title: [Non small cell lung cancer and thoracic surgery: the role of the primary care physician].
abstract: Lung cancer is a frequent cause of death in Western countries. The prognosis is dismal because the vast majority of cases presents to the physician at a stage that is not operable. Surgical resection of non small cell lung carcinoma when feasible offers the best chance for survival in carefully chosen patients. A preoperative physiologic assessment can help to identify those patients who are at increased risk for cancer resection. Using the algorithm proposed in this article, the primary care physician should be able to better select patients addressed for lung cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne générale, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. igor.widikker@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Widikker
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.forename: Martine Louis
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Simonet
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D013903:Thoracic Surgery