[Surgical treatment of apical invading lung cancer]

Operative technique and long-term results of seventeen patients with apical invading lung cancers were evaluated. External radiation therapy was administered preoperatively in all but one. Thirteen lobectomies, three wedge resections and one pneumonectomy were performed with combined resections of chest wall (and adjacent structures) 12, vertebra 3, brachicephalic vein 2, subclavian artery 1, lower part of brachial plexsus 3, sympathetic trunk 2 and phrenic nerve 1. Chest walls were reconstructed with marlex meshes in 5, the subclavian artery and one brachiocephalic vein were with artificial grafts. Operations were considered relative curative in 10, relative non-curative in 2 and absolutely non-curative in 5. Absolutely non-curative operations were due to cancer-positive stump of brachial plexus in the apex in four and metastatic lymph node invading aorta in one. Over all five-year survival rate was 35.3% and median survival was 20 months. Five-year survivals in patients with curative operations and non-curative operations were 60% and 0%, respectively, and the former was significantly higher. Surgical margin is a large factor for long-term result and invasion to the brachial plexus is thought to be a limiting factor for surgery.