Surgical Outcomes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Distant Metastasis: The Prognostic Significance of Delayed Metastasis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of distant metastasis on preoperative examinations for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be challenging, leading to surgery for some patients with uncertain metastasis. This study evaluated the prognostic impact of delayed diagnosis of metastasis on patients who underwent upfront surgery. The study enrolled patients who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy for NSCLC between June 2010 and December 2017 and evaluated the presence of distant metastasis before surgery. Overall survival (OS) for patients with stage IV cancer was compared with that for patients without metastasis, and the prognostic factors were analyzed. Of 3046 patients (mean age, 63 years; 1770 men), 100 (3.3