Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The lung is one of the most common sites of extrahepatic spread from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of surgical management in patients with pulmonary metastasis from HCC. METHODOLOGY: Fourteen patients with pulmonary metastases arising from HCC underwent surgery at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1980 and 2001. The clinical and pathological data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Four patients were still alive and none of them had evidence of recurrent disease. Ten patients had died with recurrent HCC. The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were low. The mean overall survival was 42.7 months (range, 8-87). The mean survival after initial thoracotomy was 21.6 months (range, 1-66). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates after metastasectomy were 71.4%, 44.6%, and 26.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment is appropriate option in selected patients for pulmonary metastasis arising from HCC, and might prolong survival.