title: Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung: the role of surgery in small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The role of surgery in the management of patients with SCLC remains controversial. Although 2 randomized studies have failed to show any benefit on survival by adding surgery to chemotherapy, retrospective and prospective reports showed that surgery offers a reasonable overall survival in a subset of patients with stage I and II SCLC. Patients' selection is fundamental, and it should include extensive radiologic staging and mediastinal lymph-node biopsy. The use of a PET scan is likely to improve the accuracy of staging. Through primary surgery or after induction chemotherapy, a complete tumor resection associated with systematic lymphadenectomy should be achieved.
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery and Endoscopy, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Tueschenerweg 40, Essen 45239, Germany. Electronic address: georgios.stamatis@ruhrlandklinik.uk-essen.de.
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Stamatis
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Indications; Results; Small cell lung cancer; Staging; Surgery