Pulmonary metastasectomy: limits to credibility.

ABSTRACT: Lung metastases are a common site of spread for many malignant tumours. Pulmonary metastasectomy has been practiced for many years for sarcomas and is now becoming increasingly frequently advocated for patients with many other tumours, especially colorectal cancer. In this article we argue that this procedure is one framed by therapeutic opportunity and not supported by strong evidence. It is potentially harmful and may not be effective. Our argument is based on several important issues: (I) the vagueness of the concept of "oligometastases" and its biological implausibility; (II) the flaws in the often-cited observational evidence, especially selection bias; (III) the lack of any reliable randomised trial evidence of improved survival but evidence of harm; (IV) the failure of strategies to

SUBMITTER: Treasure T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8107549 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature