[Surgical treatment of lung cancer in patients with preoperative radiation therapy]

Combined treatment (radiotherapy--operation) was conducted in 378 patients with lung carcinoma in 1963-1991. Retrospective analysis of the immediate and late-term results of treatment showed that preoperative radiotherapy does not complicate the operative intervention. The incidence of postoperative complications is a little higher than among nonirradiated patients. Pyoinflammatory complications prevailed. Marked postradiation damage of the tumor occurred approximately in 1/3 of the patients and depended on the total largest dose of radiotherapy. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was most resistant to radiotherapy, squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma were most sensitive. Total 5-year survival of patients with lung carcinoma was 35.8% after combined treatment and 42.9% after radical operations. Among patients with complete regression of the tumor after preoperative radiotherapy 63.2% of patients who underwent operation had a survival period of over 5 years.