Background: The role of primary surgery in metastatic breast cancer is unclear. Here in we have performed metaanalysis on available data to assess the role of surgery on oncological outcome in patients with stage IV breast cancer. Methods: A comprehensive search for published trials that examined outcome following removal of primary disease in stage IV breast cancer was performed using MEDLINE and cross referencing available data. Reviews of each study were conducted, and data were extracted. Primary outcome was overall survival related to surgical removal of primary disease. Results: We identified 15 relevant studies of which 10 were appropriate for analysis. Data was available on 28,693 patients with stage IV disease, of whom 52.8% underwent removal of the primary carcinoma. Patients undergoing primary surgery in this setting were more likely to be alive at 3 years 40% vs. 22% (OR 2.32 CI 2.08-2.6, p<0.01 (surgery vs. no surgery)). Analysis of subgroups for selection to surgery or not, favoured smaller tumours, fewer comorbidities, fewer metastases (p<0.01). There was no difference between the two groups in location of metastases, grade of tumour or receptor status. Conclusions: Patients undergoing removal of primary carcinoma in the setting of stage IV breast cancer appear to have an improved overall survival. However the available data suggest that these surgical patients probably have better prognosis stage IV disease than those patients not undergoing surgery.