title: Does an incomplete interlobar fissure influence survival or recurrence in resected non-small-cell lung cancer?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There have been various reports on prognostic factors in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) under a complete resection, but an incomplete interlobar fissure has not been discussed yet. We attempted to clarify whether this influences survival or recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1981 to 1994, 239 patients (43%) who had a single lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection were pathologically diagnosed as stage IA/IB or IIA/IIB (excluding T3N0M0). These patients were divided in two groups: patients with a complete interlobar fissure group (group L); and patients with an incomplete one (group NL). Postoperative survivals and cancer-free periods were retrospectively assessed. Patients' characteristics had no statistical difference 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 and NL-T1N1, L-T2N0 and NL-T2N0, and L-T2N1 and NL-T2N1. The 5-year-relapse-free survival was 81.2% 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 NL-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 recurrent sites between groups L-N0 and NL-N0, and L-N1 and NL-N1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the incomplete interlobar fissure does not influence the prognosis of resected stage I or II NSCLC (excluding T3N0M0).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Sanatorium Nishi-Gunma Hospital, Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan. kamiyosi@sa2.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamiyoshihara
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morishita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis