Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer. Do the indications evolved?

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate a single-institution experience in the surgical treatment of lung metastases from colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 16 years period, 42 patients underwent lung metastasectomy at the University Hospital of Nice for a total of 57 surgical interventions. Data were retrospectively collected and analysed in term of prognostic factors and long-term survival. RESULTS: The mean age was 64.5 years and there were 26 males and 16 females. In 36 cases lung metastasis were metachronous and the disease-free mean interval was 28.7 months. Eighteen patients had bilateral disease. In ten patients hepatic metastasectomy was done before lung resection. Forty-seven operations were performed for the 1(st) episode of lung metastasis (1 bilobectomy, 21 lobectomy, 4 segmentectomy and 38 wedge resections). Mediastinal metastatic disease was present in six patients. No patient died and the postoperative morbidity was 6.25%. Six patients needed operation for recurrent disease. Two patients died after completion pneumonectomy. Overall five and ten-year survival were 29.5 respectively 26.2%. The log-rank test identified two significant prognostic factors: radicality of metastasectomy (P =0.0066) and a disease-free interval longer than two years (P= 0.0021). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that local control of lung metastasis can improve survival only when a radical resection can be achieved. Selection criteria need to be improved in order to avoid unnecessary lung resection in patients with high risk of recurrences. The Pet-scan should probably have a certain interest in selecting these patients.     

Combined resection of colorectal hepatic–pulmonary metastases shows improved outcome over chemotherapy alone

Background

The objective of this retrospective study was to assess the survival of patients after resection of hepatic and pulmonary colorectal metastases to identify predictors of long-term survival.

Methods

Patients receiving chemotherapy alone were compared to patients receiving surgery and chemotherapy in a matched-pair analysis with the following criteria: UICC stage, grading, and date of initial primary tumor occurrence.

Results

A total of 30 patients with liver and lung metastases of colorectal carcinoma underwent resection. In 20 cases, complete resection was achieved (median survival, 67 months). Incomplete resection and preoperatively elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are independent risk factors for reduced survival. Patients developing pulmonary metastases prior to hepatic metastases had the worst prognosis. Surgical resection significantly increased survival compared to chemotherapy alone in matched-pair analysis (65 vs. 30 months, p?=?0.03).

Conclusions

Incomplete resection and elevated CEA levels are predictors of poor outcome. Matched-paired analysis confirmed that surgical resection in combination with chemotherapy appears to be superior to chemotherapy alone.     

Results of surgical treatment for multiple (≥5 nodules) bi-lobar hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

Background The surgery for the treatment of multiple (5) bi-lobar hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer is controversial. This retrospective study presents our experience in an attempt to develop reasonable treatment guidelines.Method One hundred sixty-one consecutive patients who underwent liver resection with curative intent were classified into three groups: H1 (unilateral), H2 (bilateral, 4 nodules), or H3 (bilateral, 5 nodules).Results The overall cumulative 5-year survival rate was 46.7%. Survival was similar among patients with H1, H2, and H3 disease. Thirty-two patients with H3 disease underwent hepatectomy: straightforward hepatectomy in 12, portal vein embolization (PVE) prior to hepatectomy in eight, two-stage hepatectomy in two, and two-stage hepatectomy combined with PVE in ten. Two-stage hepatectomy with or without PVE was the standard approach in patients with synchronous liver metastases. The operating mortality in hepatectomy for H3 disease was 0%, and the morbidity was 15.2%. The overall response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was 41.7% (5/12). Patients who responded to NAC (n=5) had a better prognosis than non-responders (n=7) (P<0.05).Conclusions Extended hepatectomy, including preoperative PVE and multi-step hepatectomy, combined with NAC, may result in a favourable prognosis, especially in patients who respond to NAC, but further studies with more patients are needed to confirm this.     

The surgical treatment of patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases in the setting of the “liver first” approach

A surgical resection is the only curative method in the therapy of colorectal carcinoma and liver metastases. Along with the development of interventional radiological techniques the indications for surgery widen. The number of metastases and patients age should not present a contraindication for surgical resection. However, there are still some doubts concerns what to resect first in cases of synchronous colorectal carcinoma and liver metastases and how to ensure the proper remnant liver volume in order to avoid postoperative liver failure and achieve the best results. Through this review the surgical therapy of colorectal carcinoma and liver metastases was revised in the setting of “liver-first” approach and the problem of ensuring of remnant liver volume.     

Surgical management of colorectal liver metastases—a practical clinical approach

European Surgery - Despite the remarkable advances that have been made in the management of colorectal cancer over recent years, the optimal treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) remains...     

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer: are newer generation probes better?

Second-generation radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probes and their successors have more power, shorter ablation times, and an increased area of ablation compared with the first-generation probes used before 2000. We examined whether the use of the newer probes has improved the clinical outcome of RFA for hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer at our tertiary cancer center. Of 160 patients who underwent RFA between 1997 and 2003, 52 had metastases confined to the liver: 21 patients underwent 46 ablations with the first-generation probes and 31 patients underwent 58 ablations with the newer probes. The two groups had similar demographic characteristics. At a median follow-up of 26.2 months, patients treated with the newer probes had a longer median disease-free survival (16 months vs 8 months, P < 0.01) and a lower rate of margin recurrence (5.2% vs 17.4%); eight patients had no evidence of disease and one patient was alive with disease. By contrast, of the 46 patients treated with the first-generation probes, 2 patients had no evidence of disease and 1 patient was alive with disease. Newer-generation probes are associated with lower rates of margin recurrence and higher rates of disease-free survival after RFA of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.     

Percutaneous ethanol injection and radio-frequency ablation for the treatment of nonresectable colorectal liver metastases – techniques and results

Background: Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radio-frequency (RF) ablation are possible palliative treatment modalities for patients with non-resectable liver metastases of colorectal carcinomas. The different techniques are explained and reviewed. Results: PEI did not show promising results for the treatment of liver metastases. RF results were more encouraging; some studies showed improved mean survival times for patients when a complete necrosis of the metastases could be achieved. The maximum diameter of the necrotic area possible in a single session is about 5 cm. Conclusion: PEI and RF are palliative last-line treatment strategies for patients with non-resectable liver metastases and should only be applied if chemotherapy is not sufficient or not possible. The long-term efficacy of RF ablation in this group of patients has to be evaluated. Received: 10 March 1999 Accepted: 29 June 1999     

Laparoscopic salvage surgery for recurrent and metachronous colorectal cancer: 15?years�� experience in a single center

Background  

Laparoscopic salvage surgery for colorectal cancer is a novel but technically challenging option for surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery in patients with recurrent or metachronous colorectal cancer in comparison with an open approach.     

Surgical treatment of post—traumatic pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas

Objective:To report the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas.Methods:A series of 30 patients(11 women and 19 men) with posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms were reviewed retrospectively.Among them 7 patients (5 women and 2 men) were associated with arteriovenous fistula.Results:The causes included sharp penetration trauma(18 cases),blunt trauma (6 cases) and iatrogenic arterial injury (6 cases).The main clinical manifestations consisted of local pulsatile mass (26 cases),vascular bruits (19 cases),thrill (13 cases),ischemia of distal limb (9 cases),neuropathy (5 cases) and pseudoaneurysm rupture (2 cases).All patients underwent surgery.The operations included:ligation of the vessels (12 cases),surgical resection and primary suture repain of the vascular defect or anastomosis (11 cases),vascular reconstruction with autogenous saphenous vein (3 cases) and synthetic vascular graft (4 cases).Conclusions:Because of the imminent clinical course,early operation is usually indicated.The operative treatment is effective and safe for most of the patients with post-traumatic pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas.     

Perioperative chemotherapy for resectable colorectal hepatic metastases—What does the EORTC 40983 trial update mean?

The liver is the most common site of colorectal cancer metastasis. Although successful resection leads to durable overall survival (OS), local and distant recurrence is common. As a result, multidisciplinary strategies have been developed to decrease recurrence rates as well as increase the number of candidates for resection. A recent update to the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Intergroup trial 40983 has been published comparing perioperative chemotherapy to surgery alone. This randomized trial initially demonstrated a benefit in progression free survival (PFS) with the administration of perioperative FOLFOX chemotherapy, albeit with an increased rate of complications. Although this led many investigators and clinicians to adopt the perioperative approach, the recent update failed to report any advantage in OS and therefore results in further controversy as to the role of perioperative systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of resectable colorectal hepatic metastases.     

Management of pulmonary nodules in head and neck cancer patients – Our experience and interpretation of the British Thoracic Society Guidelines

Background

and purpose of the study: The frequency of lung nodules in the head and neck cancer population is unknown, currently the only guidance available recommends following local policy. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pulmonary nodules in our head and neck cancer group and interpret the recently updated British Thoracic Society (BTS) Lung Nodule Guidelines in a head and neck cancer setting.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary hydatid cysts: is capitonnage necessary?

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease of the lung caused by Echinococcus granulosus is frequently encountered in Mediterranean countries. The ideal surgical method for treating this disease is still unknown. METHODS: Between 1994 and 2001, 71 patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts were treated surgically. There were 41 male and 30 female patients with a mean age of 30.2 years (range, 5 to 70 years). Cystotomy and closure of bronchial openings were performed in all patients. Obliteration of the residual cavity by imbricating sutures from within (capitonnage) was achieved in 39 patients (group 1). There were 34 patients with intact cysts and 37 patients with at least one complicated cyst. The average diameter of the cysts was 6.4 cm, and the mean number of cysts per patient was 1.4. The surgical outcome was assessed in group 1 patients and in patients who had undergone closure of bronchial openings without capitonnage (group 2; n = 32). The groups were comparable in regard to clinical characteristics. RESULTS: There was no mortality. The total hospitalization time (mean +/- standard error of the mean) was 5.0 +/- 5.0 days for group 1 and 5.9 +/- 6.9 days for group 2 (p = 0.91). Stay in the intensive care unit was 1.64 +/- 1.22 days in group 1 and 1.60 +/- 1.52 days in group 2 (p = 0.90). The duration of air leak was 2.56 +/- 4.73 days in group 1 and 2.38 +/- 4.74 days in group 2 (p = 0.87). There was no significant difference between groups in the development of empyema (1 patient in group 2 only) and prolonged air leak (5 patients in group 1 and 4 in group 2). There was also no significant difference in the rate of recurrence (3 patients in group 1 only). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that capitonnage provides no advantage in operations for pulmonary hydatid cysts.