title: [Analysis of recurrence patterns after curative resection of stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the postoperative recurrence patterns in the patients undergoing potentially curative resection of stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 63 patients underwent curative operation from September 2004 to December 2008 at Peking University First Hospital and were pathologically diagnosed as stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. Their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. The follow-ups were conducted to detect the recurrent lesions. The recurrence rates at Year 2-3 were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method while the Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the risk factors associated with recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 and 3-year recurrence rate was 46.6% and 57.3% respectively. Only one patient experienced local failure. However, the predominant recurrence pattern was distant failure (27/28). As demonstrated by the univariate Cox regression analysis, 4 significant factors associated with recurrence and the arm of lymphatic or vascular invasion (LVI), number of positive N2 station > 1, number of positive node > 3 and involvement of subcarinal lymph nodes were found to increase the risks of failure (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distant failure is the predominant pattern of postoperative recurrence in the patients of stage IIIA-N2 NSCLC. In addition to LVI, the level of positive N2 station, the number of positive N2 node and the involvement of subcarinal lymph nodes are associated with the postoperative risk of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jing-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xue-qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors