[Sleeve S6 segmentectomy for early bronchial squamous cell carcinoma--a case report]

A 60-year-old male complaining cough was referred to our hospital. His chest roentgenogram showed left hilar abnormal shadow and his sputum cytology was reported to be class V. Bronchoscopy revealed a squamous cell carcinoma of the orifice of the left B6. It suggested early hilar carcinoma with obstructive pneumonia. We performed sleeve segmentectomy of the S6 with bronchoplastic procedure. Bronchial wall invasion of squamous cell carcinoma was observed histologically and it was confirmed as early hilar lung cancer. His postoperative course was uneventful and no evidence of recurrence is observed 12 months after operation. Patency of the basal bronchus is excellent and his vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second are almost equal to preoperative values. In such early hilar lung cancer that occupied the orifice of the B6, the margin of oral side bronchus resected by sleeve S6 segmentectomy is almost same as by lower lobectomy. We believed that this procedure can be minimum invasive standard operation in such cases.