Surgical treatment for gastrointestinal metastasis of non-small-cell lung cancer after pulmonary resection

Abstract

Purpose: Gastrointestinal metastasis is not common in recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. There is thus limited information on clinical outcome for these patients. This report presents the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal metastasis after pulmonary resection.

Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed nine NSCLC patients with gastrointestinal metastases.

Results: Gastrointestinal metastases were observed in the small intestine (n = 4), colon or rectum (n = 4), and stomach (n = 1). All of the patients were symptomatic. The median survival after gastrointestinal recurrence was 10.8 months. Gastrointestinal surgery was performed in five patients, whereas no cancer treatment was indicated in the remaining four patients. Three patients who underwent surgery for a solitary metastasis survived for more than 2 years after surgery with no other recurrence.

Conclusion: Surgical resection of gastrointestinal metastasis is indicated not only for symptom relief but also for providing a potentially long-term survival if the patients are properly selected.