Assessing the number of annual lung cancer resections performed in the United States

Background: The number of lung cancer resections performed annually in the United States (U.S.) has not been previously assessed. The objective of this study is to estimate the total number of lung cancer resections performed every year in the U.S. Methods: The number of lung cancer resections performed in the U.S. in 2016 and 2017 was estimated by using indirect multiplier methods based on the number of lung cancer resections in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and the proportion of lung cancer cases captured by the NCDB using the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) Data Set as reference. Results: In 2016, 37,141 lung cancer resections were documented in the NCDB and the NCDB captured 65.2% of incident lung cancer cases in the U.S. In 2017, 36,844 lung cancer resections were documented in the NCDB and the NCDB captured 65.1% of incident lung cancer cases in the U.S. Based on these metrics, an estimated 57,000 lung cancer resections were performed in 2016 and over an estimated 56,600 lung cancer resections were performed in 2017 in the U.S. Of these lung cancer resections, an estimated 10,300 (18.2%) wedge resections, 2,800 (4.9%) segmentectomies, 40,000 (70.6%) lobectomies, 80 (0.1%) bronchial sleeve resections, 1,400 (2.5%) extended lobectomies, 1,600 (2.8%) pneumonectomies, and 40 (0.07%) extended pneumonectomies were performed in 2017. Conclusions: Based on this national analysis, an approximately 56,000 to 57,000 lung cancer resections are performed in the U.S. annually. Lobectomies are the most common lung cancer operations performed in the U.S.