Endobronchial metastasis.

Endobronchial metastases from nonpulmonary neoplasms are rare. Since 1971, we have treated 23 patients with endobronchial metastases, the findings for which form the basis of this article. Many types of primary tumors are capable of endobronchial metastases, although breast, colon, and renal carcinomas predominate. The mean time from the diagnosis of the primary carcinoma to the diagnosis of endobronchial metastases was 59.9 months. Bronchoscopic results were diagnostic in all cases. Although the mean time for the appearance of endobronchial metastases is almost 5 years, on examination the majority of patients will have symptomatic extrabronchial metastatic disease, the quality of their survival will often be poor, and their survival time will be limited (12.5 months). Surgical resection should be confined to patients with localized disease.