Histopathological factors predictive for prognosis of lung cancer.

This study was done on 110 lung cancer patients who had received surgical resection consisted of two groups; one group of 43 who survived more than 5 years without recurrence and the other group of 67 who died within one year following surgery. Prognostic significance of the histopathological features at the primary tumor site as well as the regional lymph nodes were compared between the two groups. Blood vessel invasion by the tumor and lymph node metastasis appeared to be equally significant prognostic factors. Patients having the both factors had little chance for survival. Abundant lymphoid cell infiltration around the tumor was associated with longer survival. Lymphoid cell infiltration at the site of blood vessel invasion also was associated with better prognosis. Follicular hyperplasia and paracortical hyperplasia in the regional lymph nodes were favorable prognostic indicators, whereas sinus histocytosis was poorly significant prognostic indicator.