[Assessment of the therapy for the recurrent lung cancer after pulmonary operation]

As is generally known, pulmonary carcinomas have not good prognosis. Even though a post-operative p-stage is the first, the 5-year survival may be only about 70%. Therefore, the opportunity to encounter recurrent cases after pulmonary operations is increasing more and more. In this research we compared the three groups, group A; re-operations were performed for recurrent pulmonary cancers (eleven cases), group B; chemo- and/or irradiation-therapy were performed (eleven cases), group C; only conservative therapies were received (twenty-one cases). The result showed group A and group B were statistically better than group C on mean survival months (p < 0.001). From that conclusion we could indicate the therapeutic policy for recurrent pulmonary carcinomas as follows. in contralateral recurrent case, lesser resection (wedge/segment) with VATS as possible even if the same side recurrent case, aggressive removal of cancer (GRF glue is useful for protection against air leakage.) without lymph node dissection, as the same concept of metastatic lung tumor in case of non-operative indication, consideration of chemotherapy and/or irradiation, (especially hypotonic therapy was effective against carcinomatous hydrothorax.) in a difficult case for chemotherapy and/or irradiation, BAI is one of methods which ought to be tried.