[Surgically-treated small size non-small cell bronchopulmonary cancers without adenopathies (T1NO). 5-year survival and site of recurrences].

From October, 1976 to February, 1982, 48 patients with T1N0 non-small cell bronchopulmonary carcinoma were operated upon at the Laennec Hospital, Paris. Their characteristics were: mean age 57 years (range: 43-80 years); sex ratio 23; type of surgery: 35 lobectomies, 11 pneumonectomies, 2 bilobectomies; histology: 30 epidermoid carcinomas, 15 adenocarcinomas, 3 bronchoalveolar carcinomas. On 1st January, 1983, 10 patients had relapsed after a mean complete remission period of 20 months (range: 2-29 months); 5 only had a local relapse. The actuarial probability of relapse at 5 years is 45%. Twelve patients died after a median survival of 21 months (range: 0-44 months). Of these, 3 died post-operatively, 8 after relapse and 1 of infarction during a first complete remission. Most relapses involved the mediastinum (50%) and the brain (30%). As the preventive role of mediastinal and cerebral irradiation has now been demonstrated in more extensive forms of non-small cell carcinomas, such irradiations would be justified in the T1N0 forms.