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Review
. 2016 Jun 17:3:7.
doi: 10.1186/s40661-016-0028-3. eCollection 2016.

Surgical management of lung, liver and brain metastases from gynecological cancers: a literature review

Neville F Hacker  1 , Archana Rao  1
Affiliations
Review

Surgical management of lung, liver and brain metastases from gynecological cancers: a literature review

Neville F Hacker et al. Gynecol Oncol Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: The management of patients with recurrent gynecological malignancy is complex, and often contentious. While historically, patients with metastases in the lungs, liver or brain have been treated with palliative intent, surgery is proving to have an increasing role in the management of such patients.

Methods: In this review article, the surgical management of lung, liver and brain metastases from gynecological cancers is examined. A search of the English language literature over the last 25 years was conducted using the Medline and PubMed databases.

Results: The results for management of metastases from the endometrium, ovary and cervix to the lung, brain and liver show that surprisingly good long-term survival results can be achieved for resection of metastases from all three organs. Patient selection is critical, and surgery is often used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.

Conclusions: From this review, it is apparent that surgery should play an increasing role in the management of patients with parenchymal metastases from gynecological cancers. The surgery should ideally be performed in high volume, tertiary centers where there is a committed multi-disciplinary team with the necessary infrastructure to achieve the best possible outcomes in terms of both survival and morbidity.

Keywords: Brain; Cervix; Endometrium; Gynecological malignancy; Liver; Lung; Metastasis; Ovary; Survival.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CT scan of the brain showing a solitary metastasis, 5x4 cm, in the right occipital lobe, with some extension to the parietal lobe. Note the heterogeneic appearance of the metastasis and the surrounding brain edema
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Non-anatomical liver resection for a patient with ovarian cancer with involvement of the liver capsule and underlying parenchyma
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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