[Surgical therapy of bronchial cancer. Healing or palliation?]

In spite of the revolutionary innovations concerning diagnostic and intensive care techniques as well as better understanding of tumour biology during the last decade, rates of resection and long-term survival in bronchogenic carcinoma could not be improved. Nevertheless there is no reason for therapeutic nihilism. On the contrary all efforts are to be done in investigation on practicable, suitable, and supportable screening programmes to improve the patients outcome.