[Surgery for intrathoracic recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer]

In this study, we defined a solitary lung nodle in the same histology which could be traced its' origin from carcinoma in situ or was found over than two years' follow up as a second primary lung cancer. These cases were excluded. Eighteen cases underwent second surgery for intrathoracic recurrence. Fourteen cases were male and four cases were female. Their ages ranged from 23 to 75 (average 59.6) years. The histology were adenocarcinoma in 9 cases, squamouscarcinoma in 7, adenosquamous carcinoma in 1, large cell carcinoma in 1. The initial surgical procedures were lobectomy in 17, partial resection in 1. The initial stage were I in 13, II in 2, IIIA in 1. Pulmonary recurrence were found in 10, bronchial stump recurrence were found in 4, pulmonary hilus lymph node recurrence were found in 2, mediastinal lymph node recurrence were found in 2, pulmonary stump recurrence was found in 1. The second surgical procedures were completion pneumonectomy in 7, completion lobectomy in 1, lobectomy with segmentectomy in 1, segmentectomy or partial resection in 7, mediastinal dissection in 2. The overall 5-year survival rate of the patients with recurrence after reoperation was 31.8%. An aggressive surgical approach for recurrent lung cancer should be recommended.