Survival prognostic and recurrence risk factors after single pulmonary metastasectomy

Identification of the prognostic factors of recurrence and survival after single pulmonary metastasectomy (PM).

Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent PM for a single lung metastasis between 2003 and 2018.

A total of 162 patients with a median age of 64 years underwent single PM. Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) was performed in 83.9% of cases. Surgical resection was achieved by wedge in 73.5%, segmentectomy in 7.4%, lobectomy in 17.9% and pneumonectomy in 1.2% of cases. The median durations of hospital stay and of drainage were 4 days (IQR 3–7) and 1 day (IQR 1–2), respectively. During the follow-up (median 31 months; IQR 15–58), 93 patients (57.4%) presented recurrences and repeated PM could be realized in 35 patients (21.6%) achieved by VATS in 77.1%. Non-colorectal tumour (HR 1.84), age < 70 years (HR 1.77) and previous extra-thoracic metastases (HR 1.61) were identified as prognostic factors of recurrence. Overall survival at 5-year was estimated at 67%. Non-colorectal tumour (HR 2.40) and mediastinal lymph nodes involvement (HR 3.42) were significantly associated with an increased risk of death.

Despite high recurrence rates after PM, surgical resection shows low morbidity rate and acceptable long-term survival, thus should remain the standard treatment for single pulmonary metastases.