Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
Clinical patterns and treatment outcome in resected elderly lung cancer patients
T N Adzic1, M D Vasiljevic, J M Stojsic
1School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Department of Internal Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia. adzic_tatjana@yahoo.com
Purpose:
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical patterns and their impact on surgical resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)> 70 years.
Methods:
We reviewed the records of 2050 resected lung cancer patients in a 5-year period from 2002-2007, out of whom 93 were > 70 years.
Results:
There were 73 males and 20 females with median age of 71 years (range 70-78). Nineteen (20.43%) patients underwent pneumonectomy, 6 (6.45%) extended pneumonectomy, 54 (58.06%) lobectomy, 8 (8.61%) extended lobectomy, and 3 (3.23%) bilobectomy and wedge resection each. There were 37 (39.8%) resected patients with locally advanced (IIIA, IIIB) or advanced stage (IV) of NSCLC. A total of 48 complications occurred. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.08% (one patient). Pathological stage (p<0.001) and application of adjuvant therapy (p<0.001) were predictors of long-term survival. The overall 3- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 46% and 28%, respectively.
Conclusion:
Advanced age should not be considered as a contraindication for NSCLC resection. However, careful preoperative assessment must be undertaken. The presence of comorbidities and extent of resection predict increased operative risk. Pathological stage and application of adjuvant therapy were the only predictors of long-term survival.
