title: Characteristics and outcomes of patients with unresected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with unresected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted to identify all patients with unresected stage I or stage II NSCLC diagnosed between 1990 and 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven patients were identified who met our criteria. The median age at diagnosis was 68 years; 78% of patients were white, 81% were male, 81% had stage I disease, and 67% had squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer-specific treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, was administered to only 27 patients. The median survival time was 22 months for the treated group and 11 months for the untreated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with unresected early-stage NSCLC do not receive cancer therapy. They should be thoroughly considered for treatment, however, especially in light of recent advances in surgery and radiation therapy, and the development of more active, less toxic chemotherapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kyasa
authors.forename: Abdul R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jazieh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome