[Surgery of metastases of the thorax--a new dimension in thoracic surgery].

Surgical operations for metastases are palliative. If no effective alternative treatment is available, excision of metastases may be the treatment of choice also for extrapulmonary metastases in the thoracic region and for multiple pulmonary metastases. Experience has shown that, in some cases, the course of a patient markedly improved by resection. However, the success is dependent on an effective chemotherapy, not on surgical enthusiasm. A case selection based on favourable prognostic criteria is not justifiable today. More experience is needed before a therapeutic algorithm may be developed.