[Peripheral round lesion of the lung: diagnosis, therapy, prognosis]

A total of 407 patients were hospitalized on account of a peripheral round lesion in the lungs (PR); 176 of these patients were inoperable for a wide range of different reasons. In 32.9% of the cases, a peripheral bronchial carcinoma presented, in 26.9%, the lesions were metastases, and in 2% malignant growths that were not further classified. All the remaining PR were benign. The following surgical procedures were performed: 39.8% lobectomies, 19.2% wedge resections, 20.6% enucleations, 6.4% segmental resections, 5.1% bilobectomies, 2.2% pneumonectomies, 6.7% various other procedures. The surgical mortality rate was 1.7% (0% in the case of the benign lesions); the re-thoracotomy rate for complications was 4.5%. The five-year survival probability for all bronchial carcinoma patients was 36%, and for all meta patients 47%. The poorest prognosis was seen in patients with PR when a small cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma presented, and also in T3 tumours.