Long survival after operation for cancer of the lung

A survey is presented of 293 cases of lung cancer operated on by one surgeon over a period of 35 years. Lobectomy was done in 86 cases with a mortality of 3.5 per cent. Simple pneumonectomy was done in 89 cases with a mortality of 20 per cent, and radical pneumonectomy in 118 cases with a mortality of 15-25 per cent. The survival rate after 5 or more years for lobectomy was 41 per cent (34 patients). After simple pneumonectomy 21 patients (30 per cent) lived 5 years or more, and after radical pneumonectomy 39 patients (39 per cent) lived 5 years or more. The survival of the patients in whom the excised lymph nodes were involved by growth is presented. It is pointed out that at least 1 in 3 patients with cancer of the lung treated by operation was alive 5 years later. The very good long term results are presented including the 10-year and 20-year survival rate. Two patients are still alive after 30 and 34 years respectively. One patient is alive 29 years after a lobectomy and 13 years after a contralateral lobectomy for a new primary cancer. A second new cancer occurred in 9 patients. Continuance of smoking is shown to be harmful. The factors affecting the long term freedom from recurrence are discussed. The cell type of the cancer is shown to be important. Squamous-celled growths have the best results and oat-celled and small-celled the worst, although long term survival can follow operation for both these. The occurrence of a pleural infection after operation may be favourable to long term freedom from recurrence and this way probably so in 2 patients who lived 25 and 27 years respectively and 1 patient who is still alive after 34 years. On the whole the evidence is unconvincing that much benefit may follow radiotherapy combined with operation.