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We retrospectively analysed 301 patients with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma (235 male, 66 female; median age 59 years). Prognosis depended significantly on patient age, evidence of pain, loss of weight, tumour cell type, stage, local and distant metastasis, involvement of peritoneum and surgical treatment. The overall median survival rate was 238 days, after extended pleuropneumonectomy 284 days, and after decortication 315 days - significantly better than the prognosis in patients without surgical treatment or exploratory thoracotomy. Pleuropneumonectomy should only be considered in young patients with an epithelial cell-type tumour (possibly with adjuvant chemotherapy). Decortication seems nowadays to be the treatment of choice.

Surgery forms part of a combined oncological concept in the management of pulmonary metastases. The following questions are relevant for its role: Does survival depend on the type of primary tumor? Are there any prognostic factors? What are the limits on radical resection? We analyzed retrospectively 657 patients who had undergone 759 resections of pulmonary metastases between 1973 and 1990. After conducting in vitro and in vivo experiments with the non-contact neodymium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser with a generating and delivery power of 10-120 W at the site of operation for 0.1-9.9 s, we have treated 65 patients by laser resection and/or vaporization since January 1990. Our preferred surgical approach was median or transverse thoracotomy. The 5-year survival of all resected patients was 30%, ranging from 21% (soft tissue sarcoma) to 60% (testicular carcinoma). Statistically significant differences in prognosis were seen related to the type of primary tumor, the disease-free interval, the caval or portal type of metastatic spread, the number of metastases and the potential degree of radical resection. The potential degree of conventional radical resections (wedge, anatomical sub-/segmental) was negatively influenced by the number of metastases (n > 9: 79% "radical" surgery = 38% 5-year survival). Laser treatment allowed parenchyma-preserving resection in cases of metastases of more than 0.5 cm in diameter, and vaporization in smaller ones. Resection with the intention of achieving complete remission was possible in up to 72 unilateral metastases. The complication rate was comparable to conventional resections.

For the purpose of testing the validity of the new TNM classification (fourth edition) for lung cancer, data from 1086 patients with surgical treatment were analysed prospectively. Several items were examined: (1) the agreement between clinical (TNM) and pathologically confirmed classification (pTNM); (2) the value of the various diagnostic tests in estimating the pathologically confirmed classification; (3) the influence of the TNM definitions on separating distinct prognostic groups. With regard to the primary tumour (T), clinical and pathological classification were identical in 64% of the cases. With regard to lymph node involvement (N), the agreement was 48%, for distant metastasis 90% and for the staging 55%. As for the primary tumour (T), the accuracy of radiography (59%) was nearly identical with that of computed tomography (58%). Both these diagnostic techniques were less precise in determining the extent of lymph node involvement (computed tomography 50% correct assessments, radiography 43%). The statistically significant differences in the prognoses for the various pT, pN and pM categories as well as for the pathological stages and the categories of the new R classification could be confirmed. The new 1987 TNM definitions for lung cancer make possible international conformity; the classification is also practically useful and the prognostic relevance improved. The new classifications thus provide a more reliable basis for establishing guidelines for individual oncological therapy strategies and for the exchange of information between different centres on the progress made in diagnosis and therapy of lung cancer.