[Diagnosis and therapy of well-differentiated neuroendocrine lung tumors].
BACKGROUND
Neuroendocrine tumours of the lung are uncommon malignant neoplasms. They represent a heterogeneous spectrum of disease, encompassing the well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours through to small-cell lung cancer, which has a poor prognosis and only palliative therapeutic options for most patients. Due to the low incidence of well-differentiated lung tumours there is as yet little experience.


METHODS
Clinical records of 14 patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours of the lung were assessed retrospectively for patients' initial symptomatology, diagnostic procedures, therapy and results.


RESULTS
Eight lobectomies, 2 bronchoplastic lobectomies, 2 segmental resections, 1 bilobectomy and 1 wedge resection were performed; seven of them without regional lymphadenectomy. All patients were alive after a mean follow-up of 38 (2-96) months. Thirteen of 14 patients were free of complaints, twelve had no recurrences and returned to work.


CONCLUSIONS
Well-differentiated NET of the lung have an excellent prognosis after curative resection. Limited resections even without lymphadenectomy can be performed in some cases.
Langer
P
P
Klinik für Allgemeinchirurgie, Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Ernst
M
M
Bartsch
D
D
Ramaswamy
A
A
Rothmund
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011379:Prognosis