Therapeutic outcome after resection of pulmonary metastases from oral and/or head and neck cancers: complete republication of the article published in Jpn J Chest Surg.

Objective: Thus far, very few studies have assessed the efficacy and outcome of resection of pulmonary metastases originating from primary oral cancer and/or head and neck cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 13 cases that had metastases from primary oral cancers and/or head and neck cancers, and had undergone metastasectomy in our hospital from January 2000 through March 2011.

Results: Twelve patients were male and one was female. The median disease-free interval from the time of treatment of their primary cancer was 12 (range 1-73) months. Eleven cases underwent partial resection, one underwent segmentectomy, and one underwent lobectomy. The overall 5-year survival rate after last pulmonary metastasectomy was 45.7 %, and the median survival time was 23 months. Factors predicting a poor prognosis according to univariate analysis were a disease-free interval of <12 months and a diagnosis of stage IV primary cancer, but multivariate analysis revealed no significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions: Pulmonary metastasectomy would give a chance for long-term survival in patients with oral and/or head and neck cancers.