Summary: More than 1/2 of our time is spent in consultations concerning therapeutic procedures to be applied to a disseminated tumor disease; however, there are very few clues as to the therapy of distant disseminations. Of essential importance in the decision is the konwledge of which organs are affected, whether the dissemination is solitary or multiple, whether and how long ago the locoregional process has been healed, and what is the histology of the primary lesion. Certainly, the general condition and age of the patient are also of decisive importance.
The authors discuss articular topical localizations, possible therapeutic procedures and incidental prognosis for the patients. Certainly, the prognosis is better for patients with solitary metastases and a long latency interval than for those with multiple metastases, a short latency interval, or even unhealed primary lesions. The surgical approach is preferred when treating solitary tumors of the solid type; yet even combined chemo- and radiotherapy of multiple "sensitive" lesions may result in a good survival time. But even if complete remission has not taken place, a good response has been obtained by the removal od depressing symptoms such as paint, haemorrhage, functional changes, etc. Even here it is our duty to try and help the patient at all costs.
The treatment of the disseminated oncological disease
