[Surgical treatment of bronchial cancer--current status]

It is still difficult to codify the surgical treatment of primary bronchogenic cancer. In spite of improvements of means of diagnosis and of detection of metastases the results at intermediate and long term are frequently modest. The techniques of resection are improved, and this is the method of choice in all cases where function and anatomical situation are permissive. The risk of the operation is minimal if the respiratory function is well, even with very extended resections. This is the greatest progress during the last 30 years. Surgery can cure only tumors which are still localized. Research on complementary treatment of extended forms is still necessary.