Resection of lung metastases in large bowel cancer

A series of 14 patients had partial or, in one case, total excision of the lung for metastatic tumour originating in the large bowel. Two patients have survived long periods (9 years and 12 years) and are now apparently free of the disease. A third patient shows no recurrence after bilateral lobectomy 2 years ago. Six of the remaining 11 patients developed isolated pulmonary metastases 5 years and 4 months to 11 years and 4 months after the original bowel resection. All 6 survived for 9 months to 11 years after pulmonary resection before succumbing to the disease. In all 11 patients who died, death was caused by systemic metastases in the brain, spinal cord or bone.