[Incomplete resection for primary non-small cell lung cancer]

A superior outcome is observed for cases of complete resection compared with that of incomplete resection. The reason and the countermeasure of the incomplete resection for lung cancer were analyzed. During 12 years, 274 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer were surgically treated. Two hundred and forty-eight patients underwent complete resection and 26 incomplete resection. Three-year survival was 62% for patients with complete resection and 17% for patients with incomplete resection. Survival rates were not different between the paroative reduction surgery and the exploratory thoracotomy. Tiny but multiple pleural dissemination or small amount of the malignant pleurfal effusion was not able to detect preoperatively. In these cases, preoperative thoracoscopic observation may useful for avoiding the meaningless thoracotomy. Postoperative radiochemotherapy may improve the prognosis if the therapy is effective. Chemotherapy on the basis of the sensitivity assay is warranted.