Extent of resection as a prognostic factor in patients with non-small cell lung cancer]

Despite the new methods of treatment during the last two decades, prognosis in lung cancer remains unfavourable. Only 20-25% of the patients are suitable for surgery, and the surgical resection is the unique alternative with curable intent. The extent of resection is an important prognostic factor in lung cancer patients.We present 440 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, radically operated in the Clinic of Thoracic and abdominal surgery of University Hospital "St.George" - Plovdiv for the period 01.01.1997 - 01.09.2004.191 underwent lobectomy, 12 - limited resection, 39 - bilobectomy, and 198 - pneumonectomy.63 patients underwent lobectomy for stage I, and the 5-year survival was 63.49%. For the 12 patients with limited resection we found mean time of survival of 50 months, and the 5-year survival was 50%.331 of our patients were in stage II and III. 123 of them underwent lobectomy--the 5-year survival was 28.46%. 208 patients underwent bilobectomy and pneumonectomy--the 5-year survival in this group was 17.79%.In conclusion we found that the extent of resection is an important prognostic factor for lung cancer patients in stage I. The patients submitted to lobectomy have better survival compared with those submitted to limited resection. The survival is better for the group of patients who underwent lobectomy,compared with the one for the group with bilobectomy and pneumonectomy, which is probably due to the earlier stage of the disease.