[Results and alternatives in the surgical treatment of lung cancer].

Objective: The aim of our study was to analyse the results of surgical treatment in lung cancer cases.

Patients And Methods: Between 1990 and 1999, 860 patients were operated on for primary lung cancer. In 775 patients (90.1%), resection was performed, 85 patients underwent explorative thoracotomy.

Results: The 5-year survival rate was 45.3%, the mean survival time was 47 months. In the univariate analysis, the radicality of the resection (p < 0.0001), the pT stage (p < 0.0001), the pN stage (p < 0.0001) and the histological type (p = 0.0039) had a significant correlation with the survival. The survival was not influenced whether N2 lymph node metastases were observed at one or more level. In the multivariate survival calculations sex (p = 0.024), histological type (p = 0.006), pT classification (p = 0.002) and the pN classification (p < 0.0001) proved to be independent prognostic factor. The pM status did not affect the survival. Postoperative complications were observed in 242 of patients (28.2%). The most frequent complication were expansions problems (9.7%), bronchial stump insufficiency (3.3%), retention of bronchial secretion (2.1%) and cardiac complications (7.1%). 26 patients died, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.8%. 32 reoperations were necessary (3.7%).

Conclusions: Our results indicate that non-small-cell lung cancer can be operated on with good survival possibilities and limited risk, in selected cases even with more advanced tumour stages.