The Role of Pulmonary Resection in Tumors Metastatic from Head and Neck Carcinomas

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the role of surgical treatment and to identify factors affecting the survival of patients undergoing pulmonary resection for tumors metastatic from head and neck carcinomas. METHODS Thirty-three patients who had undergone resection of pulmonary tumors metastatic from head and neck carcinomas, other than thyroid cancers and sarcomas of the head and neck, were reviewed. RESULTS The operative morbidity rate was only 6%, no patients died within 30 days after resection and complete resection was achieved in 94% of patients. The overall 1- and 3-year survival rates were 76% and 43%, respectively, and the median survival time was 21 months. The factors found on univariate analysis to significantly affect survival were a disease-free interval of < or =2 years, tongue carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The factor found, on multivariate analysis, to most strongly affect survival was tongue carcinoma. The most frequent pattern of initial recurrence after pulmonary resection was distant metastasis (64%). CONCLUSIONS The safety and effectiveness of surgical treatment for pulmonary tumors metastatic from head and neck carcinomas in adaptive criteria for resection are well demonstrated. The poor survival after surgical resection of pulmonary tumors metastatic from cancers of the tongue should be noted.