Is surgical resection indicated for a solitary non-small cell lung cancer recurrence?
OBJECTIVE
Some investigators have reported long-term survival after surgical resection of a solitary non-small cell lung cancer recurrence in various sites. However, the role and indications of the second operation remain unclear.


METHODS
We reviewed 28 patients with a solitary recurrence after successful initial resection of primary non-small cell lung cancer who underwent resection of the recurrent lesion. The clinicopathologic factors associated with outcome were analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 17 men and 11 women. Recurrence resection was performed for the following sites: 16 in the lung, 5 in the brain, 2 in the adrenal gland, and 1 each in the chest wall, stomach, skin, pelvic lymph node, and malar bone. The median survival time was 25 months, and the 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates after recurrence were 89%, 59%, and 32%, respectively. Advanced p-stage (p-stage II and III, n = 14) of the primary tumor was the significant negative prognostic factor. Patients with p-stage II or III had survival equivalent to that of those who had multiple recurrences or were unfit for further surgical intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Resection of a solitary non-small cell lung cancer recurrence might provide long-term survival in highly selected patients. However, surgical resection might be contraindicated if the primary tumor is stage II or III.
Hishida
Tomoyuki
T
Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. thishida@nifty.com
Nagai
Kanji
K
Yoshida
Junji
J
Nishimura
Mitsuyo
M
Ishii
Gen-ichiro
G
Iwasaki
Motoki
M
Nishiwaki
Yutaka
Y
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis