Surgical management of primary non-small-cell carcinoma of lung with synchronous solitary brain metastasis: local experience.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report the surgical experience in the management of patients with synchronous primary lung cancer and solitary brain metastasis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Seventeen patients with synchronous primary lung cancer and solitary brain metastasis were treated by pulmonary resection and neurosurgical intervention between 1994 and 2007. RESULTS: Median patient survival was 52 months (95% confidence interval, 9-95 months) and the 5-year survival was 27%. The univariate analysis yielded no significant prognostic factor. Four out of six patients who had lymph node metastases developed tumour recurrence. CONCLUSION: In view of encouraging survival results, aggressive therapy including pulmonary resection and neurosurgical intervention should be recommended for patients with synchronous presentation with primary lung cancer and solitary brain metastasis.