The resection of lung metastases as a component of a multistep therapeutic concept is an established treatment approach. 5-year survival rates of 30% are attainable in combination with a low postoperative lethality. We performed 99 operations on 89 patients with lung metastases between 1977 and 1997 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery on the Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus. No postoperative lethality was observed.