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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004; 52(4): 196-199
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-820899
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Clinicopathological Analysis of Clinical N0 Peripheral Lung Cancers with a Diameter of 1 cm or Less

Y. Moriya1 , A. Iyoda1 , K. Hiroshima2 , Y. Sekine1 , K. Shibuya1 , T. Iizasa1 , Y. Saitoh1 , T. Fujisawa1
  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
  • 2Department of Basic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
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Publication History

Received December 1, 2003

Publication Date:
04 August 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Background: The appropriateness of limited resection for small-sized lung cancer continues to be debated. It is not yet clear whether tumor size alone is a reliable indicator for limited resection. Methods: From 1980 to 2002, 27 patients with clinical N0 peripheral lung cancers having diameters of 1 cm or less underwent pulmonary resection. Clinicopathological features of these cases were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Histological analysis showed that there were 23 cases of adenocarcinoma (81.5 %), two large cell carcinomas (7.4 %), and two carcinoid tumors. Twenty-two cases were classified as pathological stage 1, one was stage II, and four were stage III. Four patients (14.8 %) had lymphatic vessel invasion, three (11.1 %) had lymph node metastasis, and two (7.4 %) had intrapulmonary metastasis. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 76.6 %. Conclusions: It is impossible to predict the effectiveness of an intentional limited resection for lung cancer using only tumor size.

Key words

Lung cancer - small-sized - peripheral - limited resection - lymph node metastasis

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M. D. Takehiko Fujisawa

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University

1 - 8 - 1 Inohana, Chuo-ku

Chiba 260-8670

Japan

Phone: + 81432227171 (ext 5464)

Fax: + 81 4 32 26 21 72

Email: fujisawat@faculty.chiba-u.jp