disease and potentially curative VATS resec-tion for 119 patients. VATS resection was successfully performed for all VATS diagnostic and therapeutic patients, with no perioperative deaths. Longitudinal follow-up demonstrated a mean survival of 20 months in the diagnostic group and 32 months in the therapeutic group. In the VATS therapeutic group, 44 (37%) patients remain free of disease at a mean follow-up of 37 months. Of the 69 recurrences, 6% were local, 25% were regional, and 67% were distant. In this review, the present role of VATS pulmonary metastasectomy will be examined.

Sequential thoracic metastasectomy prolongs survival by re-establishing local control within the chest

OBJECTIVE

The value of sequential thoracic metastasectomies is unknown. We evaluate repeat metastasectomy for limited recurrences within the thorax.

METHODS

From July 1988 to September 1998, 54 patients underwent 2 to 6 separate sequential procedures to excise metastases after recurrence isolated to the thorax. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox modeling determined prognostic variables.

RESULTS

Thirty-three men and 21 women, 22 to 76 years underwent 2 (100%, n = 54), 3 (50%), 4 (22%), or 5 to 6 (11%) metastasectomies. Fifty-four percent of patients had carcinoma, 35% sarcoma, 9% germ cell, and 2% melanoma. There were no operative deaths; all late deaths occurred from cancer. Median follow-up was 48 months. Cumulative 5-year survival from the second procedure was 57%. After the second, third, fourth, and fifth procedures, respectively, permanent control was achieved in 15 (27%) of 54 patients, 5 (19%) of 27, 1 (8%) of 12, and 0 of 7. Recurrence amenable to additional surgery occurred in 27 (50%) of 54, 12 (44%) of 27, 6 (50%) of 12, and 1 (17%) of 6. Mean hazard for the development of unresectable recurrence increased from 0.21 after the second procedure to 0.91 after the fifth procedure. The 5-year survival for the 27 patients undergoing only 2 metastasectomies was 60% (median not yet reached), 33% for the 15 patients undergoing only 3 metastasectomies (median 34.7 months), and 38% for the 12 patients undergoing 4 or more (median 45.6 months). From the time a recurrence was declared unresectable, patients had a 19% 2-year survival (median 8 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple attempts to re-establish intrathoracic control of metastatic disease is justified in carefully selected patients, but the magnitude of benefit decays with each subsequent attempt.

Therapeutic video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical resection of colorectal pulmonary metastases

OBJECTIVE

Careful patient selection is vital when video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) therapeutic pulmonary metastasectomy of colorectal carcinoma is considered. Complete resection of all metastatic disease remains a vital concept. We reviewed our VATS experience for therapeutic metastasectomy of peripheral colorectal pulmonary metastases.

METHODS

Over 90 months, therapeutic VATS metastasectomy was accomplished upon 80 patients with colorectal metastases. Thin cut computed tomography (CT) was central in identifying lesions. The mean interval from primary carcinoma to VATS resection was 41 months (1-156 months; median, 33). A solitary lesion was resected in 60 patients and multiple (2-7) lesions resected in 20 patients. Statistics were obtained using the Student's t-test.

RESULTS

No operative mortality or major postoperative complications occurred. The hospital stay was 4.5+/-2. 2 days (range, 1-13). All lesions were resected by VATS, with four conversions to thoracotomy to improve the margins. The mean survival of patients with one lesion was 34.8 months compared with 26.5 months for patients with multiple lesions (P=0.37). The mean survival was 20.5 months when metastases occurred <3 years vs. 28.1 months for >3 years from primary carcinoma resection (P=0.20). Twenty-five (31%) patients are disease free; with a mean interval of 38.7 (3-84; median, 35) months. Sixty-nine percent (55/80) of patients developed a recurrence: 6/80 (8%) local; 19/80 (24%) regional (same hemithorax away from resection); and 30/80 (38%) distant. The overall survival at 1 year was 81.2%, 48.4% at 3 years and 30.8% at 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic VATS resection of colorectal metastases appears efficacious. Preoperative CT can identify peripheral colorectal metastases amenable to VATS. Conversion to thoracotomy is indicated when none of the lesions identified by CT are found or when clear surgical margins are jeopardized.

Staged axillary thoracotomy for bilateral lung metastases: an effective and minimally invasive approach

OBJECTIVE

We describe our experience with the staged axillary thoracotomy (SAT), for the treatment of bilateral lung metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 1995 and June 1998, 75 lung metastasectomies were carried out in our institution, 49 (65%) monolateral, and 26 (35%) bilateral. In the latter group of patients we adopted a staged axillary thoracotomy.

RESULTS

All wedge resections and two lobectomies (1 LUL and 1 RLL) were performed through this approach. Resection has been complete in all patients. Histology was epithelial in 15 (57%), sarcoma in nine (35%) and germ cell in two (8%). Two to three metastases have been resected in 10 patients (38%); four to 10 in 12 patients (46%) and over 10 in four patients (15%). The radiological pre-operative assessment was accurate in 15 patients (57%), underestimated in nine (35%) and overestimated in two (8%). The average interval between the two procedures has been 24 +/- 6 days. The average operation duration time was 50 min (range 36-67). We do not report any post-operative death or major complication. The average hospitalization was 3.2 days (range 2-6) for each single procedure and 6.2 days (range 4-10) for both procedures.

CONCLUSION

This technique is adequate, fast and safe and did not affect the shoulder girdle motion at all providing an excellent cosmetic outcome. The operative trauma is limited and a minor post-operative pain is present. A shortening of the interval between the two operations is allowed.

Fine-needle interstitial photodynamic therapy of the lung parenchyma: photosensitizer distribution and morphologic effects of treatment

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To look at the effect of interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) in normal lung parenchyma to assess its potential for treating localized, peripheral lung tumors.

DESIGN

Studies were performed on normal Wistar rats using the photosensitizer meso-tetrahydroxyphenyl chlorine. Drug distribution was measured by fluorescence microscopy on tissue sections. Light was delivered to the lungs via a single fiber inserted percutaneously under x-ray control and the PDT effect studied in animals killed at times up to 6 months later.

RESULTS

Fluorescence studies showed that the drug was initially distributed throughout the lung, but was later predominantly in the vasculature, bronchi, and macrophages. PDT produced sharply defined zones of hemorrhagic necrosis up to 12 mm in diameter that healed with regeneration of bronchial epithelium and local fibrosis. Different histologic effects were seen between drug light intervals of 1 and 3 days. Treatment was well tolerated, there was a low incidence of pneumothorax, and as long as the fiber tip was within the lung parenchyma, there was no damage to adjacent tissues.

CONCLUSION

Interstitial PDT produces zones of necrosis in normal lung that heal safely by a percutaneous technique without affecting adjacent areas of untreated lung. If the lesion size can be increased by using multiple fibers, this could be a promising new technique for treating localized, peripheral lung cancers in patients who are unfit for surgery.