[Surgical indication of T1-2N2-3M0 lung cancer based on the prognosis]

Effusion-type lung cancer with postoperative T1N2-3M0 and primary tumor diameter less than 3 cm was regarded as small sized progressive lung cancer. There were 8 cases of pT1N2-3, with a 3-years survival rate of 37.5%, and, 5 years survival rate of 25.0%. There were 5 cases of effusion-type lung cancer with primary tumor diameter less than 3 cm, who were treated with panpleuropneumonectomy. Their 3 years survival rate was 51.9%. In small sized progressive lung cancer in total, the 3 years survival rate was 40.7%, and the 5 years survival rate was 29.1%. In comparison there were 29 cases of pT2N2-3, with a 3 years survival rate of 40.9% and a 5 years survival rate of 37.0%. There was no significant difference concerning the survival rate between T1 and T2 groups, T2 and pleuropneumonectomy group, and between small progressive lung cancer group and T2 group. Therefore, there seems to be a less correlation between progressive lung cancer and T-factor disease prognosis. It was suggested to improve the prognosis by extending lymph node dissection even in progressive lung cancer.