Pulmonary metastasis from colorectal carcinoma with hepatic metastasis

Objective Although some beneficial effects of surgical treatments for pulmonary or hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma have been reported, identifying candidates for these aggressive surgical procedures is controversial. In this study, patients with pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma, particularly those with pulmonary and hepatic metastases, were retrospectively analyzed. Methods Forty-six patients who had undergone complete resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Results The median follow-up period after pulmonary resection was 26 months, and the 5-year postoperative survival rate was 34%. The 5- and 10-year survival rates of patients with pulmonary metastasis alone, metachronous pulmonary metastasis after liver metastasis, and synchronous metastasis to the liver and lung were 75%, 75%, and 25% and 25%, 38%, and 0%, respectively, when calculated from the time of primary colorectal resection (P < 0.01). Patients with synchronous metastases had a poorer prognosis than did the patients in the other two groups. Conclusions Surgical treatments for patients with pulmonary metastasis alone or metachronous metastasis can provide a beneficial outcome. Patients with synchronous metastasis have a poor prognosis, and effective pre- and postoperative systemic treatments should be considered to prolong their survival.