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Previous Volume 345:1699-1700 December 6, 2001 Number 23 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Most patients who die of cancer die because of metastatic disease, and therefore removal of the primary tumor in patients who already have evidence of metastasis seems illogical, at least in the absence of symptoms caused by the primary tumor. Many thoughtful oncologists have asked, "What is the point of closing the barn door once the horse has bolted?" in the belief that subjecting patients with incurable disease to the risks involved in unnecessary surgery is a poor medical decision.

This idea is challenged in this issue of the Journal by Flanigan et al.,¹ who report the results of a . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

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N Engl J Med 2001; 345:1711-1712, Dec 6, 2001. Correspondence

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