Resection of pulmonary metastases from colon and rectal cancer: factors to predict survival differ regarding to the origin of the primary tumor.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine differences in prognostic factors for survival of patients with pulmonary metastases resected in curative intent from colon or rectum cancer.

Methods: Between 1980 and 2006, prognostic factors after resection of pulmonary metastases in 171 patients with primary rectum or colon tumor were evaluated. Survival of patients after surgical metastasectomy was compared with that of patients receiving standard chemotherapy by matched-pair analysis.

[Atypical femoral fractures in bisphosphonate therapy].

Bisphosphonates (BP) play an important role in the therapy of osteoporosis as they effectively reduce the risk of fractures. Atypical femoral fractures (AFF) have recently been described as an adverse effect of BP treatment. We present 3 women under therapy with BP, who had five AFF, among these three complete and two incomplete fractures.

[Impact of systematic lymph node dissection in the resection of pulmonary metastases of solid extrapulmonary tumours].

Background: The systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node dissection for the treatment of pulmonary metastases has, until now, not attracted much attention. A possible advantage of systematic lymph node dissection is an improved staging and a better locoregional tumour control due to resection of tumour micrometastases and the disintegration of lymphatic vessels. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of mediastinal and hilar lymphnode metastases on the prognosis of the patient.