Role of surgical resection for lung, liver, and central nervous system metastases in patients with gynecological cancer: a literature review

Abstract

Many reports of ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers metastatic to lung, liver, and brain have been published. A fewer number of them focused on the surgical treatment for these patients. We reviewed the published literature, regarding surgical management of metastatic disease in patients with gynecological cancer. Some prognostic factors in the patients with metastatic lesions from these three different cancers were found in common. Favorable prognostic factors for a prolonged survival were good performance status of the patients, long disease-free interval, absence of other systemic disease, and the resectability, preferably with a clear margin. These factors should be considered as the criteria for surgery. In well-selected patients, survival could be extended from the surgical procedure with minimal complications. Other types of treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy could also be given in conjunction with surgery, depending on tumor type and disease status of the primary cancer, other systemic diseases, and residual metastatic lesions after surgery.