T_1、T_2肺鳞癌及腺癌淋巴结转移特点及其临床意义

目的　研究T1、T2 肺鳞及腺癌淋巴结转移频度、分布范围及特点 ,为广泛清扫提供依据。　方法　按Naruke肺癌淋巴结分布图对 2 5 4例T1、T2 肺鳞癌及腺癌施行了手术切除及广泛肺内、叶间及纵隔淋巴结清扫术并对其进行统计分析。　结果　清除淋巴结 16 85组。N1淋巴结转移率 2 0 0 % ,N2 淋巴结转移率为 10 2 %。T1、T2 间淋巴结转移率差异有非常显著性意义 (P <0 0 1)。T1鳞癌无N2 转移 ,N2 转移在鳞癌、腺癌分别为 2 2 0 %和 40 9% ,差异有非常显著性意义 (P <0 0 1)。6 4 3%的鳞癌为某 1组N2 转移 ,腺癌≥ 3组转移占 46 2 % ,跳跃式转移占N2 转移的 5 7 5 %。N2 阳性上叶肺癌下纵隔转移占 13 6 % ,N2 阳性的下叶肺癌上纵隔转移占 5 1 6 %。　结论　随着瘤体增大 ,淋巴结转移频度增加 ,腺癌比鳞癌淋巴结转移更加活跃 ,任何部位的肺癌都可跨区域纵隔转移。除T1鳞癌外 ,只有广泛清扫同侧肺内及纵隔淋巴结才能达到根治。     

cⅠA期非小细胞肺癌纵隔淋巴结切除方式的临床研究

目的 探讨不同淋巴结切除方式在病理诊断为T1的cⅠA期非小细胞肺癌治疗中的作用.方法 根据淋巴结切除方式的不同,将1998年1月至2002年5月115例病理诊断为T1的cⅠA期非小细胞肺癌患者分为系统性纵隔淋巴结清扫组(清扫组)和纵隔淋巴结采样组(采样组),回顾性分析两组的并发症、N分期及预后之间的差异,评价各临床病理因素与预后的关系.结果 清扫组平均每例切除淋巴结(15.98±3.05)个,采样组平均每例切除淋巴结6.48±2.16个,两组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01),但清扫组的手术时间、术后胸腔引流量及并发症发生率均多于采样组.两组在淋巴结分期的改变、总生存率与无病生存率等方面差异无统计学意义;进一步分析发现,当肿瘤直径＞2 cm时,清扫组与采样组的5年总生存率分别为78.2%和54.5%,无病生存率分别为75.1%和51.3%,清扫组均高于采样组(P＜0.05);当肿瘤直径≤2 cm时,两组的5年总生存率与无病生存率无明显差别.病理类型方面,大细胞癌和腺鳞癌5年总生存率低于腺癌和鳞状细胞癌(P＜0.05),有淋巴结转移的5年总生存率与无病生存率明显低于无淋巴结转移者(P均＜0.01).结论 对于术中确定为T1的cⅠA期非小细胞肺癌,当肿瘤直径≤2 cm时,选择纵隔淋巴结采样术可以相对减小创伤;当肿瘤直径＞2 cm时,选择系统性纵隔淋巴结清扫术可能更有助于长期生存.     

T1、T2肺鳞癌及腺癌淋巴结转移特点及其临床意义

目的研究T1、T2肺鳞及腺癌淋巴结转移频度、分布范围及特点,为广泛清扫提供依据。方法按Naruke肺癌淋巴结分布图对254例T1、T2肺鳞癌及腺癌施行了手术切除及广泛肺内、叶间及纵隔淋巴结清扫术并对其进行统计分析。结果清除淋巴结1685组。N1淋巴结转移率20．0％,N2淋巴结转移率为10．2％。T1、T2间淋巴结转移率差异有非常显著性意义(P<0．01)。T1鳞癌无N2转移,N2转移在鳞癌、腺癌分别为22．0％和40．9％,差异有非常显著性意义(P<0．01)。64．3％的鳞癌为某1组N2转移,腺癌≥3组转移占46．2％,跳跃式转移占N2转移的57．5％。N2阳性上叶肺癌下纵隔转移占13．6％,N2阳性的下叶肺癌上纵隔转移占51．6％。结论随着瘤体增大,淋巴结转移频度增加,腺癌比鳞癌淋巴结转移更加活跃,任何部位的肺癌都可跨区域纵隔转移。除T1鳞癌外,只有广泛清扫同侧肺内及纵隔淋巴结才能达到根治。     

胸段食管癌上纵隔淋巴结转移规律的临床分析

目的探讨食管癌上纵隔淋巴结的转移规律,为规范化淋巴结清扫提供依据。方法回顾性分析2009年6月至2014年6月四川省第二人民医院行经右胸手术586例胸段食管癌患者的临床病理资料,其中男489例、女97例,平均年龄(61.61±7.92)岁总结淋巴结转移规律。结果586例患者平均清扫淋巴结(20.48±11.01)枚/例,326例(55.63%)1 212枚淋巴结转移。上纵隔、下纵隔、腹腔淋巴结转移率分别为29.35%、25.94%、31.74%,三区域淋巴结转移率差异无统计学意义(X~2=4.839,P=0.089)。食管胸上段癌上纵隔、下纵隔、腹腔转移率分别为43.48%、13.73%、13.73%上纵隔淋巴结转移率高于下纵隔、腹腔且差异有统计学意义(X~2=32.692,P=0.000)。中段食管癌的上纵隔、下纵隔、腹腔转移率分别为28.19%、29.53%、31.54%三者差异无统计学意义(X~2=0.566,P=0.753)。下段食管癌上纵隔、下纵隔、腹腔转移率分别是22.92%、27.08%、41.67%腹腔淋巴结转移率高于上、下纵隔且差异有统计学意义(X~2=17.542,P=0.000)。上纵隔淋巴结中右喉返神经旁淋巴结转率为19.80%朋显高于其它上纵隔淋巴结(X~2=112.304,P=0.000)。结论上纵隔区域是食管癌淋巴结转移好发部位重视上纵隔淋巴结清扫,特别是右喉返神经旁淋巴结清扫可以减少术中肿瘤残留脾低术后复发率。     

临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌全胸腔镜与开胸纵隔淋巴结清扫的对比研究

目的评价临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌患者全胸腔镜纵隔淋巴结清扫的效果。方法回顾性研究2003年1月～2009年7月间连续282例临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌的资料,152例接受全胸腔镜手术,另130例为开胸手术,对比2组清扫纵隔淋巴结组数、枚数、各区域淋巴结枚数和淋巴结清扫相关并发症。结果胸腔镜组与开胸组纵隔淋巴结清扫组数[中位数4组（3～6组）vs4组（3～7组）,Z=0.603,P=0.544）和枚数[（13.7±6.1）vs（14.6±7.2）,t=-1.136,P=0.257）差异无显著性,各区域（右侧上纵隔、中下纵隔,左侧主动脉弓周围、中下纵隔）两组间淋巴结清扫枚数差异亦无显著性（P〉0.05）。淋巴结清扫相关并发症（胸腔镜组乳糜胸2例,开胸组乳糜胸2例、喉返神经损伤1例,χ2=0.031,P=0.860）和胸腔引流时间[（8.1±3.9）dvs（8.6±4.1）d,t=-1.048,P=0.296]也未到达统计学差异。结论全胸腔镜纵隔淋巴结清扫可以达到等同传统开胸手术的效果,且不增加并发症。     

胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌的学习曲线

目的 通过评估胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗早期肺癌不同阶段的手术效果,探讨胸腔镜肺叶切除术的学习曲线.方法 回顾性分析2006年9月至2008年6月由同一手术组连续完成的60例全胸腔镜下肺叶切除加纵隔淋巴结清扫术治疗早期肺癌的病例资料.按手术先后依次分为4组(A、B、C、D),每组15例,比较各组手术时间、术中出血量、纵隔淋巴结清扫站数及个数、中转开胸率、术后并发症、术后胸管引流时间以及术后住院天数,分析不同阶段的手术效果.结果 各组病例在年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、病理分期以及手术方式等方面差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).A组手术时间(228.0±55.6)min明显长于C组(155.0±33.6)min或D组(152.7±27.4)min(P<0.001),B组手术时间(200.3±67.1)min亦明显长于C组或D组(P<0.05),而C、D两组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.896);在术中出血量方面,A组(283.3±111.2)ml明显多于C组(156.7±86.3)ml或D组(143.3±67.8)ml(P<0.01),B组(286.7±188.4)ml亦明显多于C组或D组(P<0.01),C、D两组之间差异无统计学意义(P=0.767);各组淋巴结清扫数量、中转开胸率、术后并发症、术后胸管引流时间以及术后住院天数比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 胸腔镜肺叶切除术的学习曲线大约为30例.     

全胸腔镜肺癌根治术淋巴结清扫的探讨

目的探讨全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌淋巴结清扫的安全性和可行性。方法 2006年1月～2008年12月,160例临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌接受全腔镜下肺叶切除术、纵隔淋巴结清扫,采用不撑开肋骨三孔法,并与同期247例接受常规开放手术的Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌进行比较。结果胸腔镜组淋巴结清扫组数(2.4±1.5)组与开胸组(2.6±1.6)组无显著差异(t=1.262,P=0.208),胸腔镜组清扫淋巴结(9.8±6.2)枚,与开胸组(9.9±5.9)枚无统计学差异(t=-0.160,P=0.873)。开胸组并发症发生率11.7%(29/247)和围手术期死亡率2.8%(7/247)与胸腔镜组并发症发生率9.4%(15/160)和围手术期死亡率0.6%(1/160)无显著差异(χ2=0.564,P=0.453;χ2=1.446,P=0.229)。胸腔镜组生存情况优于开胸组(χ2=5.373,P=0.020)。结论全胸腔镜肺叶切除术治疗临床Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌在技术上是安全可行的,其淋巴结清扫可达到开放手术的范围,远期疗效不亚于开放手术。     

直径≤3cm的周围型肺腺癌淋巴结转移分析

目的探讨原发性周围型小肺腺癌(直径≤3cm)淋巴结转移的规律,为治疗方案的制定提供参考。方法自1990年1月至2009年1月期间,首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院胸外科手术治疗肿瘤最大直径(CT测量)≤3 cm的周围型原发性肺腺癌288例,其中男223例,女65例;年龄30~73岁。288例患者诊断均经病理检查证实,临床诊断淋巴结转移的标准为最小直径大于1.0 cm(CT)。手术方式:肺叶切除术264例,肺袖式切除术22例,肺楔形切除术2例;纵隔淋巴结清扫方式为系统纵隔淋巴结清扫或采样。结果 288例中发生淋巴结转移142例(49.30%),其中术后分期为N190例(31.25%),N252例(18.06%)。不同原发部位的淋巴结转移率:右肺46.67%(77/165),左肺56.10%(69/123);肿瘤直径小于1 cm者淋巴结转移率为22.22%(2/9),1~2 cm之间者为39.44%(28/71),2~3 cm之间者为53.84%(112/208),三者间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。直径小于1 cm者未发现N2转移,1~2 cm之间者N2阳性率为14.08%(10/71),2~3 cm之间者N2阳性率为20.19%(42/208),三者间比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=20.01,P0.01)。结论周围型小肺腺癌肺门及纵隔淋巴结转移常见,尤其是右肺上叶肺癌。直径大小对腺癌淋巴结转移发生率有明显的影响,但即便直径小于2 cm,淋巴结转移仍有很大的风险。术前应尽可能获得准确的N分期,如不能在术前确定N分期,对直径1 cm以上的肺腺癌术中应常规进行纵隔淋巴结清扫,否则难以获得准确的分期,亦难以达到根治性切除。     

cNO-pN2非小细胞肺癌行全胸腔镜肺叶切除手术初步体会

目的 探讨术前临床分期N0术后病理分期N2的非小细胞肺癌患者行全胸腔镜肺叶切除手术的可行性。方法 2006年9月至2010年1月施行全胸腔镜肺叶切除治疗非小细胞肺癌216例中术前临床分期N0患者206例,男103例,女103例;年龄29 ～85岁,平均(62.3±11.1)岁。按术后病理纵隔淋巴结是否转移分为Pn0组(168例,无纵隔淋巴结转移)和Pn2组(38例,存在纵隔淋巴结转移)。回顾性分析两组病例年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、位置、病理类型、分化程度、中转开胸、手术时间、术中出血、淋巴结清扫情况、引流时间、住院时间及并发症等围手术期数据。结果 206例中肺叶切除203例,复合肺叶切除2例,全肺切除1例,手术过程顺利。无严重围手术期并发症,围手术期死亡1例(肺部感染至呼吸功能衰竭)。两组年龄、性别分布差异无统计学意义。Pn0组肿瘤最大径明显小于Pn2组[(2.6±1.6)cm对(3.7±1.9) cm,P=0.001]。Pn0组肿瘤位于下叶者明显少于Pn2组(31.0％对50.0％,P =0.026)。两组腺癌比例无统计学意义(82.7％对73.7％,P=0.181),但Pn0组低分化癌比例明显低于Pn2组(19.0％对42.1％,P=0.002)。两组中转开胸率(7.1％对7.9％,P=1.000)、手术时间[(196.1±53.7) rmin对(208.6±56.8)min,P=0.202]、术中出血量[(253.2±247.9) ml对(279.0±183.3) ml,P=0.475]、术后引流时间[(7.7±3.2)天对(9.7±6.3)天,P=0.066]、住院时间[(10.6±4.6)天对(13.0±7.6)天,P=0.063]、并发症发生率(12.5％对21.1％,P=0.171)组间和纵隔淋巴结清扫站数[(3.1±1.2)对(3.3±1.1),P=0.237],差异无统计学意义。Pn0组纵隔淋巴结清扫枚数少于Pn2组[(9.9±6.8)对(12.7±8.4)枚,P=0.038]。结论 术前N0分期术后病理N2分期的非小细胞肺癌患者行全胸腔镜肺叶切除手术是安全可行的。     

肺癌淋巴结转移特点的研究

目的：探讨肺癌淋巴结转移频度、分布及特点，为淋巴结清除术提供依据。方法：按Naruke肺癌淋巴结分布图对348例肺癌病人施行根治性手术及系统性淋巴结清除，分析其淋巴结转移特点。结果：3689组淋巴结N1转移率23．4％，N2转移率16．5％。Tis期肺癌无淋巴结转移；T1期以后各期肺癌N1、N2均可见转移；T1期、T2期鳞癌和腺癌N2转移率相比差异有显著性；淋巴结转移频度与T分期直线相关。肺下叶癌较肺上叶癌更容易转移至纵隔。肺上叶癌较肺下叶癌更容易发生跳跃式纵隔转移。结论：淋巴结转移腺癌比鳞癌活跃，小细胞肺癌最活跃，且随着T分期增加而增加；肺癌可跨区域纵隔转移；除T1期鳞癌不进行系统性淋巴结清除亦有可能达到根治目的外，其余类型肺癌均应进行系统性淋巴结清除。     

Endoscopic ultrasound in lung cancer patients with a normal mediastinum on computed tomography

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is the most common method of staging lung cancer. We have previously shown endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) to be highly accurate in staging patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT scan. In this study we report the accuracy and yield of EUS-FNA in staging patients without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes by CT. METHODS: Patients with NSCLC and CT scan showing no enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes (> 1 cm for all nodes except > 1.2 cm for subcarinal) in the mediastinum underwent EUS. Fine needle aspiration was performed on at least one lymph node, if present, in the upper mediastinum, aortopulmonary window, subcarinal, and periesophagus regions. Each specimen was evaluated with on-site cytopathology and confirmed with complete cytopathologic examination. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were evaluated. Endoscopic ultrasound detected malignant mediastinal lymph nodes in 14 of 69 patients as well as other advanced (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage III/IV) in 3 others (1 left adrenal, and 2 with mediastinal invasion of tumor) for a total of 17 of 69 (25%, 95% confidence interval: 16% to 34%) patients. Eleven additional patients were found to have advanced disease by bronchoscopy (2), mediastinoscopy (2), and thoracotomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection (7). The sensitivity of EUS for advanced mediastinal disease was 61% (49% to 75%), and the specificity was 98% (95% to 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration can detect advanced mediastinal disease and avoid unnecessary surgical exploration in almost one of four patients who have no evidence of mediastinal disease on CT scan. In addition to previously reported results in patients with enlarged lymph nodes on CT, these data suggest that all potentially operable patients with nonmetastatic NSCLC may benefit from EUS staging.     

Peripheral small-sized (2 cm or less) non-small cell lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node metastasis; clinicopathologic features and patterns of nodal spread

Objective: The diagnosis of small-sized (2 cm or less) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has increased with the development of computed tomography (CT), whereas unexpected extensive multiple-level mediastinal involvement has been occasionally detected in this small-sized lung cancer. To establish the optimal surgical strategy, we retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic features, efficacy of preoperative investigations and lobe specific patterns of nodal spread in small-sized NSCLC with mediastinal involvement. Methods: Among 1550 resected lung cancer cases between 1981 and 2000, 267 (17.2%) had peripheral small-sized NSCLC. Of these, 29 patients (10.8%) with mediastinal lymph node involvement who underwent pulmonary resection and systematic nodal dissection were reviewed. Results: Among 29 patients, 27 patients (93.1%) were adenocarcinoma, and 51.7% (15/29) showed no lymph node enlargement on CT (cN0). Surgical pathology revealed multiple-level mediastinal involvement in 65.5% (19/29) of all patients and 60.0% (9/15) of cN0 patients. All of right upper lobe tumors (n=11) showed multiple-level involvement. Thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography (201Tl-SPECT) was positive for increased focal uptake in the mediastinum in 72.7% (8/11) of patients. Conclusions: The vast majority of cases were adenocarcinoma, and two thirds of them showed multiple-level mediastinal involvement, even in cN0 patients. We thus recommend to perform systematic nodal dissection or meticulous sampling for accurate intrathoracic staging, especially for right upper lobe tumor. 201Tl-SPECT appears to be more sensitive preoperative investigation for mediastinal metastasis compared with CT scan.     

T1、T2肺鳞癌及腺癌淋巴结转移特点及其临床意义

目的 研究Ｔ１、Ｔ２肺鳞及腺癌淋巴结转移频度、分布范围及特点,为广泛清扫提供依据。方法 按Ｎａｒｕｋｅ肺癌淋巴结分布图对２５４例Ｔ１、Ｔ２肺鳞癌及腺癌施行了手术切除及广泛肺内、叶间及纵阴淋巴结清扫术并对其进行统计分析。结果 清除淋巴结１６８５组。Ｎ１淋巴结转移率２０．０％,Ｎ２淋巴结转移率为１０．２％。Ｔ１、Ｔ２间淋巴结转移率差异有非常显著性意义（Ｐ〈０．０１）。Ｔ１鳞癌无Ｎ２转移,Ｎ２转移在鳞癌     

Improved staging using intraoperative ultrasound for mediastinal lymphadenectomy in non-small lung cancer surgery

BackgroundExtent of lymph node involvement in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the cornerstone of staging and influences both multimodality treatment and final outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate accuracy and characteristics of intraoperative ultrasound guided systematic mediastinal nodal dissection in patients with resected NSCLC.MethodsFrom January 2008 to June 2013, 244 patients undergoing intraoperative surgical staging after radical surgery for NSCLC were included in prospective study. The patients were divided in two groups according to systematic mediastinal nodal dissection: 124 patients in intraoperative ultrasound nodal dissection guided group and 120 in standard nodal dissection group. The lymph nodes were mapped by their number and station and histopathologic evaluation was performed.ResultsOperating time was prolonged for 10 min in patients with ultrasound guided mediastinal nodal dissection, but number and stations of evaluated lymph nodes were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the same group. Skip nodal metastases were found in 24% of patients without N1 nodal involvement. Twelve (10%) patients were upstaged using US guided mediastinal lymphadenectomy. In US guided group 5-year survival rate was 59% and in the group of standard systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy 43% (p = 0.001) Standard staging system seemed to be improved in ultrasound guided mediastinal lymphadenectomy patients. Complication rate showed no difference between analyzed groups.ConclusionHigher number and location of analyzed mediastinal nodal stations in patients with resected NSCLC using ultrasound is suggested to be of great oncological significance. Our results indicate that intraoperative ultrasound may have important staging implications.     

Does the extent of lymph node dissection influence outcome in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect of the extent of lymph node dissection performed in patients with a stage pI non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We analysed data on 465 patients with stage I NSCLC who were treated with surgical resection and some form of lymph node sampling. The median number of lymph node sampled was 10 and the median number of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node stations sampled was two. We chose to define a procedure that harvested 10 or more lymph nodes and sampled two or more ipsilateral mediastinal stations as a lymphadenectomy, by contrast with sampling when one or both criteria were not satisfied. The effect of the surgical techniques: lymph node sampling (LS; n=207) vs. lymphadenectomy (LA; n=258) on 30-day mortality and overall survival were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 6244 lymph nodes was examined, including 4306 mediastinal lymph nodes. The mean (+/-SD) numbers of removed lymph nodes were 7+/-6.1 per patient following LS vs.18.6+/-9.3 following LA (P=0.001). An average mean of 1+/-0.90 mediastinal lymph node station per patient was sampled following LS vs. 2.7+/-0.8 following LA (P<10(-6)). Overall 30-day mortality rates were 2.4 and 3.1%, respectively. LA was disclosed as a favourable prognosticator at multivariate analysis (Hazard Risk: 1.43; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.00-2.04; P=0.048), together with younger patient age, absence of blood vessels invasion, and smaller tumour size. CONCLUSIONS: Importance of lymph node dissection affects patients outcome, while it does not enhance the operative mortality. A minimum of 10 lymph nodes assessed, and two mediastinal stations sampled are suggested as possible pragmatic markers of the quality of lymphadenectomy.     

Advantages of positron emission tomography over computed tomography in mediastinal staging of non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: New treatment algorithms in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) involving preoperative chemotherapy require accurate clinical staging of the mediastinum. This study compares the accuracy of 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with that of computed tomography (CT) scanning in the clinical staging of non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 52 patients with NSCLC who were evaluated with both CT and PET scans. All patients had their mediastinal lymph nodes sampled by mediastinoscopy or at the time of thoracotomy for pulmonary resection. Each imaging study was evaluated separately and correlated with histopathologic results. RESULTS: For detecting mediastinal metastases the sensitivities of PET and CT scans were 67 and 50%, respectively; specificities were 91 and 65%, respectively; accuracies were 88 and 63%, respectively; positive predictive values were 50 and 16%, respectively; negative predictive values were 95 and 88%, respectively. PET scans were significantly better than CT scans at detecting mediastinal metastases (PET, 4/8; CT, 3/19) (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PET scanning is superior to CT scanning for clinical staging of the mediastinum in NSCLC. A more confident decision regarding stratification of patients into current treatment algorithms can be made when the decision is based on PET scanning rather than the current "gold standard" of CT scanning.     

Complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy: the core component of the multidisciplinary therapy in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

There is a great deal of concern about metastasis of lung cancer to regional lymph nodes, due partly to the work of groups of thoracic surgeons in Japan and North America beginning in the 1970s. The classification of regional lymph node stations for lung cancer staging published by Mountain and Dresler has been widely adopted for more than ten years. Anatomic landmarks for 14 levels of intrapulmonary, hilar, and mediastinal lymph nodes stations are designated. Skip transfer and occult lymph node metastasis, confirmed by studies regarding the mode of spread of intrathoracic lymphatic metastasis, are two theoretical bases for complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy of lung cancer. However, whether or not the degree of the dissection influences prognosis, the role of systematic nodal dissection (SND) vs mediastinal lymph node sampling (MLD) in resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. A systematic literature search was performed to identify relevant reports, making full use of the 'Cited by,' 'Related Records,' 'References,' and 'Author Index' functions in the PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases. This paper presents a review of the role of mediastinal lymph node distribution and methods of determining suitability for hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy based on the four subsets of stage IIIA-N2, balancing the cost vs effect of mediastinal lymph node dissection in resectable NSCLC, focusing on the stage migration bias in clinical trials comparing SND and MLS, recommending a reasonable node dissection sequence, improving the prospects for the perioperative anti-tumor therapy based on mediastinal lymphadenectomy, and evaluating the various preoperative staging techniques. Finally, we believe that, besides the role of complete resection and accurate staging, the complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy is the core component of the lung cancer multidisciplinary therapy, and suggest that the values of lymphadenectomy should be further assessed using decision-tree analysis based on large-scale prospective randomized trials and pooled analysis to evaluate the costs vs effects.