title: Analysis of the surgical treatment for superior sulcus tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to assess the mortality, complication, and major morbidity rates of surgical treatment for superior sulcus tumors (SSTs), and to estimate the significance of prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 50 consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment for SSTs between 1992 and 2007. The significance of risk factors for an adverse outcome was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the thirty-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 0 %. Complications developed in 18.0 % (9/50) of the patients. The overall 5-year survival was 32.7 %. Pathological T4 and N1 or more were the risk factors predicting an adverse outcome. Survival was not significantly influenced by the preoperative symptoms, the histological type, the invaded organ or the curability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment for SSTs is associated with acceptable overall morbidity and mortality rates. However, special care must be taken for the patients with pathological T4 and N1 or higher tumors. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical treatment has become a logical strategy for SSTs. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy for SSTs may yield better results than surgery alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Surgery, Kitakyushu Municipal Medical Center, 2-1-1 Bashaku, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 802-0077, Japan, y-ichiki@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichiki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takenoyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome