Results of en bloc resections for lung cancer

The results of en bloc resection carried out in 33 patients with lung cancer involving the chest wall are described. Microscopic examination of the lung specimen revealed large cell anaplastic carcinoma in 14 cases, squamous carcinoma in 10, adenocarcinoma in 5, microcytoma and fibrosarcoma in 2 cases respectively. The 5 year survival, calculated according to the actuarial method, was 32%, only slightly lower than the 5 year overall survival observed in our survey. The long-term prognosis was essentially related to the presence of lymph node metastases, which were found to occur at a late stage of the clinical evolution.