Prognosis after wedge resection in patients with 8 edition TNM stage IA1 and IA2 non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND

According to the 8 edition TNM classification for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), tumor stage (T) is determined by the maximum size of the invasive component, without the lepidic component, and the T category has been further subdivided. We investigated the indications for wedge resection using the 8 edition TNM staging system, which measures only the size of the invasive component in tumor size.

METHODS

We compared 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates in 429 consecutive patients with 8 edition stage IA1 and IA2 NSCLC who underwent lobectomy or wedge resection from 2007 to 2017. We also analyzed the risk factors for recurrence after surgical resection.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in clinicopathological factors or 5-year DFS in patients with stage IA1 disease (5-year DFS 95.0%, lobectomy, 91.6%, wedge resection; P=0.435). For patients with stage IA2 tumors, the 5-year DFS was 88.3% after lobectomy and 74.0% after wedge resection (P=0.118). There were significant differences in clinicopathological characteristics between lobectomy and wedge resection groups in stage IA2 NSCLC. On multivariate analysis, serum CEA level [hazard ratio (HR) =1.040, P=0.046] and lymphovascular invasion (HR =2.664, P=0.027), but not wedge resection, were significant risk factors for recurrence in stage IA2 NSCLC. On multivariate analysis for recurrence risk after wedge resection in stage IA1 and stage IA2 NSCLC, only the width of the resection margin was associated with recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Wedge resection may be an acceptable procedure in stage IA1 NSCLC. When performing wedge resection, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient resection margin distance.