Resection of pulmonary metastases from primary bone and soft tissue tumors

An aggressive approach to surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of bone and soft tissue sarcomas seems to extend patient survival. This therapy is most applicable to pulmonary metastases but can be considered for metastases in other sites. Criteria for appropriate selection of these patients has been outlined. However, no prospective randomized trial of surgery versus alternative therapy for these lesions has been performed. Thus, it remains unproven in a controlled clinical test that metastasectomy is beneficial. Nevertheless, there is a well-defined group of long-term survivors who are disease-free following metastasectomy. Because alternative therapy does not yield this benefit, resection of metastases in appropriately selected sarcoma patients seems warranted.