Outcomes after pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal cancer

Background: Surgical resection offers the greatest likelihood of cure for appropriately selected patients with pulmonary colorectal carcinoma metastases. We hereby report our experience over the last 19 years at the Austin Hospital, Thoracic Surgery Unit. Methods: This is a retrospective study of a consecutive series of patients with pulmonary colorectal cancer metastases. From 1994 to 2012, 66 patients underwent 83 pulmonary metastasectomies for colorectal cancer at the Austin Hospital. Results: Seventy per cent of patients were operated on for single pulmonary metastases. The most common procedure performed was a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery wedge resection. Median follow-up duration was 25 months. Three-, five-, seven-and ten-year survival was 53.4, 39.6, 34.6 and 23.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Pulmonary metastasectomy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma continues to offer the greatest survival advantage for appropriately selected patients.