Surgical Resection of Lung Metastases in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

The Authors report their experience with surgical treatment of lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma. From June 1986 to July 1991, 19 patients were submitted to contemporary or subsequent lung metastasectomy. Histological examination confirmed the presence of lung metastases due to renal cell carcinoma in 16 cases (6 synchronous and 10 metachronous with a mean disease-free interval of 23 months). In the other 3 cases, histological examination revealed tuberculomas, chondroid hamartoma and foci of anthracosis. To date, among the 6 patients with synchronous lung metastases, 3 have died, 2 are in progression and 1 is NED after a mean-time survival of 74 months. Among the 10 patients who underwent surgical resection of lung metachronous metastases, 1 has died, 3 are in progression and 6 are NED (mean-time survival of 43 months). In conclusion, while the presence of synchronous lung metastases is an unfavourable prognostic factor even after surgical removal (5 out of 6 patients died or are in progression shortly after metastasectomy), the results after surgery of metachronous lung metastases are encouraging, but the real efficacy of this treatment is still to be confirmed.