Evaluation of limited resection of the lung for treatment of lung cancer.

The validity and indications of limited resection for lung cancer were studied based on the results of 34 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery. This method appeared to be an effective technique for the preservation of the cardiopulmonary function after surgery, particularly in elderly patients. The prognosis of those who underwent limited resection for selected cases was not significantly different from that of those treated by lobectomy. Recurrences were seen exclusively in Stage II patients, most of whom had a poorly differentiated type of cell pathology and developed blood vessel involvement. It was concluded from this study that this technique can be feasibly applied to patients with a tumor of less than 3 cm located at the periphery of the lung and with the histologic picture of highly differentiated type.