Tumor size does not have prognostic significance in stage Ia NSCLC.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine whether the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with lesions 2 cm or less in diameter, was better than that of Stage Ia lung cancer having a diameter of more than 2 cm.


METHODS
We reviewed 64 cases of NSCLC which were preoperatively diagnosed as TINOMO. The tumors were classified into 2 groups on the basis of a tumor diameter set at 2 cm. After comparison of background factors, we compared the prognoses of the groups and determined the prognostic factors in Stage IA NSCLC.


RESULTS
No differences were observed in the survival rate between the 2 groups. Statistically significant factors for the survival period in Stage IA NSCLC were serum carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), residual tumor condition and lymph node metastasis. Those cases where CEA was abnormal were all in Stage II or inllmore advanced stage.


CONCLUSIONS
It is not justifiable to sub-classify Stage IA NSCLC on the basis of a tumor diameter of 2 cm. The present study revealed that the most important preoperative prognostic factor was serum CEA.
Yanagi
S
S
Second Department of Surgery, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
Sugiura
H
H
Morikawa
T
T
Kaji
M
M
Okushiba
S
S
Kondo
S
S
Katoh
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking; D016019:Survival Analysis
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen