Relationship between tumor size and disease stage in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Whether tumor size and stage distribution are correlated remains controversial. The objective is to assess the relationship between tumor size and disease stage distribution in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 917 cases of NSCLC that were resected in the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Sixth Hospital between January 2000 and February 2009. Tumor sizes were grouped into five categories: ≤20 mm, 21 to 30 mm, 31 to 50 mm, 51 to 70 mm and ≥71 mm.


RESULTS
Age and tumor size affected stage distribution: patients 60 years or older had a higher percentage of N0M0 disease than patients younger than 60 years (61.67% vs. 44.85%, p < 0.01). The smaller the tumor, the more likely the disease was N0M0 status (p < 0.05). For tumors ≤20 mm in diameter, the proportion of cases with N0M0 status was 70.79%, compared to 58.88% for 21 to 30 mm, 48.03% for 31 to 50 mm, 47.55% for 51 to 70 mm, 33.33% for ≥71 mm. The mean (± SD) tumor size of cases with N0M0 status was 37.17 ± 21.34 mm, compared to 45.75 ± 23.19 mm for cases with other status.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a statistically significant relationship between tumor size and distribution of disease stage of primary NSCLC tumors: the smaller the tumor, the more likely the disease is N0M0 status.
Yang
Fu
F
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
Chen
Haiquan
H
Xiang
Jiaqing
J
Zhang
Yawei
Y
Zhou
Jianhua
J
Hu
Hong
H
Zhang
Jie
J
Luo
Xiaoyang
X
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000473:pathology*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
Cancer. 1986 Jun 15;57(12):2427-37
3697941
Chest. 1999 Mar;115(3):720-4
10084482
Radiology. 2005 Apr;235(1):259-65
15695622
Ann Surg. 2003 Aug;238(2):180-8
12894010
J Clin Oncol. 2002 Feb 15;20(4):911-20
11844811
J Occup Med. 1986 Aug;28(8):746-50
3528436
Thorax. 1968 Jul;23(4):414-20
5664703
Chest. 2004 May;125(5 Suppl):158S-62S
15136487
Chest. 2005 Oct;128(4):2304-8
16236888
Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi. 2005 Aug 20;8(4):274-8
21108881
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Oct;16(10):2082-9
17932357
Eur Radiol. 2004 Apr;14(4):691-702
14727146
Chest. 2004 Sep;126(3):761-5
15364754
J Thorac Oncol. 2007 Aug;2(8):706-14
17762336
Chest. 2005 Apr;127(4):1136-9
15821186
J Thorac Oncol. 2007 Jul;2(7):593-602
17607114
CA Cancer J Clin. 2004 Jan-Feb;54(1):8-29
14974761
Arch Intern Med. 2006 Feb 13;166(3):321-5
16476872
Cancer. 2007 Oct 1;110(7):1532-41
17702091
Cancer. 2001 Dec 15;92(12):3051-5
11753983
Br J Radiol. 2000 Feb;73(866):137-45
10884725
N Engl J Med. 2006 Oct 26;355(17):1763-71
17065637
Chest. 2006 Oct;130(4):1211-9
17035458
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1998 May;115(5):1015-20
9605069
Cancer. 2000 Dec 1;89(11 Suppl):2474-82
11147630
Lancet. 1999 Jul 10;354(9173):99-105
10408484
Chest. 2007 Sep;132(3 Suppl):29S-55S
17873159
Radiology. 2007 Apr;243(1):239-49
17392256
Chest. 2005 Nov;128(5):3255-60
16304270
Radiology. 1992 Jan;182(1):115-22
1727272
Chest. 2009 Jul;136(1):260-271
19584208
Chest. 2002 May;121(5):1515-20
12006437