[Survival of operated bronchopulmonary neoplasms. Actuarial results after 5 years]

The actuarial survival of 253 primary bronchopulmonary cancer patients undergoing surgery in Geneva between 1967 and 1976 is studied. The overall post-surgical mortality was 9.88%. The overall survival after exclusion of patients without radical tumor excision was 26.6% at 5 years. The small size of the tumor, the absence of mediastinal extension and an epidermoid histology are the best survival rate factors: 43.2% of stage I patients survive at 5 years against 4.86% of stage III patients. The survival for asymptomatic tumors is 43.9% at 5 years. This suggests the importance of mass screening by radiophotography. Thus, surgery retains its central role in the treatment of this disease, whilst chemo-, radio- and immunotherapy have not yet realized their full potential.