Metastasectomy for metachronous pulmonary and hepatic metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Report of 6 cases and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is commonly treated with palliative chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to review the feasibility of metastasectomy for metachronous pulmonary and hepatic metastases from NPC.


METHODS
We present 6 patients who developed metachronous metastases from NPC (4 patients with pulmonary metastases and 2 patients with hepatic metastases) and underwent curative resection.


RESULTS
Four patients are still alive with no recurrence of NPC after metastasectomy. Two patients died with postoperative survival periods of 57 and 70 months and recurrence-free intervals of 14 and 39 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Metastasectomy is a feasible option for the treatment of metachronous and resectable oligometastatic NPC to the lung and liver. Application of appropriate selection criteria would be required.
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Samuel Jun Ming
SJ
Lim
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Narayanan Gopalakrishna
NG
Iyer
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.|Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
London Lucien
LL
Ooi
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Heng Nung
HN
Koong
Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Alexander Yaw Fui
AY
Chung
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Hiang Khoon
HK
Tan
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Khee Chee
KC
Soo
Division of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore.
Ngian Chye
NC
Tan
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D059146:Metastasectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
hepatic; metastasectomy; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; pulmonary