Results of surgical treatment of carcinoma of the lung by stage and cell type

The results of surgical treatment in 470 patients with carcinoma of the lung were analyzed by stage of disease and by histologic cell type. The need for accurate staging in selecting treatment and in prognosis for survival is emphasized. Surgical resection improved survival time in all categories of patients by effective local control of the lesion. The over-all five year survival rate was 14 percent. Early stages of carcinoma of the lung were more amenable to surgical cure. The highest five year survival rate was 43 percent and was observed in resected Stage I carcinomas. Only 29 percent of this group died of the disease and 28 percent, of other causes. The continued high incidence of death due to distant metastases underlines the necessity of combining operation with other forms of treatment.