Tumor Size and N2 Lymph Node Metastasis Are Significant Risk Factors for Early Recurrence in Completely Resected Centrally Located Primary Lung Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In centrally-located lung cancer treatment, it is difficult to attain a sufficient resection margin. It is important to investigate recurrent styles in centrally-located lung cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Primary lung cancer located at the hilar area that requires pneumonectomy or sleeve lobectomy is defined as centrally-located lung cancer. Early recurrence was defined as that within 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

This study included 43 centrally-located lung cancer patients. Ten patients underwent pneumonectomy and 33 underwent sleeve lobectomy. Eleven patients experienced early recurrence. Non-squamous cell carcinoma (p=0.012), tumor size>64 mm (p<0.001) and pathological N2 (p=0.012) were significant predictors for early recurrence by univariate analysis. Also, tumor size >64 mm (p=0.006) and pathological N2 (p=0.019) were independent predictors by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Non-squamous cell carcinoma, tumor size and pathological N2 were significant predictors of early recurrence in centrally-located lung cancer. The type of surgical procedure did not affect recurrence development.