Does Surgical Resection of Pulmonary Metastases of Head and Neck Cancer Improve Survival?

Background  The prognosis of patients with metastasized head and neck cancer is poor. Limited experience exists with the benefit of resection of lung metastases and systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection on survival of patients with head and neck carcinoma. Methods  Eighty patients undergoing metastasectomy for pulmonary metastases of primary head and neck cancer entered the study. Multivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression analysis. Survival differences between patients operated and those not operated on were analyzed by matched pair analysis. Results  From 1984 until 2006, pulmonary metastases were diagnosed in 332 patients treated for head and neck cancer; 80 of these were admitted to our department for resection. Metastases of the primary head and neck tumor were confirmed histologically in 67 patients. The median overall survival after resection of lung metastases was 19.4 months and was statistically significantly better compared with patients who were not operated on (P < .001). The multivariate analysis after metastasectomy revealed that incomplete resection of pulmonary lesions, complications associated with surgery, and adjuvant therapy of the primary tumor are independent negative prognostic factors for survival. We observed a trend to improved survival in patients without hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastases. Conclusion  The survival rate of patients operated on was statistically significantly higher than that of patients with conservative treatment. Even patients with multiple or bilateral pulmonary lesions after curative treatment of a primary tumor should be operated on if there is no contraindication against an extended surgical procedure and a complete resection of the metastases seems achievable. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Multimodal treatment of non small cell lung cancer

The primary treatment of lung cancer depends on tumor stage. Chest CT scan and bronchoscopy are used to define the TNM stage and resectability. In case of lung cancer without mediastinal lymph node enlargement or direct mediastinal involvement (clinical stage I-IIb + T3N1) surgical treatment is recommended. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy has to be defined, but will be indicated in stage II and IIIa. Expected 5-year survival achieves 40 to 80 % depending on tumor stage. Exceeds the shorter diameter of mediastinal lymph nodes in chest CT scan more than 1 cm (or in case of positive PET scan) mediastinoscopy is indicated. In case of N2-disease and after tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy (about 60 %) secondary resection of the tumor leads to higher 5-year survival rates (20-40 %) compared to patients without induction therapy (5-20 %). In these patients and after unexpected detection of solitary lymph node metastasis by primary resection adjuvant mediastinal radiotherapy should be added. If the tumor has infiltrated the mediastinum or the upper sulcus (T3/4) and/or mediastinal lymph nodes are obviously tumor burden (e. g. > 3 cm, N2 bulky, N3) radical primary resection may not be possible. In these patients combined radio- and chemotherapy induces a high percentage of tumor regression and can be used before secondary resection (5-year survival 5-20 %). Locally advanced tumors infiltrating the main bronchus close to the carina or the carina itself and tumors with metastases in the same lobe, both without mediastinal lymph node metastases (T3/4N0-1), can be resected by sleeve pneumonectomy and lobectomy with satisfactory results respectively. In patients with resectable lung cancer and no clinical sign of tumor disease (f. e. anemia, weight loss, pain) limited staging procedure with chest CT scan including upper abdomen and bronchoscopy is reasonable. In the remaining patients complete staging is necessary. We recommend an interdisciplinary approach to patients with lung cancer.     

A phase II single-institution study of neoadjuvant stage IIIA/B chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: The relevance of a trimodal strategy in the treatment of lung cancer, consisting of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery, is a subject of ongoing clinical trials. We tested whether improvement of long-term survival can be achieved for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer by this therapeutic approach. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a single-institution phase II study. Of 33 patients enrolled in the protocol between 1992 and 1995, we reviewed the clinical outcomes of 26 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIA and IIIB), which had been resected after combined chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy. RESULTS: After neoadjuvant therapy, resection of the tumor was accomplished in all patients, and R0 resection was achieved in 92%. Histologic remission was found in 76% of these patients. Involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes was crucially important for the outcome. First, histologic clearance of the mediastinal compartment by neoadjuvant therapy resulted in a 27% 5-year survival rate. Second, patients with viable tumor in any of the mediastinal lymph nodes removed had a poor outcome (median survival 11.4 and 34.7 months in patients with and without viable tumor cells in the specimens, respectively; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Histopathologic regression after neoadjuvant multimodal therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy was an important prognostic factor in a selected group of patients with locally advanced lung cancer.     

Indication of limited pulmonary resection for small-sized lung cancer based on preoperative clinical data

Limited pulmonary resection is performed mostly based on the size of lung cancer and ground-glass opacity (GGO). It has been proposed to determine the indication of segmentectomy according to hilar lymph node involvement. There is a potential risk of underestimation for lymph node involvement since there may be a skip mediastinal lymph node metastasis without hilar involvement. We propose to use standardized uptake value( SUV) max of primary lung cancer as an indicator of non-invasive lung cancer. None of 44 small-sized lung cancers with SUVmax lower than 1 had lymph node metastasis or vessel invasion. A small-sized lung cancer ≤ 2 cm with SUVmax ≤ 1 is indicated wedge resection if GGO area is greater than 75% of tumor. Segmentectomy is indicated if the GGO area is less than 75%. We also propose selective lymphadenectomy for small-sized lung cancer. The lower mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be omitted if a small-sized tumor is located in the right upper lobe or the left upper segment. The upper mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be omitted if a small-sized lung cancer is located in the lower lobe and if the lower mediastinal lymph node involvement is excluded.     

Results of Postoperative Radiotherapy for Resectable Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the value of radiotherapy, and especially intraluminal brachytherapy, after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by analyzing long-term complications and survival. Between 1983 and 1998, 112 patients underwent resection of a hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Of the 91 patients who survived the postoperative period, 20 patients had no additional radiotherapy, 30 patients had only external radiotherapy (46 ± 11 Gy), and 41 patients had a combination of external (42 ± 5 Gy) and intraluminal brachytherapy (10 ± 2 Gy). Overall, 88% of the patients had late complications, with a significantly higher rate of complications occurring among patients receiving external beam irradiation and brachytherapy. Second to abdominal pain (56%), cholangitis (49%) was the most frequent complication and occurred significantly more often in patients who had received brachytherapy. Retrograde bile leakage after closure of the temporary jejunostomy was a troublesome complication in 24% of patients treated with brachytherapy. Overall median survival after treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy was longer than after resection without additional radiation (24 months versus 8 months, respectively). There was, however, no significant benefit from the use of intraluminal brachytherapy. In conclusion, additional radiotherapy after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma significantly improved survival and is recommended by giving external beam irradiation but not intraluminal brachytherapy.     

Impact of mediastinal lymph node dissection on octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Impacts of mediastinal lymph node dissection on a patient's course after pulmonary resection is unclear in octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Retrospectively identified subjects included 39 octogenarians and 1 nonagenarian, with grades according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index ranging from only 0 to 2. We performed mediastinal lymph node dissection in 19 patients (D group), and just lymph node sampling biopsy in the other 21 (S group). We compared clinicopathologic features and outcome after surgery between both groups. RESULTS: Deterioration of performance status at the time of discharge, evident in 17 patients overall, was significantly more frequent in the D group. Postoperative complications occurred in 27 patients overall and there was no significant difference between the two groups. Survival rates in younger patients at 1, 3, and 5 years were 86, 59, and 49%, respectively; in octogenarians these were 83, 58, and 42% (no significant difference). Nor did survival differ significantly by surgical management of mediastinal lymph nodes; 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 94, 63, and 40%, respectively in the D group and 78, 66, and 43%, respectively in the S group. CONCLUSION: Octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer should be treated by urgent pulmonary resection whenever possible. Since mediastinal lymph node dissection has little effect on long-term survival or the carried risk of worsening performance status at discharge, pulmonary resection without complete mediastinal lymph node dissection should be considered.     

Thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection for left lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: In left lung cancer, left and right mediastinum lymphatic spread occur equally frequently. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection, implemented prior to left lung resection for left lung cancer. METHODS: Between January 1999 and May 2000, 17 patients with left lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection prior to resection of the left lung and left mediastinal dissection for left lung cancer. These patients had either enlarged left hilar or bilateral mediastinal nodes, or either a tumor at least 3 cm in diameter or tumor extension to the hilum, mediastinum, or chest wall. Tumor and lymph nodes were examined with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin for micrometastasis. RESULTS: In 3 patients (17.6%), metastasis occurred in right paratracheal nodes. The 30-day mortality was 0% and morbidity 35.3% (6/17). Postoperative complications occurred in 3 of 4 patients (75%) undergoing induction chemotherapy, but none were lethal. CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic right upper mediastinal dissection is safe and feasible in treating advanced left lung cancer.     

Completion pneumonectomy--a review of 29 cases

From 1962 through 1988, a total of 29 consecutive patients had completion pneumonectomy (CP). Indications for initial pulmonary resection were primary lung cancer in 27 patients, metastatic lung tumor in 1, and mediastinal tumor with pulmonary invasion in 1. Indications for CP were lung cancer (including local recurrence, pulmonary metastasis from the first lung cancer, and second primary lung cancer) in 21 patients, complications after initial operations in 7, and pulmonary arterial injury during second operation in 1. Severe adhesion of the residual lung and the hilar structures made operative procedures extremely difficult. Injury of pulmonary arteries occurred in 6 patients. Especially, in cases the left upper lobe had been resected previously, deviation of the lower lobe and hilar adhesion lead to operative difficulty. Post-CP bronchial fistula occurred more frequently in what the bronchi had been dissected at more peripheral level than main bronchus, because of some severe hilar adhesions. Operative mortality was 13.8% (9.5% for second lung cancer, 28.5% for post-operative complication). Five-year survival for patients with lung cancer was 32.9% according to the Kaplan-Meier method. We conclude that the indications for CP are clinically resectable lung cancer and bronchial stenosis with residual pulmonary organic changes following bronhoplastic procedure. Postoperative bronchofistulae should be managed by other operative procedure.     

Prognosis of completely resected pN2 non-small cell lung carcinomas: What is the significant node that affects survival?

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the effect of the station of mediastinal metastasis with regard to the location of the primary tumor on the prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Of 956 consecutive patients who underwent operation for primary lung carcinoma between 1986 and 1996, 760 patients (79.5%) were diagnosed as having non- small cell carcinoma and were subjected to complete removal of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes together with the primary tumor. RESULTS: The status of lymph node involvement was N0 in 480 patients (63.2%), N1 in 139 patients (18.3%), and N2 in 141 patients (18.6%). The 5- and 10-year survival of patients with N2 disease were 26% and 17%, respectively. Neither cell type nor the extent of procedure was a significant survival determinant. Patients having involvement of subcarinal nodes from upper-lobe tumors had a significantly worse prognosis than those patients with metastases only to the upper mediastinal or aortic nodes (P =.003). Patients with nodal involvement of the upper mediastinum from lower-lobe tumors had a significantly worse survival than those patients with metastases limited to the lower mediastinum (P =.039). Furthermore, patients with involvement of the aortic nodes alone from left upper-lobe tumors had a significantly better survival than those patients with metastasis to the upper or lower mediastinum beyond the aortic region (P =.044). CONCLUSIONS: When mediastinal metastasis is limited to upper nodes from upper-lobe tumor, to lower nodes from lower-lobe tumor, or to aortic nodes from left upper-lobe tumor, acceptable survival could be expected after radical resection.     

Surgical treatment of primary lung cancer with synchronous brain metastases

OBJECTIVES: The role of surgical resection for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer is evolving. Although resection of primary lung cancer and metachronous brain metastases is superior to other treatment modalities in prolonging survival and disease-free interval, resection of the primary non-small cell lung cancer and synchronous brain metastases is controversial. METHODS: From January 1975 to December 1997, 220 patients underwent surgical treatment for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer at our institution. Twenty-eight (12.7%) of these patients underwent surgical resection of synchronous brain metastases and the primary non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTS: The group comprised 18 men and 10 women. Median age was 57 years (range 35-71 years). Twenty-two (78.6%) patients had neurologic symptoms. Craniotomy was performed first in all 28 patients. Median time between craniotomy and thoracotomy was 14 days (range 4-840 days). Pneumonectomy was performed in 4 patients, bilobectomy in 4, lobectomy in 18, and wedge excision in 2. Postoperative complications developed in 6 (21.4%) patients. Cell type was adenocarcinoma in 11 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 9, and large cell carcinoma in 8. After pulmonary resection, 17 patients had no evidence of lymph node metastases (N0), 5 had hilar metastases (N1), and 6 had mediastinal metastases (N2). Twenty-four (85.7%) patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. Follow-up was complete in all patients for a median of 24 months (range 2-104 months). Median survival was 24 months (range 2-104). Survival at 1, 2, and 5 years was 64.3%, 54.0%, and 21.4%, respectively. The presence of thoracic lymph node metastases (N1 or N2) significantly affected 5-year survival (P =.001). CONCLUSION: Although the overall survival for patients who have brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer is poor, surgical resection may prove beneficial in a select group of patients with synchronous brain metastases and lung cancer without lymph node metastases.     

Survival, disease-free interval, and associated tumor features in patients with colon/rectal carcinomas and their resected intra-pulmonary metastases

Objective: Colon/rectum cancer often presents with intrapulmonary metastases. Surgical resection can be performed in a selected group of patients. In this study, the search for possible prognostic factors of patients with primary colon/rectum cancer and lung metastases was performed. Methods: Medical records of 110 patients operated on pulmonary metastases of primary colon/rectum cancer were reviewed. The clinical parameters include age, sex, pTNM/UICC stage, grading, localization, surgical and adjuvant therapy of the primary cancer. The number, maximum diameter and total intra-thoracic resected tumor-mass (‘load’), the pre-thoracotomy serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, localization of the metastases (uni- vs. bilateral), the presence of hilar/mediastinal tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes, the surgical procedure and performed therapy schemes of lung metastases were recorded. Results: The cumulated 5- and 10-year total survival after diagnosis of the primary carcinomas was estimated to 71 and 33.7%, respectively. After resection of the pulmonary metastases, the 3- and 5-year post-thoracotomy survival measured 57 and 32.6%, respectively. The median time interval between diagnosis of the primary cancer and thoracotomy (disease free interval (DFI)) was found to be 35 months. A non-negligible percentage of patients (15.4%) displayed limited tumor stages of the primary cancer (pT1/2, pN0). The median diameter of the largest metastasis measured 28 mm, and the median resected intrathoracic tumor-load was calculated to 11.4 cm³. In only 8 patients hilar or mediastinal tumor-involved lymph nodes were found. A potentially curative resection of lung metastases was recorded in 96 patients. The overall survival was significantly correlated with the DFI and the number of intrapulmonary metastases. The DFI correlated significantly with the tumor load and the number of metastases; the post-thoracotomy survival with the number of metastases, tumor-load and pre-thoracotomy serum CEA level. Treatment, stage and grade of the primary cancer, occurrence of liver metastases and local recurrences, mode of treatment of metastases and postoperative residual stage had no significant correlation with either total nor post-thoracotomy survival. Conclusions: Pulmonary metastases occur even in patients with limited tumor-stages of primary colon/rectum cancer. DFI is the major parameter to estimate the total survival of patients with lung metastases. The survival after thoracotomy depends on the number of metastases, the intrapulmonary tumor load and the presence of elevated serum CEA level prior to thoracotomy.     

Primary lung cancer surgery after curative chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients

The safety and perioperative problems of primary lung cancer surgery after curative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) are controversial. We retrospectively evaluated six patients who had received curative CRT for EC from 2003 to 2009, in whom the lung nodule was identified as a primary lung cancer and who subsequently underwent pulmonary resection. The treatment for EC consisted of chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent curative thoracic radiotherapy (60 Gy). The median age at the surgery was 75 years (range 69-80 years). The median time from radiation to pulmonary resection was 26 months (range 7-70 months). All patients had a predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1))% of >40% before lung surgery. The surgical difficulty involves mediastinal lymph node dissection following tissue fibrotic changes after thoracic radiation. Postoperative complications occurred in two patients, and included arrhythmia and empyema. The patient who developed empyema had a massive pericardial effusion after CRT and underwent pericardial fenestration at the time of pulmonary resection. There was no operative mortality. Lung cancer surgery after curative CRT for EC is feasible in carefully evaluated and selected patients.     

肺转移瘤外科治疗策略的临床证据

手术切除是肺转移瘤治疗的选择之一,大量回顾性研究提示对原发灶已控制的患者,彻底切除肺转移瘤能带来生存获益。应用肺转移瘤切除术,需对患者进行综合评估。任何原发瘤病理类型,彻底切除都是主要的预后因素。无瘤间歇期长、肺转移瘤数量较少是有利的预后因素。推荐采用经胸肋三角手辅助胸腔镜双肺转移瘤切除的手术方式。肺门与纵隔淋巴结转移是手术的相对禁忌证。现有的影像学检查存在遗漏肺转移瘤的风险。肺转移瘤扩大切除术可使部分患者受益。部分肺转移瘤再发再切仍有生存获益,故肺转移瘤切除术需注意保护正常肺实质。我们就这些临床问题进行文献综述,以期为肺转移瘤的外科治疗提供参考。     

Long-term survival and prognostic factors of five-year survivors with complete resection of non-small cell lung carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the long-term follow-up data on cancer-related death in 5-year survivors of complete resection of their non-small cell lung cancer and examined the prognostic factors having an impact on subsequent survival. METHODS: Of 848 consecutive patients with proven primary non-small cell carcinoma who underwent complete removal of the primary tumor together with hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, 421 patients (49.6%) survived 5 years or longer after the initial surgical treatment. Of all the data analyzed, only death related to cancer was treated as death. RESULTS: The median follow-up of 5-year survivors was 84 months from the original treatment (range, 60 to 200 months). Their overall survival rate at 10 years was 91.0%. Multivariable Cox analysis demonstrated that although advanced surgical-pathological stage (P =.0001), nodal involvement (P =.0245), male gender (P =.0313), and non-squamous type of the tumor (P =.0034) were significant, independent, unfavorable prognostic determinants in all patients, none of the variables investigated significantly influenced the long-term survival of 5-year survivors. The rate of recurrence beyond 5 years was much lower compared with that within 5 years. In contrast, the rate of occurrence of new malignancies was unchanged throughout the long-term postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Among 5-year survivors of complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer, neither stage, nodal status, sex, nor histologic condition further affected subsequent survival, suggesting that the 5-year interval might be sufficient to declare that a patient with lung cancer has been cured.     

Surgery in non-small cell lung cancer of the superior sulcus: results of a combined preoperative and postoperative irradiation regime

Due to local invasion of the chest wall, patients with non small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) of the superior sulcus have been treated mainly by the Paulson regime with radiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Recent published data on the use of concurrent irradiation and chemotherapy followed by surgical resection seemed very promising. The aim of the present study was to determine the value and benefit of a combined preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy regime (Sandwich irradiation), and which factors predict prognosis following resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1986 and 2003, 64 patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the superior sulcus were managed in our department. 28 underwent surgical resection with combined preoperative 40 Gy and postoperative 20 Gy external beam radiotherapy. Time to death was calculated using the method of Kaplan and Meier. Survival after surgery was the end point of the study. The association of factors to end of life end points was analyzed using the log-rank test for univariate analysis. Median follow up was 13.1 months. RESULTS: The actuarial 5-year-survival for the overall population was 30.2 %. For surgically-rendered complete resection (CR) patients with no mediastinal lymph node metastases, the 5-year-survival-rate was 53.2 %. The 30-day-mortality-rate was 0 %. Most significant prognostic factors were the mediastinal lymph node involvement and the stage of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this retrospective study show that patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the superior sulcus can experience a long-term survival which is well comparative to other patients with NSCLC. Surgical resection with a combined preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy regime is well accepted. Special care should be taken in patient selection to identify patients with advanced stage of the disease and mediastinal lymph node metastases.     

Benefit of surgery after chemoradiotherapy in stage IIIB (T4 and/or N3) non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postchemoradiotherapy surgery in stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Forty patients with stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer were included in this phase II study. A preoperative diagnosis of stage IIIB cancer was based on mediastinoscopy or a thoracotomy in all patients. Induction treatment included two cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m(2), day 1), 5-fluorouracil (1 g/m(2), days 1-3), and vinblastine (4 mg/m(2), day 1) combined with 42 Gy of hyperfractionated radiotherapy delivering 21 Gy in two sessions. Patients with a clinical response were offered surgery. RESULTS: The minimum follow-up for survivors was 48 months. Thirty patients had a T4 lesion and 18 had N3 disease. Twenty-nine patients (73%) had a clinical objective tumor response after induction treatment. These 29 patients underwent thoracotomy, and a complete resection was performed in 23 (58%). Two postoperative deaths occurred (7%). Four patients had a pathologic complete response at the time of surgery (10%). The 5-year survival is 19% for the overall population. When only patients who had persistent viable tumor cells at surgery are considered (n = 25), the 5-year survival is 28%. The 5-year survival is 42% for patients having no mediastinal lymph node involvement at the time of surgery and being treated with complete resection. CONCLUSION: This study shows that surgery, when feasible, is associated with a 28% long-term survival for patients in whom chemoradiotherapy alone fails to control disease.     

Tonsillar metastasis from large cell carcinoma of the lung

A 52-year-old female was referred to our department for treatment of a left lung tumor, 80 mm in diameter, arising in the left S1 + 2. The patient's chief complaint was persistent dry cough and spiking fever. Left upper lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection (ND2a) was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was primary large cell carcinoma of the lung, p-T3N0M0. At one week after being discharged, the patient visited our outpatient clinic complaining of a sore throat. A tumor in the right tonsil was discovered, and excisional biopsy revealed it to be metastasis from the large cell carcinoma of the lung. Right cervical lymph node metastasis was also detected, and the patient was treated by combined chemo-radiotherapy, resulting in a complete remission.     

Carcinoma of the lung: results of treatment over ten years.

Mediastinal lymph node dissection in conjunction with pulmonary resection was performed on 437 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma at the University of Michigan Medical Center from 1959 to 1969. The absolute five- and ten-year survival rates for patients undergoing curative resection were 36.2 and 14.4%, respectively. The five-year survival of those without nodal metastases was 49.3%, and it was 31.1% in patients with hilar metastases only. The five-year survival of patients with mediastinal metastases who received radiation therapy was 23.1%. Of the 193 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 43% lived five years free from disease. The five-year survival of patients undergoing resection who had no hilar lymph node metastases was 53%, and it was 47.5% in those with hilar metastases only. The five-year survival in patients with mediastinal metastases who received postoperative irradiation was 34.4%.     

Prognostic impact of lymph node involvement in pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the prognostic impact of unexpected lymph node metastases in patients undergoing resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer and specify the influence of pulmonary and mediastinal nodal involvement according to the modified Narukes lymph node mapping [Mountain CF, Dresler CM. Regional lymph node classification for lung cancer. Chest 1997;111(6):1718-23.]. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 2003, 175 patients were diagnosed and resected for pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer. Follow up informations were collected for 169 patients and an analysis of prognostic factors was performed. Ninety-six men (56.8%) and 73 women (43.2%) with a median age of 62 (range 34-81) were identified, 28 (16.7%) patients were found to have lymph node metastases, five of them were identified during a recurrent procedure. Probability of survival was calculated according to the method of Kaplan-Meier. The prognostic influence of lymph node metastases on survival was analyzed with the log-rank test. RESULTS: Median survival was 47.2 months after first metastasectomy. Ten patients with intrapulmonary nodal involvement had a median survival of 86 months whereas 12 patients with hilar and six patients with mediastinal lymph node metastases had a median survival of 24.5 and 34.7 months. The survival difference between pulmonary and hilar/mediastinal metastases was statistically significant (p=0.008/p=0.07). Five year survival with pulmonary, hilar, and mediastinal metastases was 78.5, 0, and 0%, respectively. Perioperative mortality was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of pulmonary metastases secondary to colorectal cancer is safe and indicated in highly selected patients. Because tumor involvement of lymph nodes has a strong impact on survival; depending on their location, at least a lymph node sampling should always be performed. Adjuvant chemotherapy in case of proven lymph node metastases might be a good option to improve prognosis.     

腹腔镜联合胸腔镜一期切除结直肠癌肺转移的疗效及预后因素

目的：探讨腹腔镜联合胸腔镜（双镜）一期切除结直肠癌肺转移的疗效及预后相关因素。方法：回顾性分析35例结直肠癌同时肺转移患者的临床资料,其中17例进行了双镜一期手术切除（双镜手术组）,术后接受化疗;其余18例仅接受全身化疗（非手术组）,比较两组疗效并分析双镜手术患者的预后因素。结果：双镜手术组患者原发性病灶及肺转移灶均达到R0切除。双镜手术组与非手术组1、2年生存率分别为82.3%、44.4%（P=0.028）和52.3%、22.2%（P=0.001）。单因素分析显示,肺转移瘤数量（P=0.002）及纵膈淋巴结阳性（P<0.001）与患者术后生存有关,而患者的性别、年龄,原发肿瘤部位、病理类型、T分期,肺转移瘤大小、切除方式,手术前CEA水平,化疗方案均与其术后生存时间无关（均P>0.05）;多因素分析显示,肺转移瘤数量（P=0.005）、纵膈淋巴结转移（P=0.006）是患者术后的预后独立影响因素。结论：结直肠癌肺转移双镜一期手术切除可提高患者的总生存率;肺转移瘤数量及有无纵膈淋巴结转移是影响术后预后的独立因素。