[Micrometastasis in the resected lungs of lung cancer patients with special reference to their clinical features].
The microscopic metastases were examined seemingly unaffected areas of the resected lungs in 116 primary lung cancer patients. In 55 patients (47%), micrometastases were found in the areas which looked normal. The investigation on the route and location of micrometastaes revealed that lung metastases were formed mainly through haematogenous and partly through lymphatic route. The high incidence of postoperative intrapulmonary spread in the positive micrometastasis group suggested that most of microscopic deposits would become distinct tumors in time. Thirteen patients have had a second operation for the intrapulmonary metastatic lesions. There was one postoperative death. Nine patients have subsequently died. Three patients are still alive and well without evidence of recurrence.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology