[Surgically treated pancoast tumor]

A 40-year-old male was detected his right apical lung tumor by roentgenographic screening on January 1997, but he did not refer to a hospital since he had no symptom. He went a orthopedics because of his right chest, back, and arm pain on October 1997, and he received traction and physical therapy. He went roentgenographic screening again on January 1998 and he was pointed out that the tumor increased. He admitted our hospital. Biopsy using bronchofiberscopy revealed adenocarcinoma and induction radiotherapy (40 Gy) was performed. Right upper lobectomy with chest wall resection and lymph node dissection was performed under hook approach. This approach was useful to dissect the tumor from the invaded plexus brachialis. Postoperative radio-chemotherapy was added but the patient died 7-postoperative months because of multiple metastases. Early detection should be led to early starting of the therapy.