title: [Surgical treatment of tumor metastases in the lungs, brain or liver].
abstract: Metastases are generally an expression of widespread disease and therefore warrant systemic treatment. However, clinical observations have revealed that local surgical treatment might be beneficial in the case of organ-confined metastatic disease. Randomised studies have revealed that in the case of brain metastases, metastasectomy followed by radiotherapy, has a favourable outcome with respect to both the quality of life and overall survival. Retrospective non-randomised studies in selected patient groups show prolonged post-treatment survival in the case of both lung and liver metastasectomy. The most important prognostic factors for metastasectomy are: disease control elsewhere in the body, tumour species, the patient's general condition, and the possibility of a total resection of the metastasis. These factors form the basis of the separate decision-making process for each individual patient.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Medische Oncologie, Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen. f.vandenberkmortel@onco.umcn.nl
authors.forename: F W P J
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van den Berkmortel
authors.forename: Th J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ruers
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bootsma
authors.forename: A F T
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.forename: P H M
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: de Mulder
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome