Surgically treated bronchial carcinoma patients--results of systematic follow-up.

A systematic follow-up was carried out on 63 patients treated surgically for bronchial carcinoma. Thirty-four patients died within 2 years after the operation. No evident benefit was noted when comparing their preoperative and postoperative physical status. The quality of life was considerably influenced by surgery and adjuvant therapies. While 19 patients died from the tumor disease alone, the death of 14 patients was caused by additional therapeutic complications (surgery, irradiation, cytostatic treatment). Eighteen patients survived more than 2 years without evidence of recurrence. Performance status reached the preoperative level after 9 months. All had good or excellent objective findings, but the disease had altered the lives of 7 patients considerably, psychological problems being the main reason.