Abstract
Of the 680 patients with primary lung cancer treated at our hospital had small peripheral tumors 3 cm or less in diameter : 126 adenocarcinomas, 24 squamous cell carcinomas, 6 adenosquamous carcinomas, 4 small cell carcinomas, 2 large cell carcinomas and 6 carcinoids. We evaluated the feasibility of video-assisted surgery and limited surgery as curative operations for small peripheral lung cancer.Among the n2 tumors 2-3 cm in diameter, there were 19 adenocarcinomas (26.4%) and 2 squamous cell carcinomas (12.5%) : and among the pm tumors 2-3 cm in diameter, there were 11 adenocarcinomas (15.3%). Resection equivalent to lobectomy and standard node dissection are necessary for tumors of this size.
Of the n2 tumors 1-2 cm in diameter, 6 were adenocarcinomas (13.6%), of the pm tumors 1-2 cm in diameter, 3 were adenocarcinomas (6.8%) and was a squamous cell carcinoma (12.5 %). We think that lobectomy with standard node dissection is necessary for tumors of this size particularly for adenocarcinomas.
Tumors up to 1 cm in diameter with no node or intrapulmonary metastasis may be treated with video-assisted surgery or limited surgery after various factors have been evaluated.
We conclude that if video-assisted surgery or limited surgery is being considered for primary lung cancers more than 1 cm in diameter precise preoperative assessment is essential.
