Zhi Zheng1, Tie-Cheng Pan, Jun Li, Tao Chen, Ding-Wei Song, Jun Yi. 1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. ycloth0759@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Lymph node metastasis is an important factor for prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There were different opinions about what effect does lymph node micrometastasis have on prognosis. This study was designed to collect literatures of lymph node micrometastasis and prognosis in stage I NSCLC patients, in order to investigate their relationship. METHODS: The results from eight literatures on lymph node micrometastasis and prognosis from 1980 to 2002 were analyzed synthetically by meta-analysis. The cumulative cases were 536 NSCLC patients with stage I disease. RESULTS: The detection rate of lymph node micrometastasis ranged from 3.4% to 28.9%, and the rate of positive cases ranged from 20% to 70%. The 3-, 5-year over-survival rate for positive lymph node micrometastasis patients was worse than those of negative lymph node micrometastasis patients: odd ratios (ORs) were 4.16 (95%CI:2.32-7.46) and 3.57 (95%CI:2.30-5.53), respectively (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: Positive lymph node micrometastasis may be an adverse factor for post-operative prognosis of NSCLC stage I patients.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Lymph node metastasis is an important factor for prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). There were different opinions about what effect does lymph node micrometastasis have on prognosis. This study was designed to collect literatures of lymph node micrometastasis and prognosis in stage I NSCLCpatients, in order to investigate their relationship. METHODS: The results from eight literatures on lymph node micrometastasis and prognosis from 1980 to 2002 were analyzed synthetically by meta-analysis. The cumulative cases were 536 NSCLCpatients with stage I disease. RESULTS: The detection rate of lymph node micrometastasis ranged from 3.4% to 28.9%, and the rate of positive cases ranged from 20% to 70%. The 3-, 5-year over-survival rate for positive lymph node micrometastasis patients was worse than those of negative lymph node micrometastasis patients: odd ratios (ORs) were 4.16 (95%CI:2.32-7.46) and 3.57 (95%CI:2.30-5.53), respectively (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: Positive lymph node micrometastasis may be an adverse factor for post-operative prognosis of NSCLC stage I patients.