Extended radical resection for bulky N2 small cell lung carcinoma.

In three patients with bulky N2 small cell lung carcinomas who received chemotherapy, complete clinical remission at the N2 site was obtained. Extended radical resection including mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed on these three patients, followed by postoperative chemotherapy. Combined resected organs were azygos vein, superior caval vein, and left atrium. We obtained good results with the patients surviving 104, 53, and 38 months respectively, after the initial therapy.