Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival impact and prognostic factors of pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with pulmonary metastasis from head and neck cancer.
Methods: A retrospective study of 69 patients was analyzed. Twenty-four patients (35%) underwent pulmonary metastasectomy, and the remaining 45 patients (65%) were treated with chemotherapy or best supportive care.
Results: The 1-year overall survival (OS) of 69 patients was 28%. Pulmonary metastasectomy (p = .01) and histology (p < .001) had a significant impact on the prognosis. One-year OS of patients who underwent metastasectomy and those who did not was 90% and 35%, respectively. In the metastasectomy group, recurrence of primary ahead of lung metastasis (p = .006) and disease-free interval (DFI; ≤21.4 months; p = .046) were significant negative prognostic factors.
Conclusion: Pulmonary metastasectomy has an impact on survival in carefully selected patients, especially for those with a long DFI and with no recurrence of primary cancer ahead of lung metastasis.
Keywords: head and neck cancer; pulmonary metastasis; surgical treatment prognostic factors.
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