Surgical palliation of thoracic malignancies

Presently and in the foreseeable future, primary and metastatic thoracic malignancies will exact a heavy toll in the duration and quality of life. Although surgical extirpation is generally regarded as a curative modality of treatment, surgeons are often called upon to assist in the palliative care of uncurable patients. The surgeon caring for the patient with these challenging problems must have a thorough understanding of the indications, interventions and techniques, and limitations of palliation. The challenge is not to cure but to afford the optimal quality of life and death.