The natural history of recurrence after bronchoplastic procedures for non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
The natural course of recurrence after bronchoplastic procedures for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been described.


METHODS
Sex, age, tnm-stage, histology, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, disease-free interval (months), exact localisation of tumour recurrence, time between first and second recurrence (months), survival after first and second recurrence (months), causes of death were retrospectively recorded in 83 patients operated between December 1993 and July 2001.


RESULTS
One patient was lost to follow-up, five resections were nonradical. Survivors' follow-up lasted 5 to 100.7 months (mean 43.3). Fourteen patients (14.4%) died tumor free. Eleven (13.2%) distant recurrences were diagnosed 1 to 42 months (mean 10.6) postoperatively, eight (9.6%) died 0 to 17 months (mean 7.55) after diagnosis. Nine local recurrences (10.8%)-5 unifocal, 4 multifocal-occurred 2 to 35 months (mean 17.3) postoperatively, eight died 0 to 8 months (mean 2.13) after diagnosis. Nine mixed recurrences (10.8%)-1 synchronous, 8 metachronous-were found (14.8%) 2 to 21 months postoperatively (mean 8.3). All died 4 to 41 months (mean 17.83) after diagnosis. Fourteen mediastinal lymph node recurrences occurred, ten as a primary recurrence and four as secondary. Lymph nodes were involved in all multifocal recurrences. Intrabronchial recurrence was observed in five patients and was always a result of progressive regional lymph node recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern and natural history of recurrence cannot be sufficiently explained by stage and surgical radicality and suggest different genetic characteristics of the primary tumor. In case of reoperation due to intrabronchial recurrence adjuvant mediastinal irradiation should be considered.
Hollaus
Peter H
PH
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Otto Wagner Hospital, Vienna, Austria peter.hollaus@pul.magwien.gv.at
Wurnig
Peter N
PN
Pridun
Nestor S
NS
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome