Table 1 Prognostic factors after resection of colorectal cancer lung metastases

Multiple metastatic lesions

Poor survival if > 1 lesion [24, 26, 34, 35, 37]

Poorer survival if the number of metastasis > 4 or metastases are present in both lungs [28, 29]

Hilar/mediastinal lymph node metastases present

Poor survival if lymph node metastases are present [30, 32, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41]

High preoperative CEA levels

Poor survival if > 5 ng/ml [33,34,35, 37, 40, 41]

Large tumor diameter

The larger the tumor, the poorer the survival [34]

Short disease-free interval (DFI)

Poor survival if DFI < 24 months [26]

Older age

Poor survival if > 70 years [29]

Advanced primary tumor stage

Advanced stage of primary tumor results in poor prognosis [36]

Primary tumor located at the rectum

Rectal cancer has a poorer survival than colon cancer [25]

R1 or R2 resection

R1 or R2 resection is associated with poor survival [33, 42]

Pulmonary lobectomy

Pulmonary lobectomy has poorer survival than wedge resection or segmental resection of the lung [40]