Survival Rates After Lobectomy, Segmentectomy, and Wedge Resection for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study aimed to compare the survival rates after lobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resection for the eighth edition of the tumor, node, metastasis classification for stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients who underwent lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection for stage IA NSCLC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. A Cox regression model and propensity-matched analysis were used. The overall survival (OS) rates and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) rates among the three groups were compared by tumor size.

A total of 16,819 patients met our criteria. Although the OS rate was better for lobectomy than for wedge resection, no statistical differences in the LCSS rate were identified among the three treatment groups of patients with tumors that were 1.0 cm or smaller. For tumors from 1.1 to 2.0 cm, lobectomy and segmentectomy showed no statistical differences in the LCSS rate, but both conferred better OS and LCSS rates than wedge resection. For tumors from 2.1 to 3.0 cm, the OS and LCSS rates were better for lobectomy than for segmentectomy or wedge resection, but similar for segmentectomy and wedge resection.

Lobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resection are comparable oncologic procedures for patients with stage IA NSCLC that is 1.0 cm or smaller. For tumors from 1.1 to 2.0 cm, lobectomy and segmentectomy could lead to equivalent survival rates but showed better survival rates than that observed with wedge resection. For tumors from 2.1 to 3.0 cm, lobectomy is still the standard surgical procedure; for patients who are unsuitable candidates for lobectomy, segmentectomy and wedge resection show similar survival rates.