Five Cases of Resection of a Recurrent Solitary Pulmonary Metastasis of Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Pulmonary metastasis of gastric cancer usually occurs as a result of carcinomatous lymphangiosis or carcinomatous pleurisy, and solitary pulmonary metastasis after gastric cancer surgery is rare. Although resection of solitary pulmonary metastases is reportedly effective, the role of surgical treatment is unclear.

The study subjects were five patients who underwent surgical resection of a solitary pulmonary metastasis after gastric cancer surgery.

Median time to pulmonary metastasis recurrence was 22 months, and the time was ≥12 months in all cases. Median survival after pneumonectomy was 45 (8-96) months, and the 5-year survival rate was 40%. The two patients for whom the time to pulmonary metastasis recurrence after gastric cancer surgery was ≥30 months both survived recurrence-free for ≥5 years after pneumonectomy.

Some patients achieved a good outcome following pneumonectomy for a solitary pulmonary metastasis after gastric cancer surgery. The prognosis for patients in whom the time to recurrence after gastric cancer resection is ≥30 months may be particularly good, suggesting that surgery should therefore be considered if at all possible.