[Is surgical treatment of small cell bronchial carcinoma still indicated?]

Based on own results, general negation of operation in small cell carcinoma of the lung does not appear warranted. Surgical treatment is indicated when a non-metastasizing tumour is present. Small cell bronchial carcinoma operated in tumour stage I has a clearly better prognosis than a carcinoma of the same stage treated by chemo- or radiotherapy. A certain response of these carcinomas to cytostatic or radiotherapy has not been established. Should tumour metastases be demonstrable, i.e. lymph node metastases in the mediastinum or distant metastases, as is the case in the majority of these rapidly metastasizing carcinomas, chemo- or radiotherapy has been shown to be superior to operative treatment.