Does an incomplete interlobar fissure influence survival or recurrence in resected non-small-cell lung cancer?

Objective: There have been various reports on prognostic factors in non-sma ll-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under a complete resection, but an incomplete i nterlobar fissure has not been discussed yet. We attempted to clarify wheth er this influences survival or recurrence. Patients and methods: From 1981 to 1994, 239 patients (43%) who had a single lobectomy with mediastinal lym ph node dissection were pathologically diagnosed as stage IA/IB or IIA/IIB (excluding T3N0M0). These patients were divided in two groups: patients wit h a complete interlobar fissure group (group L); and patients with an incom plete one (group NL). Postoperative survivals and cancer-free periods were retrospectively assessed. Patients' characteristics had no statistical diff erence between groups L and NL by N category. Results: The 5-year survival was 77.0% in group L-N0, 79.3% in group NL-N0, 48.7% in group L-N1, and 66. 2% in group NL-N1. No statistical difference was found between groups L-N0 and NL-N0, L-N1 and NL-N1, L-T1N0 and NL-T1N0, L-T1N1 acid NL-T1N1, L-T2N0 and NL-T2N0, and L-T2N1 and NL-T2N1. The 5-year-relapse-free survival was 8 1.2% in group L-N0, 85.4% in group NL-N0, 69.4% in group L-N1, and 72.2% in group NL-N1. No statistical difference was found between groups L-N0 and N L-N0, L-N1 and NL-N1, L-T1N0 and NL-T1N0, L-T1N1 and NL-T1N1, L-T2N0 and NL -T2N0, and L-T2N1 and NL-T2N1. There was no statistical difference in recur rent sites between groups L-N0 and NL-N0, and L-N1 and NL-N1. Conclusion: W e conclude that the incomplete interlobar fissure does not influence the pr ognosis of resected stage I or II NSCLC (excluding T3N0M0). (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.