Comparing Segmentectomy and Lobectomy for Clinical Stage IA Solid-dominant Lung Cancer Measuring 2.1 to 3 cm

We aimed to determine the feasibility of segmentectomy for radiologically solid-dominant clinical stage IA lung cancer measuring 2.1 to 3 cm (whole tumor size).

Data from 197 patients with radiologically solid-dominant clinical stage IA lung cancer measuring 2.1 to 3 cm who underwent lobectomy (n = 154) or segmentectomy (n = 43) were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were assessed. Finally, propensity score matching was performed by age, gender, radiologic whole tumor size, consolidation to maximum tumor ratio, tumor location, maximum standardized uptake value, and preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and vital capacity (VC).

Only 2 (4.7%) patients in the segmentectomy group were converted to lobectomy because of lymph node metastasis or inadequate surgical margins. Postoperative reductions in VC and FEV1 at 12 months were significantly less in the segmentectomy group (VC, 7.4%; FEV1, 6.9%) than in the lobectomy group (VC, 17.6%; FEV1, 14.4%). RFS was comparable between patients who underwent lobectomy and segmentectomy in both the unmatched (73.4% and 82.7%, respectively; P = .30) and the 37 propensity-matched (79.5% and 80.1%, respectively) patients. Similarly, OS was comparable between patients who underwent lobectomy and segmentectomy in the unmatched (80.0% and 90.6%, respectively; P = .42) and matched (82.9% and 89.3%, respectively) patients.

Segmentectomy can be feasible in patients with radiologically solid-dominant clinical stage IA lung cancers measuring 2.1 to 3 cm when patients are appropriately selected.