Original article: Pulmonary metastasectomy of renal cell carcinoma: Local experience

Up until now, the prognosis of a patient with disseminated renal cell carcinoma is poor with 5-year survival less than 2%. In a small subset of patients with isolated pulmonary metastasis, long-term survival after pulmonary metastasectomy has been reported to be acceptable. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the result of pulmonary metastasectomy in a local cardiothoracic surgical centre. Patients who had renal cell carcinoma and pulmonary metastasectomy for isolated pulmonary metastasectomy were recruited for the study. Their survival was analysed. Between 1992 and 2004, 13 patients underwent 15 operative procedures for pulmonary metastases from renal cell carcinoma. The median follow up was 39.8 months (from 4.6 to 127.5 months). The five-year survival after pulmonary metastasectomy was 48.3% and median survival was 25.4 months. There was no postoperative mortality. Pulmonary recurrence was the commonest recurrent site after pulmonary metastasectomy. Pulmonary metastasectomy for renal cell carcinoma is a safe and effective procedure. And, as the lung is the commonest site of first recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy, the present study on the control of these occult metastases is necessary. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]