Long-term Results following Surgical Removal of Pulmonary Metastases in Children with Malignomas

Summary

Between 1972 and June 1983, 21 children (mean age 9 years, range 20 months to 16.5 years) were operated on for pulmonary metastatic disease. Primary malignant tumors were Wilmstumor (7 patients), osteogenic sarcoma (7 patients), Ewing's sarcoma (4 patients), hepatoblastoma (2 patients), and rhabdomyosarcoma (1 patient). The surgical intervention was part of a therapeutic pediatric oncological concept with curative purpose including chemotherapy and/or radiation in different combinations. Ten out of these 21 children survived disease-free 3 years and more after pulmonary metastasectomy. An aggressive surgical approach towards pulmonary metastatic disease in children thus appears to be justified.

Key words

Pediatric oncology - Pulmonary metastases - Surgical resection