Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancers. Eight years survival and principal prognostic factors

Objective. In order to achieve a better definition of the indications for surgical excision of pulmonary metasteses in color rectal cancer (CCR), a retrospective study of the eight year survival of patients who had been operated on was carried out with reference to the principal prognostic factors. Methods and results. Between May 1986 and December 1997 38 patients had an excision for pulmonary metastases for CCR. The mean delay between diagnosis of the metastases and surgical treatment of the CCR was 39+/-24 months (0-98). Thirthy two patients (84%) had a single pulmonary metastasis. The mean diameter of the metastasis was 38+/-22 nm. Twenty metastases had a diameter <30 mm. Five patients had a locoregional recurrence of their CCR before pulmonary surgery. Fourteen patients had an abnormally elevated level of carcinoembrionic antigen (ACE-CEA) before the pulmonary excision. Five pneumonectomies, 23 lobectomies, 1 bilobectomy and 11 atypical resections were carried out. A lymph node clearance was performed in 25 cases. Six patients (16%) had an associated excision of an hepatic metastasis. The in-hospital mortality was 2.6%. Chemotherapy was associated with a pulmonary excision in 17 patients (46%). The mean survival was 2.7 years (0.13-8.7 years). The survival at one year was 89+/-5.2% and at five years 35.2+/-10.1% and at eight years 18.8%+/-10.3%. Age, sex, histological stage of the primary tumor, the size and the delay in appearance in the pulmonary metastases, the number of metastases, the preoperative CEA, the operative technique and the perioperative chemotherapy did not influence the levels of survival at Jive years. At the same lime associated excision of an hepatic metastsis did not worsen the prognosis at five years. Conclusion. Complete excision of pulmonary metastases in a colorectal cancer allows for significantly longer survival. This study associated with a literature review may help in advancing towards better selection of surgical candidates.