Large cell carcinoma of the lung: Results of resection for a cure

Objective: The effectiveness of surgical resection of large cell undifferen tiated carcinoma of the lung remains poorly defined because of the histolog y's relatively low frequency, the tendency for presentation with high-stage disease, and the failure in most published series to separate large cell c arcinomas from the other variants of non-small cell lung carcinoma. To defi ne the effectiveness of surgical treatment of large cell carl cinema, we re viewed the Mayo Clinic experience over a 5-year period. Methods: We have re trospectively reviewed the Mayo Clinic experience with 61 patients with lar ge cell carcinoma and 17 patients with adenocarcinoma with focal mucin prod uction who came to surgical resection during the 5-year period of January 1 , 1982, through December 31, 1986, Results: One-hundred percent 5-year foll ow-up was obtained, For the 61 patients with large cell carcinoma, the over all 5-year survival was 37%. Five-year survival for those with stage I tumo rs was 58% (n = 31), stage II 33% (n = 6), stage IIIA 15% (n = 20), stage I IIB 0% (n = 2), and stage IV 0% (n = 2), No significant differences in surv ival were detected between the 61 patients with large cell carcinoma and th e 17 patients with solid adenocarcinoma with mucin production. Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is a subset of patients with large cell car cinoma of the lung who can undergo resection with a reasonable expectation of long-term survival and that this survival is, stage for stage, comparabl e to or only slightly less than that achieved with other non-small cell lun g carcinomas.