McCormack PM, Bains MS, Begg CB, Burt ME, Downey RJ, Panicek DM, Rusch VW, Zakowski M, Ginsberg RJ. Role of video-assisted thoracic surgery in the treatment of pulmonary metastases: Results of a prospective trial. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1996 62(1):213-7.

Combined preoperative CT and VATS had a 56% failure rate in detecting all lesions. The authors conclude that VATS should only be used as a diagnostic tool and thoracotomy remains the procedure of choice to achieve complete resection.

McAfee MK, Allen MS, Trastek VF, Ilstrup DM, Deschamps C, Pairolero PC. Colorectal lung metastases: Results of surgical excision. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 1992 53(5):780-5.

This important article reports five-year survival of 37% for resection of a solitary metastasis and 30% after a second resection for recurrent metastasis. Multiple metastases and increased CEA levels portend a lower survival rate.

Staren ED, Salerno C, Rongione A, Witt TR, Faber LP. Pulmonary resection for metastatic breast cancer. Archives of Surgery 1992 127(11):1282-4.

This series of 33 patients shows an increased survival for resection (36% vs 11%) over medical therapy. The authors suggest that resection be considered in patients without evidence of concomitant extrapulmonary disease.

Chapters 25 and 28: Superior Sulcus Tumors and Indications for Resection of Pulmonary Metastases. Glenn's Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Baue, Geha, Hammond, Laks, and Naunheim), 6th ed., 445-58 and 499-510.