Minimal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. Should this be standard therapy?

Minimal resection with curative intent for bronchogenic carcinoma was performed at our institutions in 15 patients from 1977 to 1987. All patients were stage I (T1N0 or T2N0). The five-year actuarial survival was 77 percent. The median length of follow-up for patients remaining alive was 41 months. There was a 6 percent (n = 1) local recurrence rate and a 27 percent (n = 3) distant recurrence rate. Both survival and recurrence rates are similar for minimal resection and for that being reported for lobectomy and pneumonectomy for stage I bronchogenic carcinoma. In our series, both median length of operating time and median length of postoperative hospital stay was less for those patients undergoing minimal resection for stage I bronchogenic carcinoma than for those undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Minimal resection can be considered as an acceptable treatment for bronchogenic carcinoma when technically possible in selected patients.