LYMPHADENECTOMY IN NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CA NCER

Since 1982 a total number of 1062 patients underwent surgical treatmen t of bronchogenic carcinoma. There were 972 men and 89 women, with a m ean age of 62.5 years. In 484 cases a squamous cell carcinoma was diag nosed and in 416 patients an adenocarcinoma. An alveolar cell carcinom a was found in 54 and a polymerphocellular carcinoma in 68 patients re spectively. 334 patients were found to be in stage I, 233 in stage II and 438 patients were in stage IIIa. The 5-year survival rate was 57.2 % in stage I and 32.5% in stage II. The group of patients with N2 lymp h node metastasis according stage IIIa showed a very poor 5-year-survi val rate of 12.3%. A standard therapeutical procedure according to a m ultimodal concept is necessary to improve these patients' longterm sur vival. Systemic lymphadenectomy is essential for adequate therapy.