Preliminary experience in pulmonary metastatectomy

Results Our study included 21 patients who had lung metastases and were operated upon by thoracic surgeons. Females constituted more than 2/3 of this series. Mean age was 26 years. Mean follow up duration was 25 months. The commonest primary originated from the bones and rectosigmoid. Thirty five thoracic surgeries were required for those 21 cases. Twelve patients had one thoracic surgery, five had 2 surgeries, three had 3 surgeries and one had 4 surgeries. We used either VATS or thoracotomy in our lung metastatectomies. Only one third of the resected specimens were proved to be metastatic. No significant perioperative complications were reported in our series. No mortality was reported during the study period. Discussion/Conclusion Pulmonary metastatectomy can be performed safely either by VATS or through thoracotomy with acceptable results.