Haematogenic Metastases. Treatment with Curative Intent.

Paperback, English, original editor's jacket, 16x24 cm., 166 pp. ISBN 9789058671202. Oncologische Heelkunde / Surgical Oncology : 07. Not long ago, the finding of distant metastases was tantamount to incurable disease and only palliative surgery. This paradigm started to erode in the eighties when convincing results were obtained in the management of metastasized germ cell tumors by a combination of chemotherapy and surgery. Gradually the idea that cure was possible in at least some patients with metastasized tumors found acceptance and indications for treatment with curative intent were broadened. Whereas twenty years ago surgery for metastases was performed infrequently, nowadays it has become almost a part of daily surgical work in major oncological centres. Nevertheless many questions remain about tumor biology, sensitivity and specificity of imaging techniques, biopsy and surgical approach, selection of patients for combined treatment protocols. The topic seemed appropriate as subject of the Study Day of Surgical Oncology 2001 because it is very likely that discoveries in tumor biology will increase our therapeutic possibil!ities for metastases in the future. In this monograph the actual status of the curative treatment of distant metastases is dicussed by experts in the fields of tumor imaging, nuclear medicine, medical oncology and surgery covering the organs most subject to metastatic growths.