Thoracic surgical management of colorectal lung metastases: a questionnaire survey of members of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland.

"The results confirm that the majority of respondents use conventional cross-sectional imaging and either VATS or formal thoracotomy for resection. The replies to specific questions on management shed interesting light on the lack of clear consensus on management: the majority of respondents stated that a position of equipoise exists in relation to lung resection for pulmonary colorectal metastases but equally that there should not be a moratorium pending any future availability of evidence. The results emphasise the continuing need for formal randomised trials in line with the Growing Recruitment in Interventional and Surgical Trials initiative, supported by an National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network working group. The need for better evidence concerning any survival benefit from pulmonary metastasectomy for colorectal lung metastases is a case in point."