Long-term outcome after resection of non-small cell lung carcinoma complicated by pneumoconiosis.

PURPOSE

Lung cancer resection in patients with respiratory complications is associated with a high surgical risk and the operative indications are usually serious. Consequently, the long-term results are unclear. We aimed to clarify the validity of surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with pneumoconiosis.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 122 patients undergoing resection of NSCLC with pneumoconiosis (n = 34: group A) or without pneumoconiosis (n = 88: group B) to assess treatment outcomes and prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Among the treatment factors, intraoperative blood loss was significantly greater in group A (723.2 +/- 647.3 ml) than in group B (466.4 +/- 450.7 ml) (P = 0.0067), although the operative times (207 +/- 103.4 min vs 196.1 +/- 53.5 min, respectively) and postoperative drainage period (8.3 +/- 4.2 days vs 8.5 +/- 5.7 days, respectively) did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.9466 and P = 0.6355, respectively). Among the postoperative complications, the incidence of hemorrhage was significantly higher in group A (29.4%) than in group B (7.9%) (P = 0.0022). The 5-year survival rates did not differ significantly between the two groups, (45.9% and 55.7% for groups A and B respectively) (P = 0.9424).

CONCLUSIONS

The coexistence of pneumoconiosis does not adversely affect postoperative survival or the treatment of NSCLC, although it is associated with increased intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hemorrhage. Thus, if precautions are taken to minimize hemorrhage, surgery cannot be excluded as a treatment option for NSCLC in patients with pneumoconiosis.