Role of wedge resection in bronchial carcinoid (BC) tumors: SEER database analysis

There is a paucity of data regarding the role of wedge resection (WR) in the management of bronchial carcinoid (BC) tumors. In this study, we queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to compare the oncologic outcomes of patients with BC tumors treated with WR or anatomic resection.

The SEER database was retrospectively reviewed for patients with BC treated with surgical resection between 1973-2013. Patients who underwent WR were compared to those who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy (Lob/Seg). Patients with multiple primaries and those who underwent pneumonectomy or have an unspecified surgical procedure were excluded. Differences in demographics and clinicopathological data were compared using Chi (χ²) test or Mann Whitney U test. Overall and cancer specific survival (OS, CSS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and differences were compared using log-rank test. Cox-regression multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed to explore factors associated with worse CSS. Propensity-score matching analysis was done to compare survival differences between WR and Lob/Seg.

A total of 22,350 patients with BC were identified, of them 4,450 met our inclusion criteria (3,511 Lob/Seg, vs. 939 WR). The median age was 59.0 years [interquartile range (IQR) =49.0-68.0], 67.6% were females and the median tumor size was 2 cm (1.5-3 cm). 4,119 patients had typical carcinoid (TC) and 331 had atypical carcinoid (AC). WR was performed more frequently in elderly patients, females, lower lobe tumors, TC's and in earlier stage disease. For patients with TC, there was no difference in CSS between WR and Lob/Seg in both the entire cohort (P=0.654) and in the propensity matched groups (P=0.900). However, for patients with AC, Lob/Seg was associated with better CSS compared to WR both in the entire cohort (P<0.001) and in the propensity matched groups (P=0.001). On MVA of the entire cohort, elderly patients, males, blacks, AC and advanced stages had worse CSS. While, the type of the procedure (WR vs. Lob/Seg) was not associated with CSS (HR =1.16, 95% CI: 0.85-1.60).

A WR may offer equivalent CSS in well-selected patients with early-stage TC. An anatomic resection appears warranted in AC.