[Surgery in the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer]

The data on surgical and combined treatment of 52 cases of small cell lung cancer are presented and the end results are evaluated. The findings on survival time make the case for surgery as a component of combined treatment of tumor. The best results were obtained in cases of stage I and II tumor, absence of metastases into intrathoracic lymph nodes, tumor invasion limited to bronchopulmonary lymph nodes or the root of the lung, intermediate cell pattern of small cell lung cancer and surgery followed by chemotherapy.