THE RETROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF SURGICAL RESECTION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SMALL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

Role of surgical resection for small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) was re trospectively assessed in 16 patients with pTNM-stage I and 13 with pT NM-stages II and IIIA. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates in patient s with stage I were 61% and 45%, respectively, and the median survival time (MST) was 23.5 months. On the other hand, the 3-year survival ra te for the 13 surgical patients with stages II and IIIA was 28% (MST=1 9 m), which showed no statistical difference between that of 21% (MST= 10 m) for the 16 non-surgical patients with clinical stages II acid II IA. These results suggest that resection is desirable for patients wit h stage I, but is of no benefit for patients with stages II and IIIA.