Surgical treatment for bilateral multiple lung cancers]

We reviewed 21 patients with bilateral multiple bronchogenic carcinomas. Eleven of them had synchronous carcinomas and 10 had metachronous carcinomas. We treated 6 patients with lobectomy and wedge resection under median sternotomy synchronously, and 2 patients with lobectomy on both lungs under standard thoracotomy, 2 patients with lobectomy and wedge resection, 1 patient with segmentectomy on both lung, 1 patient with lobectomy and segmentectomy, 1 patient with pneumonectomy and wedge resection, and 8 patients with lobectomy and thoracoscopic wedge resection on each lung metachronously. Two patients who had lobectomy on both lungs were dead, one of whom of pulmonary edema 2 weeks after second operation and the other of respiratory failure 3 years after second operation. We concluded that lobectomy on both lungs are not recommended because of high mortality rate (10%) and the limited resection under thoracoscopic surgery should be considered to treat the other contra lateral primary lung cancers.     

Subsequent pulmonary resection for bronchogenic carcinoma after pneumonectomy

BACKGROUND: Patients who have undergone a pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma are at risk of cancer in the contralateral lung. Little information exists regarding the outcome of subsequent lung operation for lung cancer after pneumonectomy. METHODS: The records of all patients who underwent lung resection after pneumonectomy for lung cancer from January 1980 through July 2001 were reviewed. RESULTS: There were 24 patients (18 men and 6 women). Median age was 64 years (range, 43 to 84 years). Median preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 1.47 L (range, 0.66 to 2.55 L). Subsequent pulmonary resection was performed 2 to 213 months after pneumonectomy (median, 23 months). Wedge excision was performed in 20 patients, segmentectomy in 3, and lobectomy in 1. Diagnosis was a metachronous lung cancer in 14 patients and metastatic lung cancer in 10. Complications occurred in 11 patients (44.0%), and 2 died (operative mortality, 8.3%). Median hospitalization was 7 days (range, 2 to 72 days). Follow-up was complete in all patients and ranged between 6 and 140 months (median, 37 months). Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivals were 87%, 61%, and 40%, respectively. Five-year survival of patients undergoing resection for a metachronous lung cancer (50%) was better than the survival of patients who underwent resection for metastatic cancer (14%; p = 0.14). Five-year survival after a solitary wedge excision was 46% compared with 25% after a more extensive resection (p = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Limited pulmonary resection of the contralateral lung after pneumonectomy is associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Long-term survival is possible, especially in patients with a metachronous cancer. Solitary wedge excision is the treatment of choice.     

Cancer Resection on the Residual Lung After Pneumonectomy for Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Background. After pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma, the residual lung may be the site of a new lung cancer or metastatic spread.

Methods. From 1989 to 1995, 13 patients with carcinoma on the residual lung after pneumonectomy for lung cancer were operated on. Three segmentectomies and 7 simple wedge resections were performed, 2 patients had multiple wedge resections, and 1 patient had an exploratory thoracotomy. Nine patients had a primary metachronous bronchogenic carcinoma, 3 had metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma, and no definite conclusion was reached in 1 case.

Results. No postoperative mortality was observed. Four patients had postoperative complications. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 14 days. Seven patients are alive, including 5 patients without evidence of disease. Six patients died of their disease, all with pulmonary recurrences. The overall median survival was 19 months, with a probability of survival at 3 years (Kaplan-Meier) of 46% (95% confidence interval, 22% to 73%).

Conclusions. Limited pulmonary resection for lung cancer after pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma is feasible with very low morbidity. In highly selected patients, surgical resection might prolong survival.     

Reoperation for recurrent bronchogenic carcinoma

From a total of 869 patients primarily operated on for bronchogenic carcinoma, nine underwent a second operation for recurrence of the tumour. The median interval between the operations was 16 months. In four patients the second operation consisted of resection of ipsilateral residual lung after primary segmental resection or lobectomy. One patient underwent contralateral pneumonectomy after primary segmental resection. In the four remaining cases a contralateral lobectomy or segmental resection was performed after primary lobectomy. Four of the nine patients are still alive but, after a short observation time, only two are tumour-free. On the basis of these findings we cannot recommend reoperation for bronchogenic carcinoma, except in very rare, individually selected cases.     

Multiple primary lung cancers. Results of surgical treatment

During a 13-year period, multiple primary lung cancers were diagnosed in 80 consecutive patients. Forty-four patients had metachronous cancers. The initial pulmonary resection was lobectomy in 36 patients, bilobectomy in 3, pneumonectomy in 1, and wedge excision or segmentectomy in 4. The second pulmonary resection was lobectomy in 16 patients, bilobectomy in 2, completion pneumonectomy in 7, and wedge excision or segmentectomy in 19. There were two 30-day operative deaths (mortality rate, 4.5%). Actuarial 5- and 10-year survival rates after the first pulmonary resection for stage I disease were 55.2% and 27.0%, respectively. Five-year and 10-year survival rates for stage I disease after the second pulmonary resection were 41.0% and 31.5%, respectively. The remaining 36 patients had synchronous cancers. The pulmonary resection was lobectomy in 18 patients, bilobectomy in 3, pneumonectomy in 10, and wedge excision or segmentectomy in 8. There were two 30-day operative deaths (mortality rate, 5.6%). Actuarial overall 5- and 10-year survival rates after pulmonary resection were 15.7% and 13.8%, respectively. We conclude that an aggressive surgical approach is safe and warranted in most patients with multiple primary lung cancers and that the presence of synchronous primary cancers is ominous.     

Second primary bronchogenic carcinoma: life-table analysis of surgical treatment.

Twelve patients had curative resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Eleven to 84 months later, a second primary bronchogenic carcinoma was discovered and was operated on. Six patients underwent wedge resection, while the others had a lobectomy or pneumonectomy. There was no operative mortality. Two patients survived longer than 5 years. In addition to these patients, 26 patients who also had successive surgical resections for primary lung cancers were collected from the literature. Two operative deaths were related to respiratory insufficiency. Life-table analysis of this accumulated series of 38 patients revealed the survival rate 1 year after the resection of a second tumor to be 70%, and 2 and 3 years later, 55% and 27%, respectively. Thus, in patients in whom a second primary carcinoma of the lung develops, successive resections tailored to preserve respiratory reserve are compatible with low operative mortality and, in some instances, long-term survival.     

Late outcome and perioperative complications for surgery of locally recurrent bronchogenic carcinoma

AIM: Many doubts involve a 2(nd) surgical approach for local relapse of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) since iterative resections represent a well-recognized treatment in second primary lung cancer (SPLC). METHODS: The medical reports of patients who underwent surgical resection, between 1988 and 2002, were reviewed. All patients submitted to 2(nd) operation were examined according to Martini and Melamed criteria to distinguish between local recurrence and second primary lung cancer. RESULTS: Complete resection for NSCLC was performed in 1 386 patients. Nineteen patients were submitted to surgery for local recurrence (17 men and 2 women) and mean age at the time of 1(st) operation was 61 years (range 41-78 years). The 1(st) operation consisted of lobectomy in 15 cases, anatomical segmentectomy in 2 and wedge resection in 2. The 2(nd) pulmonary resection was completion pneumonectomy in 16 cases, completion lobectomy in 2, wedge resection in 1. Major complications occurred in 26% and overall hospital mortality was 5%. Five-year survival after 2(nd) intervention was 31% and median survival 27 months. Survival was better when the time between 1(st) resection and cancer relapse was longer than 14 months and when recurrence was intrapulmonary. CONCLUSIONS: A new malignant lesion can be operated if it is solitary and intrapulmonary, if accurate staging is negative and if the patient is able to go through 2(nd) surgery from cardiopulmonary evaluation.     

Completion pneumonectomy in cancer patients: experience with 55 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of a single institution experience with completion pneumonectomy. METHODS: From 1989 to 2002, 55 consecutive cancer patients received completion pneumonectomy (mean age 62 years; 25-79). Indications were bronchogenic carcinoma in 38 patients (4 first cancers, 8 recurrent cancers, 26 second cancers), lung metastases in three (one each from breast cancer, colorectal neoplasm and lung cancer), lung sarcoma in one, and miscellaneous non-malignant conditions in 13 patients having been surgically treated for a non-small cell lung cancer previously (bronchopleural fistula in 4, radionecrosis in 3, aspergilloma in 2, pachypleura in 1, massive hemoptysis in 1 and pneumonia in 2). Before completion pneumonectomy, 50 patients had had a lobectomy, three a bilobectomy, and two lesser resections. The mean interval between the two procedures was 51 months for the whole group (1-469), 60 months for lung cancer (12-469), 43 months for pulmonary metastases (21-59) and 29 months for non-malignant disorders (1-126). RESULTS: There were 35 right (64%) and 20 left (36%) resections. The surgical approaches were a posterolateral thoracotomy in 50 cases (91%) and a lateral thoracotomy in five cases (9%). Intrapericardial route was used in 49 patients (89%). Five patients had an extended resection (2 chest wall, 1 diaphragm, 1 subclavian artery and 1 superior vena cava). Operative mortality was 16.4% (n=9): 11.9% for malignant disease (n=5) and 30.8% for benign disease (n=4) Operative mortality was 20% for right completion pneumonectomies (n=7) and 10% for left-sided procedures (n=2) Twenty-three patients (42%) experienced non-fatal major complications. Actuarial 3- and 5-year survival rates from the time of completion pneumonectomy were 48.4 and 35.2% for the entire group. Three- and five-year survival for patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were 56.9 and 43.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that completion pneumonectomy in the setting of lung malignancies can be done with an operative risk similar to the one reported for standard pneumonectomy. In contrast, in cancer patients, completion pneumonectomy for inflammatory disorders is a very high-risk procedure.     

Concomitant cardiac and pulmonary operations

From 1965 through 1983, 43 patients underwent concomitant cardiac and pulmonary procedures at our institution. Most patients presented with cardiac symptoms and were incidentally found to have a roentgenographically indeterminate lung nodule. The pulmonary diagnosis of 38 patients was unknown preoperatively, and nine of these had a malignant lesion. All 43 cardiac procedures necessitated extracorporeal circulation. Thirty-one patients had benign pulmonary disease, 10 had bronchogenic carcinoma, and two had metastatic carcinoma. Concomitant pulmonary procedures were performed via median sternotomy and included single wedge resections in 32 patients, lobectomy in seven, multiple wedge resections in three, and pneumonectomy in one. Most resections were performed either before or after institution of bypass, without systemic anticoagulation. Of the two operative deaths (4.6%), one was related to intraparenchymal pulmonary hemorrhage after multiple wedge resections during anticoagulation. Thus, pulmonary resections performed during anticoagulation may be associated with increased risk and probably should be avoided. The second death was cardiac in origin and not related to pulmonary resection. The remaining patients recovered uneventfully. Definitive correction of both cardiac and pulmonary disease can be performed at one operation via a single incision with safety and benefit to the carefully selected patient.     

Surgical management of metachronous bronchial carcinoma

Objective: To assess the results of surgery for the treatment of metachronous bronchial carcinoma. Methods: From 1985 to 1999, 38 patients were operated on for a metachronous lung carcinoma, accordingly to the criteria of Martini. All tumors were staged using the new International Classification System revised in 1997. Results: Diagnosis of the second cancer was done at radiological follow-up in 30 asymptomatic patients. Seventeen metachronous locations were ipsilateral. Histology of the metachronous lesion was the same as that of the first tumour in 23 patients (60%). The first resection was a lobectomy (n=35), a pneumonectomy (n=2) and a carinal resection (n=1). The second one was a wedge resection (n=7), a segmentectomy (n=3), a lingulectomy (n=2), a lobectomy (n=9), a bilobectomy (n=1), and a pneumonectomy (n=16). There were five in-hospital deaths (13%). Completion pneumonectomy was performed in 15 patients, with one postoperative death (7%). The overall estimated 5 and 10-years actuarial survival rates from the treatment of the first cancer were 70 and 47% respectively. The 5-year survival rate after the treatment of the second cancer was 32% (median survival: 31 months), including the operative mortality. Survival was negatively affected by a resection interval of less than 2 years and the performance of atypical lung sparing pulmonary resection for the treatment of the second cancer. Conclusions: Good long-term results are achievable by the means of a second pulmonary resection in selected patients with metachronous lung cancer. Optimal cancer operations should be applied whenever functionally possible.     

Pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal cancer: factors influencing prognosis. Twenty-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed our experience in the surgical management of 80 patients with colorectal pulmonary metastases and investigated factors affecting survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1980 to December 2000, 80 patients, 43 women and 37 men with median age 63 years (range 38-79 years) underwent 98 open surgical procedure (96 muscle-sparing thoracotomy, one clamshell and one median sternotomy) for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (three pneumonectomy, 17 lobectomy, seven lobectomy plus wedge resection, six segmentectomy, three segmentectomy plus wedge resection and 62 wedge resection). Pulmonary metastases were identified at a median interval of 37.5 months (range 0-167) from primary colorectal resection. Second and third resections for recurrent metastases were done in seven and in four patients, respectively. RESULTS: Operative mortality rate was 2%. Overall, 5-year survival was 41.1%. Five-year survival was 43.6% for patients submitted to single metastasectomy and 34% for those submitted to multiple ones. Five-year survival was 55% for patients with disease-free interval (DFI) of 36 months or more, 38% for those with DFI of 0-11 months and 22.6% for those with DFI of 12-35 months (P=0.04). Five-year survival was 58.2% for patients with normal preoperative carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels and 0% for those with pathologic ones (P=0.0001). Patients submitted to second-stage operation for recurrent local disease had 5-year survival rate of 50 vs. 41.1% of those submitted to single resection (P=0.326). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal cancer may help survival in selected patients. Single metastasis, DFI>36 months, normal preoperative CEA levels are important prognostic factors. When feasible, re-operation is a safe procedure with satisfactory long-term results.     

Reconstruction and its prognosis in patients undergoing resection of tracheal bifurcation

Seventeen resections of tracheal bifurcation were performed: 12 for bronchogenic carcinoma, 2 for primary neoplasm of the trachea, one each for pulmonary sarcoma, inflammatory lesion and metastatic thyroid carcinoma. We performed carinal reconstruction in eight patients, sleeve pneumonectomy in eight patients and wedge pneumonectomy in one. In patients undergoing carinal reconstruction, there were 2 operative deaths and six patients survived over five years after the operation. However, in patients undergoing sleeve (wedge) pneumonectomy, there were 3 operative deaths, four patients died from 3 months to 7 months, and only two patients survived 5 years after the operation. Carinal resection with pneumonectomy had poorer prognosis than carinal reconstruction.     

Sleeve lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer

Sleeve lobectomy is a procedure in which the involved lobe with part of the main stembronchus is removed. The remaining lobe (s) is reimplanted on the main stembronchus. This procedure is indicated for central tumors of the lung as an alternative to pneumonectomy. It is the aim of this study to describe the technique of sleeve lobectomy and to analyse the early postoperative results and late results (survival-recurrence) after sleeve lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 1999, 77 sleeve lobectomies for bronchogenic carcinoma were performed at the University hospitals Leuven. The most common performed sleeve lobectomy is the right upper lobe sleeve lobectomy (67.5%). In 6 patients a combined sleeve resection of the pulmonary artery was performed. The operative mortality was 3.9%. Two patients developed a broncho-pleural fistula. The five-year survival rate was 45.6%. In 5 patients, an anastomotic suture developed which required a completion pneumonectomy in 2. Thirteen patients developed local tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION: We conclude that sleeve lobectomy can be performed with an acceptable mortality and morbidity. Long term survival rate and recurrence rate are as good as after pneumonectomy. The operative mortality is lower when compared to pneumonectomy, exercise tolerance and quality of life are much better after sleeve lobectomy compared to pneumonectomy. For central tumours we believe that sleeve resection is the procedure of choice.     

Carinal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of carinal resection for bronchogenic carcinoma in our institute. From 1981 to 1999, 24 carinal resection were performed for squamous cell carcinoma (n = 19), adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 2), small cell carcinoma (n = 1), adenocarcinoma (n = 1), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 1). Nineteen underwent sleeve pneumonectomy, 2 had carinal resection without lung resection, 2 had carinal resection with right middle and lower lobectomy, and 1 had wedge pneumonectomy. In the patients with sleeve or wedge pneumonectomy, there were 5 operative death and 3 patients had survived for more than 3 years. Two patients with low-grade malignant tumors underwent carinal resection without lung resection and survived more than 10 years. We believe that limited carinal resection for low-grade malignant tumors are safe and valuable procedure. Careful selection of patients with sleeve or wedge pneumonectomy is mandatory.     

余肺切除治疗肺部疾患临床分析

目的探讨余肺切除的手术适应证、手术方法、并发症防治和远期疗效。方法回顾1985年1月至2006年8月进行的24例余肺切除[占同期全肺切除的2．3％（24／1026）]患者的临床资料。余肺切除距第1次肺切除的时间为5．5个月-30年,平均65个月;肺癌复发患者间隔时间为术后5．5个月～10年,平均32个月。手术历时4-7h,平均5．5h;术中失血300-3000ml,平均1270ml。结果手术切除23例,切除率为95．8％。术后并发症发生率及住院死亡率分别为29．2％（7／24）和4．2％（1／24）。术后病理诊断为支气管扩张症2例、原发性肺癌4例、复发性肺癌18例。术后随访率为91．7％（22／24）。肺癌余肺切除患者的1、3、5年生存率分别为77．3％（17／22）、50．0％（9／18）和29．4％（5／17）;其中复发性肺癌患者余肺切除术后的1、3、5年生存率为72．2％（13／18）、47．1％（8／17）和29．4％（5／17）。结论严格选择患者,术中精细操作,做好围手术期并发症的防治,余肺切除可有效延长患者的生存期。     

Pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy

Patients who have a lung cancer in the residual lung after pneumonectomy should not be automatically excluded for surgical consideration. These patients should be carefully staged and evaluated physiologically. The most important initial differentiation is to distinguish a true second primary lung cancer from metastatic recurrent lung cancer. Meticulous staging with chest CT, PET, brain MRI, and mediastinoscopy should be able to successfully exclude metastatic disease, multifocal disease, or locally advanced tumors. Only patients who have stage I disease are candidates for this type of extended resection. Ideally, these patients should have small peripheral tumors that can be encompassed with a low-volume wedge resection. More extended resections, such as segmentectomy or right middle lobectomy, may be considered in some patients but seem to bear a higher operative morbidity and mortality. The need for an upper or lower lobectomy after contralateral pneumonectomy is probably an absolute contraindication to surgical resection. To tolerate pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy, and to obtain the desired survival benefit, patients should have a good to excellent performance status, no serious comorbidities, and a ppoFEV1 greater than 1.0 L/second. In these highly selected patients, pulmonary resection after pneumonectomy can be accomplished with an acceptable operative morbidity and mortality and, in true cases of metachronous second primary lung cancers, may achieve a 5-year survival rate of up to 50%.     

Reoperation for bronchial carcinoma.

After a primary operation for bronchial carcinoma, 17 patients underwent reoperation for local recurrence or intrathoracic metastasis (nine squamous cell, five alveolar cell, and three adenocarcinomas). The average interval between the first and second operation was 23 months (range: six to 48 months). Twelve patients had a pneumonectomy after an initial ipsilateral lobectomy. Five patients underwent contralateral wedge excision after initial lobectomy or wedge excision. Three patients died within 30 days of the reoperation. Eight of the remaining 14 patients died subsequently, the time of survival averaging 18 months (range: three to 54 months). Six patients are still alive, two having survived their reoperation for more than five years. Reoperation for recurrent bronchial carcinoma is rarely performed, but it should be considered in all cases where patients survive operation for lung cancer if the primary operation was thought to be radical.     

Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Sleeve lobectomy is a procedure in which the involved lobe with part of the main stembronchus is removed. The remaining lobe (s) is reimplanted on the main stembronchus. This procedure is indicated for central tumors of the lung as an altemative to pneumonectomy. It is the aim of this study to describe the technique of sleeve lobectomy and to analyse the early postoperative results and late results (survival-recurrence) after sleeve lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Material and methods: Between 1985 and 1999, 77 sleeve lobectomies for bronchogenic carcinoma were performed at the University hospitals Leuven. The most common performed sleeve lobectomy is the right upper lobe sleeve lobectomy (67,5%). In 6 patients a combined sleeve resection of the pulmonary artery was performed. The operative mortality was 3,9%. Two patients developed a broncho-pleural fistula. The five-year survival rate was 45,6%. In 5 patients, an anastomotic suture developed which required a completion pneumonectomy in 2. Thirteen patients developed local tumor recurrence.

Conclusion: We conclude that sleeve lobectomy can be performed with an acceptable mortality and morbidity. Long term survival rate and recurrence rate are as good as after pneumonectomy. The operative mortality is lower when compared to pneumonectomy, exercise tolerance and quality of life are much better after sleeve lobectomy compared to pneumonectomy. For central tumours we believe that sleeve resection is the procedure of choice.     

Lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma after pneumonectomy: a safe and worthwhile procedure.

OBJECTIVES: Patients treated surgically for lung cancer can develop either a metachronous cancer or a recurrence. The appearance of a new cancer on the remaining lung after a pneumonectomy poses unique treatment problems, and surgery is often considered contraindicated. We report on the outcome of resections for lung cancer after pneumonectomy performed for lung cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients who underwent a resection of bronchogenic carcinoma on the remaining lung from 1990 to 2002. RESULTS: There were 14 patients (13 males and 1 female) with a median age of 64 years (range 51-74). Median preoperative Fev1 was 1.45 (range 1.35-2.23), corresponding to 59% of predicted Fev1 (range 46-80%). Resection was performed between 11 and 264 months after pneumonectomy (median 35.5). The resections performed were: one wedge resection in 11 patients, two wedge resections in two patients and two segmentectomies in two other patients; one patient underwent a third resection. Diagnosis was metachronous cancer in 12 patients and metastasis in two patients. Complications occurred in three patients (21%), while operative mortality was nil. Mean hospital stay was 10.5 days (6-25). Two patients received chemotherapy (one after local recurrence, one after the third resection). Overall 1, 3 and 5 year survivals were 57, 46 and 30%, respectively (median 21 months). For patients with a metachronous cancer they were 69, 55 and 37% (median 57 months), respectively, while neither patient with a metastatic tumor survived 1 year (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Limited lung resection on a single lung is a safe procedure associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with a metachronous lung cancer, long-term survival with a good quality of life can be obtained with limited resection on the residual lung.     

Surgery for intrathoracic recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer

In this study, we defined a solitary lung nodle in the same histology which could be traced its' origin from carcinoma in situ or was found over than two years' follow up as a second primary lung cancer. These cases were excluded. Eighteen cases underwent second surgery for intrathoracic recurrence. Fourteen cases were male and four cases were female. Their ages ranged from 23 to 75 (average 59.6) years. The histology were adenocarcinoma in 9 cases, squamouscarcinoma in 7, adenosquamous carcinoma in 1, large cell carcinoma in 1. The initial surgical procedures were lobectomy in 17, partial resection in 1. The initial stage were I in 13, II in 2, IIIA in 1. Pulmonary recurrence were found in 10, bronchial stump recurrence were found in 4, pulmonary hilus lymph node recurrence were found in 2, mediastinal lymph node recurrence were found in 2, pulmonary stump recurrence was found in 1. The second surgical procedures were completion pneumonectomy in 7, completion lobectomy in 1, lobectomy with segmentectomy in 1, segmentectomy or partial resection in 7, mediastinal dissection in 2. The overall 5-year survival rate of the patients with recurrence after reoperation was 31.8%. An aggressive surgical approach for recurrent lung cancer should be recommended.