Prognosis after resection of metachronous multiple bronchogenic carcinoma.

Information on 55 cases of multiple metachronous lung cancer in which both tumors were resected was collected from published reports for comparison with a series of 214 single cancer cases treated by lobectomy in Philadelphia teaching hospitals. The two groups were similar with respect to age, extent of resection, and histologic type of cancer (the second lesion in the multiple cancer group). The life table method was used to assess survival in the multiple cancer group for 4 years after the second resection. Survival in the two groups was similar in the first 2 years, but at the end of the third and fourth years the survival rate for the multiple cancer group was only half that of the single cancer group. These differences were statistically significant. Prognosis 4 years after resection of a second metachronous bronchogenic carcinoma is poor.