Segmental and wedge resections for lung cancer: a palliative or curative procedure?

Among 1000 consecutive patients submitted to surgery for lung carcinoma, 24 underwent minimal resections. Minimal resections although occasionally curative are, as a rule, palliative procedures to be used in patients with limited cardio-pulmonary reserve or previously submitted to lung resection. Whenever possible lateral, muscle-sparing thoracotomy and wedge resections should be performed.