Clinicopathological analysis of clinical N0 peripheral lung cancers with a diameter of 1 cm or less

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Aug;52(4):196-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-820899.

Abstract

Background: The appropriateness of limited resection for small-sized lung cancer continues to be debated. It is not yet clear whether tumor size alone is a reliable indicator for limited resection.

Methods: From 1980 to 2002, 27 patients with clinical N0 peripheral lung cancers having diameters of 1 cm or less underwent pulmonary resection. Clinicopathological features of these cases were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Histological analysis showed that there were 23 cases of adenocarcinoma (81.5 %), two large cell carcinomas (7.4 %), and two carcinoid tumors. Twenty-two cases were classified as pathological stage 1, one was stage II, and four were stage III. Four patients (14.8 %) had lymphatic vessel invasion, three (11.1 %) had lymph node metastasis, and two (7.4 %) had intrapulmonary metastasis. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 76.6 %.

Conclusions: It is impossible to predict the effectiveness of an intentional limited resection for lung cancer using only tumor size.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Large Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Large Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Large Cell / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pneumonectomy / methods
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis