[Resection therapy of bronchogenic carcinoma in old age]

In a 20 year period from 1959 to 1979, 218 resections were performed for primary cancer of the lung in patients aged 70 and more. The postoperative mortality was 5% (11 cases). Long-term results could be evaluated for 160 cases operated before 1975. A 5 years survival rate could be established after pneumonectomy for 10.7%, after lobectomy for 39.6% and after wedge lobe resection for 25%. Staging by TNM-system 5 years survival rate in St.I/T 1 was 45.1%, St.II/T1/T2 33.3% and St.III/T1-T3 15.5%. Before opening the chest, the histological diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma could be defined by bronchoscopic findings in 81.8%. In cases of primary cancer of the lung without clinical symptoms, resections were done successfully at an age of 70 years and more.