Surgical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

Surgical resection remains the best treatment option for patients with limited stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Stage I and Stage II lung cancer, where there is no lymph node involvement or the involvement is limited to the peribronchial and hilar lymph nodes (NI), can be completely resected with good five-year survival rates (50 to 90 percent). Controversy remains regarding surgery's role in treating more regionally advanced lung cancers involving mediastinal or subcarinal nodes (N2). These tumors (Stage IIIA) have poor survival with surgery, and there has been an advancing role for chemotherapy and/or radiation in their treatment. Surgery is rarely indicated in Stage IIIB or IV lung cancer.