Segmentectomy in patients with primary pulmonary malignancies.

Objective: To analyze immediate and long-term results of anatomical resections for lung cancer with subsequent comparison of the results of segmentectomy and lobectomy in patients with peripheral NSCLC stage IA1-2.

Material And Methods: There were 52 sublobular anatomical resections of the lung for peripheral non-small cell carcinoma and carcinoid T1a-bN0M0, IA1-2 stage. 3D-CT reconstruction with separation of bronchial and vascular structures was used to schedule complex segmentectomy. We retrospectively analyzed 200 patients with cT1a-bN0M0 peripheral non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and tumor dimension ≤2 cm who underwent lobectomy (n=148) and segmentectomy (n=52). Mortality, morbidity and overall 5-year survival were compared in two propensity score matched groups (46 pairs, segmentectomy vs. lobectomy).

Results: There was no mortality in both groups. Morbidity was similar after segmentectomy and lobectomy (8.69 and 6.52%; p=0.32). 3D-CT with separation of bronchial and vascular structures enabled surgeons to perform atypical segmentectomies and VATS procedures more often (from 13.5 to 31.3%; p>0.05 and from 11.5 to 50.0%; p<0.05). Five-year survival was 82 and 86% (p=0.652) after segmentectomy and lobectomy, respectively.

Conclusion: Postoperative results and long-term outcome after segmentectomy and lobectomy are comparable in patients with NSCLC cT1a-bN0M0, stage IA1-2. Segmentectomy is advisable surgery in patients with low pulmonary capacity and severe comorbidities.