INTRODUCTION: Patients with stage II non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represent a heterogeneous subgroup with variable 5-year survival rates. The influence of the type of lymph node involvement on survival and recurrence was investigated. METHODS: A total of 128 consecutive patients who underwent complete tumor resection and mediastinal lymph nodes dissection for pT1-2N1M0 NSCLC between July 1991 and December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival of patients with T1-2N1M0 disease was 42.2%. Although pT status, histology, surgical procedure, and adjuvant therapy did not affect survival for pT1-2N1M0 patients, the 5-year survival rate differed significantly according to the type of lymph node involvement. The 5-year survival rate for patients with main bronchial lymph node involvement, interlobar and lobar lymph node involvement, and segmental bronchial lymph node involvement was 19.7%, 39.8%, and 59.7%, respectively. The survival curves of these three groups had significant differences. Fifty-five patients had cancer recurrence, and the type of lymph node involvement did not affect the pattern of cancer relapse. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stage II NSCLC, survival differs according to the type of lymph node involvement: patients with only segmental lymph node involvement have a better prognosis and the disease seems to be at an early stage, whereas patients with main bronchial lymph node involvement have a poorer prognosis, and main bronchial lymph node involvement represents more advanced disease. Patients with pN1 disease represent a heterogeneous group that may be subdivided according to the level of the involved N1 station, not pT factor.
INTRODUCTION:Patients with stage II non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) represent a heterogeneous subgroup with variable 5-year survival rates. The influence of the type of lymph node involvement on survival and recurrence was investigated. METHODS: A total of 128 consecutive patients who underwent complete tumor resection and mediastinal lymph nodes dissection for pT1-2N1M0 NSCLC between July 1991 and December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival of patients with T1-2N1M0 disease was 42.2%. Although pT status, histology, surgical procedure, and adjuvant therapy did not affect survival for pT1-2N1M0 patients, the 5-year survival rate differed significantly according to the type of lymph node involvement. The 5-year survival rate for patients with main bronchial lymph node involvement, interlobar and lobar lymph node involvement, and segmental bronchial lymph node involvement was 19.7%, 39.8%, and 59.7%, respectively. The survival curves of these three groups had significant differences. Fifty-five patients had cancer recurrence, and the type of lymph node involvement did not affect the pattern of cancer relapse. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stage II NSCLC, survival differs according to the type of lymph node involvement: patients with only segmental lymph node involvement have a better prognosis and the disease seems to be at an early stage, whereas patients with main bronchial lymph node involvement have a poorer prognosis, and main bronchial lymph node involvement represents more advanced disease. Patients with pN1 disease represent a heterogeneous group that may be subdivided according to the level of the involved N1 station, not pT factor.