抄録
Background: Approximately 5%-15% of surgically treated cN0 non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are classified as pN2 disease (cN0/pN2). Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a widely accepted minimally invasive nodal staging modality with a high diagnostic yield. We compared the survival outcome of cN0/pN2 patients who underwent preoperative EBUS-TBNA with that of patients who underwent radiological examinations alone.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess the prognosis of patients with cN0/pN2 NSCLC who underwent radical surgery with curative intent. EBUS-TBNA was indicated when cN1-2 disease was suspected based on the radiological findings.
Results: Among the 812 cN0 patients, 56 (6.9%; 36 men and 20 women; average age: 65.9 years) were diagnosed with pN2 disease postoperatively. A total of 17 (30%) patients were diagnosed with cN0 using EBUS-TBNA (Group A) and 39 (70%) with cN0 using radiological examinations alone (CT and PET) (Group B). No significant differences were observed between the clinical and pathological backgrounds of the two groups. The 5-year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 57.6% and 27.4% in Group A and 51.1% and 21.9% in Group B, respectively. No significant difference in survival was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions: Patients with unsuspected pN2 demonstrated similar overall survival to those in previous reports, regardless of the difference in preoperative nodal staging modality.
