SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS AFTER RESECTION FOR LUNG-CANCER - PREDICTIVE VALUE OF STAGING BY CT VS THORACOTOMY

Purpose. The predictive value of staging of primary lung cancer by CT and thoracotomy with respect to survival was assessed in a series of 1 51 consecutive patients. Material and Methods: The new international s taging system for lung cancer was used, with an additional indetermina te stage employed for cases in which a definite classification was imp ossible by CT. Results: The survival rate curves for the stage groups assessed at CT and thoracotomy showed moderate to good parallelism. Th e patients with tumor stage I at thoracotomy but indeterminate or IIIa at CT had a significantly lower survival rate than those scored stage I at both. It was concluded that a sign of tumor spread obtained at a ny of the investigations should lead to an active approach, increasing the radicality of surgery or omitting noncurative operations.