Non-small cell lung cancer with oligometastases: treatment with curative intent

Published series suggest that, in carefully selected patients, long-term survival can be obtained when a complete resection of the primary site and metastasis is achieved. It comprises resection of additional malignant nodules in the contralateral lung (at present classified as M1a, but the additional nodule may be a second primary lung cancer), complete resection of the primary associated with limited metastatic pleural involvement (M1a), and resection of the primary with an isolated extrathoracic metastasis (mostly a single brain or adrenal). All these topics are discussed.