[Pulmonary small cell carcinoma: late sequelae in long-term survivors]

To assess the long term survivors rate and its complications in a group of patients diagnosed of small cell lung cancer.

Clinical records of 227 patients diagnosed of small cell lung cancer over a period of ten years have been retrospectively reviewed. Global survival, survival free of disease, type of therapy, and complications developed after the initial diagnosis have been analyzed in patients surviving two or more years after the initial diagnosis of small cell lung cancer.

Global survival has been of 7% at two years and 2% at five years. Three patients (19%) reached the two years survival with active disease. Other three patients developed late relapses after a minimum follow up of two years free of disease. 19% of survivors suffered a second neoplasm. 31% developed signs and symptoms of lung fibrosis. A patient (6%) developed ischemic cardiopathy and another one presented a neurologic picture consisting in progressive neurologic changes and dementia that could not be attributed to his initial disease.

Long term survival in small cell lung cancer is still a relatively rare event however the potential complications for these patients are significant. Balance between benefit of therapy and its toxicity must be optimized.