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Pulmonary metastasectomy

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Summary

BACKGROUND: The major obstacle in curing cancer is the limited ability to prevent and treat metastatic disease. Pulmonary metastasectomy is now a standard treatment option in carefully selected cases. With the lung being frequently the only site of metastasis, a complete resection of all tumor masses poses a potentially curative treatment option. METHODS: This review article gives an outline of the basics of pulmonary metastasectomy and reviews the latest research in this field. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Technical advances in thoracic surgery during the past decades made pulmonary metastasectomy a safe procedure with a low morbidity. However, surgical resection must be embedded in an individualized oncological concept.

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  1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    K. Hoetzenecker, G. Lang, H. J. Ankersmit & W. Klepetko

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  1. K. Hoetzenecker
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  2. G. Lang
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  4. W. Klepetko
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Correspondence to K. Hoetzenecker.

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Hoetzenecker, K., Lang, G., Ankersmit, H. et al. Pulmonary metastasectomy. Eur Surg 43, 262–269 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-011-0005-3

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