[Value of chest wall resection in surgery of lung metastases of extrathoracic tumors].

In 21 patients after combined chest wall and lung metastasis resection a median survival time of 11 months was found independent of the degree of the chest wall infiltration. Only 1 patient with metastasis from a testicular teratoma survived 5 years and is tumor free. There was no 30-day-lethality. The main indications are complications such as exulceration and pain. In spite of the poor prognosis a prolongation of survival time with improved quality of life may be achieved. In rare cases cure is possible by combined tumor reductive surgery and chemotherapy.