Surgical treatment of stage I lung cancer. Results and prognostic factors

The aims of the present study were: 1) to study the type and extent of resection in patients with pathological stage I lung cancer; 2) to evaluate the results of surgical treatment; 3) to assess prognostic factors.

a tertiary referral general hospital.

Retrospective review of clinical records of 296 patients operated on for pathologic stage I lung cancer between 1989 and 1998. Mean follow-up period was 33.1+/-28.1 months. Survivals were calculated by the actuarial method and compared by the long-rank test. Age, sex, tumor size, type and extent of resection and histologic type were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analisis.

Two hundred and forty-five lobectomies, 39 pneumonectomies, 5 segmental resections and 7 wedge resections were performed. Overall actuarial 5- and 10-year survivals were 62 and 49%, respectively. Stage Ia patients showed significantly better 5- and 10-year survivals (76 and 54%, respectively) as compared to Stage Ib patients (57 and 46%, p=0.007). Univariate analysis showed no significant difference in survival according to the age, the sex or the extent of resection. The histological type influenced the outcome (p=0.05): 5-year survival rate were 57, 67, 75% in squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and bronchoalveolar carcinoma, respectively. At multivariate analysis stage and histology were identified as independent prognostic factors.

Satisfactory results in terms of suvival can be achieved following surgery for stage I lung cancer. The T status and the histologic type significantly influence survival.