Early hilar lung cancer--clinical aspects and long term survival. Identification of a subgroup of stage IA patients with more favorable prognosis.

Twenty-nine patients out of 2018 operated on for a non-small-cell lung cancer from 1987 to February 1998 met the criteria proposed by the Japan Lung Cancer Society (JLCS) for the definition of early hilar lung cancer (EHLC). Twenty-six patients were symptomatic and 20 had a radiologically visible lesion. All cancers were located and diagnosed by bronchoscopy and all patients were resected. At histology, all tumors were squamous in nature. The five-year cumulative survival rate was 96%--a second primary lung cancer (2nd Pr.) developed in 4 patients (13.8%). The definition of EHLC proposed by the JLCS allows the selection of a subgroup of stage I patients with a very good prognosis. Nevertheless, a close follow-up is mandatory because more than 10% of these patients develop a 2nd Pr.