[Results and alternatives in the surgical treatment of lung cancer]

The aim of our study was to analyse the results of surgical treatment in lung cancer cases.

Between 1990 and 1999, 860 patients were operated on for primary lung cancer. In 775 patients (90.1%), resection was performed, 85 patients underwent explorative thoracotomy.

The 5-year survival rate was 45.3%, the mean survival time was 47 months. In the univariate analysis, the radicality of the resection (p < 0.0001), the pT stage (p < 0.0001), the pN stage (p < 0.0001) and the histological type (p = 0.0039) had a significant correlation with the survival. The survival was not influenced whether N2 lymph node metastases were observed at one or more level. In the multivariate survival calculations sex (p = 0.024), histological type (p = 0.006), pT classification (p = 0.002) and the pN classification (p < 0.0001) proved to be independent prognostic factor. The pM status did not affect the survival. Postoperative complications were observed in 242 of patients (28.2%). The most frequent complication were expansions problems (9.7%), bronchial stump insufficiency (3.3%), retention of bronchial secretion (2.1%) and cardiac complications (7.1%). 26 patients died, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.8%. 32 reoperations were necessary (3.7%).

Our results indicate that non-small-cell lung cancer can be operated on with good survival possibilities and limited risk, in selected cases even with more advanced tumour stages.