Comparison of lobectomy and wedge resection for carcinoma of the lung.

To evaluate comparatively lobectomy and wedge resection for carcinoma of the lung, we reviewed retrospectively 1,000 consecutive cases of lung cancer at a Veterans Administration Hospital. Of these cases, 252 were operable; 199 were resectable. Thirty-three patients underwent resection of their lesion as primary treatment. The indications for wedge resection were (1) insufficient pulmonary reserve, (2) resectable cerebral metastasis, (3) frozen-section results reportedly benign. One hundred twelve patients underwent standard lobectomy procedures. Of these patients, 40 were comparable to those patients undergoing wedge resection on the basis of age, histopathological examination, tumor size and location, and the presence of metastatic disease. One, 2, and 5 year survival rates were 85%, 58%, and 26%, respectively, for wedge resection and 75%, 55%, and 25%, respectively, for lobectomy. The operative mortality rate was 0% for wedge resection and 5% for lobectomy. These results indicate that for the patient with a peripheral lung carcinoma and no evidence of metastatic disease a wedge resection offers comparable survival rates with minimal risk of death.