Morbidity in long-term survivors of small cell carcinoma of the lung

The follow-up of eight patients who were alive and disease-free for at least 12 months following completion of therapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCC) is presented. One patient is alive and well. Five patients (62%), including two with acute leukemia, died of second malignancies. One patient died with late recurrence of SCC, and one patient died of an unexplained neurologic degenerative disease with dementia. It is concluded that patients with apparent cure of SCC are at high risk for serious disorders including second malignancies.