OBJECTIVE: The present study analyses, long-term lung cancer survival rate in the Niguarda heart transplant population and the results of surgical treatments. METHODS: From November 1985 to December 2006, 786 heart transplants were performed in our Center; we underwent a retrospective review of patients developing primary lung cancer. RESULTS: Among 660 heart transplant recipients valuable in this study, 22 (3.3%) developed a primary lung cancer (20 male, 91%), their mean age at time of heart transplant was 54.5+/-5.2 years (range, 42-65). The mean time from transplantation to lung cancer diagnosis was 73.7+/-30 months. Eleven patients (50%) were in stage IIIB or higher at the time of presentation. The 5-year survival rate of the entire study population was 21.4%, with a median survival time (MST) of 10.1 months. Ten patients underwent surgical resection (9 lobectomies and 1 wedge resection) and demonstrated improved long-term survival with 5-year survival of 56% and MST 70.4 months, compared to patients who did not undergo any surgical procedure, all of whom died during follow-up, with 1-year survival of 33%. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term results following lung cancer surgery in heart transplant recipients are satisfactory when performed at the early stage of the disease. Preventive computed tomography screen should be considered as a routine method for early diagnosis in this group of high-risk patients.