Sublobar resection in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Though lobectomy remains the standard of care for resection of nonsmall cell lung cancer, a number of studies have been published in the last 24 months exploring the role of sublobar resection in the treatment of stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer.


RESULTS
Large retrospective studies comparing lobar and sublobar resection show similar overall and disease-free survival. Survival and local control for sublobar resections are best for tumors smaller than 2 cm and with margins greater than 2 cm. Importantly, sublobar resections commonly have less thorough nodal dissection and incomplete pathologic staging; this may have important therapeutic consequences. No formal comparison of segmentectomy to wedge resection has been performed although bias towards segmentectomy resulting in better outcomes than nonanatomic wedge resection continues. Sublobar resection is especially interesting for patients with prior resection, bronchoalveolar carcinoma, and the elderly. Radiologic criteria for selecting candidates appropriate for sublobar resection are evolving.


CONCLUSIONS
Sublobar resection is an alternative therapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer for patients with physiologic impairment unable to undergo lobectomy. The literature also suggests a role for patients with prior lung resection, bronchoalveolar carcinoma, peripheral tumors less than 2 cm, and for the elderly.
Bilfinger
Thomas V
TV
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8191, USA. tbilfinger@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Baram
Daniel
D
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted