[Vertebral en bloc resection for lung cancer: twelve years' experience]

To report a single-institution retrospective study of radical en bloc resection for lung cancer invading the spine.

Between 1993 and 2004, 32 patients underwent partial or total vertebrectomy for non-small cells lung cancer with spinal extension. Twenty-one received induction treatment (chemotherapy, N=16; radiation, N=1 and chemoradiotherapy, N=4). Pneumonectomy was performed in 3 patients, lobectomy in 26 patients and wedge resection in 3 patients. Partial vertebrectomy was performed in 26 patients and total vertebrectomy was performed in 6 patients. Tumor stage was IIb in 9 patients, IIIa in 2 patients and IIIb in 21 patients.

There was no immediate postoperative mortality. Major morbidity was observed in 10 patients (31%), including 4 complications related to spinal surgery. For 28 patients, a completed resection was achieved (87%). 2-years survival was 65% and 5-years survival was 24%. Completed resection and induction chemotherapy appear to be determinant prognostics factors (respectively p=0,01 and p=0,04 in univariate analysis).

Radical en bloc resection with vertebrectomy for lung cancer is technically demanding. Encouraging long-term survival suggest that this surgical approach could be a valid option for selected patients with vertebral involvement of lung cancer.