[Resection of recurrent lung cancer]

The resected recurrent lung cancer cases were evaluated retrospectively. Out of 1,060 cases who received an operation due to primary lung cancer, 21 (1.8%) had recurrent lung cancer which were resected subsequently. Stage I adenocarcinoma cases were found to be most frequent at the first operation (76%). Out of 21 cases, 7 received completion pneumonectomy, 5 had lobectomy and 8 had limited operation, respectively. The 5-year survival rate after the second operation was 36.6% in all the cases. There was no statistical difference in survival rate between the lobectomy group (including completion pneumonectomy) and the limited operation group. There was statistical difference in survival rate between cases who received a second operation in a time span of 2 or more years after the first operation and the cases who received it in less than 2 years. Good prognosis can be expected after the resection of recurrent lung cancer, but further analysis would be required in evaluation of respiratory function as well as biological malignancy of the tumor.