Successful lung autotransplantation for central non-small-cell lung cancer: report of a case

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) confined to the lung is generally treated by surgical resection. The extent of resection is determined by the location of the tumor and the patient's pulmonary function. This report presents a successful lung autotransplantation in a man with NSCLC that could not tolerate pneumonectomy or sleeve lobectomy. Right upper and middle bilobectomies were performed, the right lower lobe was resected and retrograde perfusion of Raffinose low-potassium dextran solution (4 °C) was administered. The isolated lower lobe was reimplanted by anastomosis of the bronchus, pulmonary artery, and vein. The patient was cancer-free 1 year after the surgery. Lung autotransplantation can therefore be successfully performed for selected patients with central NSCLC.