title: Correlation of tumor size as independent factor and disease stage with local recurrence of non-small cell lung carcinoma and its operability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the correlation of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) primary tumor size, independently, and the initial disease stage with the incidence of local recurrence (LR) and disease-free survival (DFS), as well as the LR operability.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was conducted on 114 patients operated due to NSCLC at the Institute for Lung Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia and the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia from January 2002 to December 2010, who developed LR during the 5-year follow-up. Diagnostic methods and surgical approaches were standard, defined by protocols. Standard statistical methods and tests were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis showed significant difference in DFS and LR incidence in first 2 postoperative years related to primary tumor size and stage. Patients with T1 tumors (vs T2 vs T3), as well as in earlier disease stage, had significantly longer DFS. LR in the first and second year after primary tumor operation occurred more frequently with larger primary tumors. Significant correlation was registered between LR operability and primary tumor size, as well as LR operability and primary tumor stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research highlights size of the primary tumor as independent prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. The likelihood of LR increases with larger primary tumor and higher primary tumor stages, while DFS decreases. Because larger tumors are more frequently understaged, with occult mediastinal metastases, their LR is not possible to be surgically treated.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology Clinic, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stojiljkovic
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santrac
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stojiljkovic
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miletic
authors.forename: Dusica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gavrilovic
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden