[Panpleuropneumonectomy for primary lung cancer patients with pleural dissemination]

Twelve patients of non-small cell lung cancer with carcinomatous pleuritis were subjected to panpleuropneumonectomy between June 1981 and December 1988. The median survival time was 13 months. One-year and 3-year survival rates were 52% and 26%, respectively. There was no significant difference in prognosis compared with the results of other modality therapies such as pleurodesis with talc and tube drainage for pleural effusion. After panpleuropneumonectomy the patients were divided into the group with only pleural dissemination and the one with pleural effusion. The median survival time in the group of pleural dissemination was 14 months. The three-year survival rate was 50%. The one patient survived for 51 months and the other for 45 months. The median survival time of patients with pleural effusion was 4 months without over 1-year survivor. The statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p less than 0.05). We concluded that panpleuropneumonectomy is indicated only for the patients of non-small cell lung cancer with diffuse pleural dissemination and no pleural effusion.