title: Radical systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The value of radical systematic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of bronchial carcinoma is controversial. In a randomized controlled clinical trial, radical lymphadenectomy was compared with conventional node dissection in 182 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Comparison of short-term results revealed a significantly longer operating time in those undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy, but overall morbidity and mortality rates were comparable between groups. However, there were complications associated with radical lymphadenectomy such as prolonged air leakage and haemorrhage. Interim analysis of results at a median follow-up of 26.8 months showed no significant influence of radical lymphadenectomy on local recurrence-free interval, metastasis-free interval or cancer-related survival. In conclusion, radical systematic lymphadenectomy is a safe operation that leads to a better staging of non-small cell lung cancer, but its prognostic benefit is questionable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Izbicki
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thetter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habekost
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Passlick
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kubuschok
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haeussinger
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Knoefel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pantel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis