Beginning and development of lung cancer surgery in Japan

The age of lung cancer surgery is divided into three phases: before 1955, 1955, and after 1955. The year 1955 was memorable for thoracic surgeons in Japan. Special lectures entitled "Lung Tumors" were presented by three thoracic surgeons: Drs. Naoji Kawai, Kingo Shinoi, and Shichiro Ishikawa. Their lectures included the present status of lung cancer in regard to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment, and pathology; and they played a crucial role in establishing the Japan Lung Cancer Society in 1960. Thereafter, lung cancer surgery progressed rapidly in parallel with the development of surgical techniques, diagnostic modalities, perioperative management, and biomolecular and genetic research. This article reviews the beginning and development of lung cancer surgery in Japan from a historical point of view.