title: Non-small cell lung carcinoma of the superior sulcus: The evolution of treatment outcomes with multimodality treatment at a single institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of the multimodality approach in treating superior sulcus non-small cell lung carcinoma (SS NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the records of 57 patients with SS NSCLC who were treated at our institution between 1982 and 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 3- and 5-year survival increased significantly from 42.6% and 42.6% in the first half of the study period (1982-1994) to 72.7% and 65.4% in the second half (1995-2007), respectively. Methods of clinical staging were unchanged between the two time periods, although the ratio of adenocarcinoma was increased, and multimodality treatment, particularly concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection, was used more frequently in the second half of the study period. The 5-year survival of patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (n = 27) was better than that of those who received other treatment regimen with surgery (n = 22, 64.6% vs. 49.6%; P = 0.044). Five-year survival in patients with complete resection after chemoradiotherapy was 70.4%. Thirteen patients (48%) achieved a pathologic complete response or minimal microscopic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multimodality treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery appears to contribute to improved outcomes over time in patients with SS NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Kyushu Cancer Center, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuzo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tagawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osoegawa
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kometani
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wataya
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuyama
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugio
authors.forename: Yukito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome