From 1970 till 1989, 30 patients underwent surgical resection for smal
l cell lung cancer (SCLC). The 5-year survival in stage I patients was
31%, in stage II 17% and in stage III the projected 5-year survival w
as 9%. Among N2 patients there were only 25% survivors after 1 year an
d none after 2 years. The first group of 15 patients (1970-1979) recei
ved no adjuvant chemotherapy in contrast to the second group of 15 pat
ients (1980-1989). The overall 5-year survival for the first group was
13% and the estimated 5-year survival for the second group was 27%. I
n stage I SCLC, the 5-year survival was 12% and 60%, respectively. The
se results confirm that surgery may lead to long-term survival in stag
e I and possible stage II SCLC, with better prognosis in stage I when
adjuvant chemotherapy is added.