Limited resection of bronchogenic carcinoma in the patient with marked impairment of pulmonary function

Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, and it is the only method providing prolonged arrest and chance for cure. From 1974 through 1984, 32 patients with marked impairment of pulmonary function had a limited resection for carcinoma of the lung. Marked impairment is defined as a maximum breathing capacity less than 35 to 40% of predicted, forced expiratory volume in one second less than or equal to 1 liter, and forced expiratory flow (FEV25-75) of less than or equal to 0.6 liter. Limited resection is defined as an operation that is less than a lobectomy, generally a wide wedge or segmental resection. The pathological stage of disease was Stage I in 31 patients and Stage II in 1 patient. Ten patients were treated by segmental resection and 22 by wide wedge resection. Two-year and three-year survival is 84 and 78%, respectively, and 10 patients (31%) have survived for five years. Recurrent disease developed in 8 patients, 5 of whom died. Recurrence was highest when the lesion crossed an intersegmental plane. In 1978, postoperative radiation therapy was added to the treatment of all patients whose lesion crossed an intersegmental plane. Since then, 18 patients have undergone wedge resection and postoperative irradiation with only 2 local recurrences at two years.