title: Operative indications for lung cancer with satellite lesions.
abstract: In deciding the surgical treatment for lung cancer, it is important to differentiate between a small satellite lesion that is probably benign, a pulmonary metastatic lesion, or a double cancer. The operative indications for lung cancer with small satellite lesions detected on preoperative helical computed tomography were retrospectively examined. We collected 43 small nodules < or = 1 cm in diameter from 32 patients. A definitive diagnosis was made by follow-up computed tomography in 3 of 19 ipsilateral lesions and in 9 of 24 contralateral lesions. The final diagnosis of the satellite lesions was malignant in 13 and benign in 30. The 13 malignant lesions consisted of 2 pulmonary metastases and 11 double cancers. Two patients with stage IIb and IIIb disease on clinical staging of the main tumor had pulmonary metastases. Patients with clinical stage I disease had a higher probability that the small lesions were benign or double cancers than those with advanced disease beyond clinical stage I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, Japan. n-thorac@m3.kcn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kushibe
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimoto
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahama
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tojo
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed