The Side of Pneumonectomy Influences Long-Term Survival in Stage I and II Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background The impact of pneumonectomy as an independent factor on long-term survival after lung resection for centrally or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. The aim of this paper is to study the impact of pneumonectomy, and the influence of side of surgery, on long-term survival in patients with pathologic stage I and II NSCLC. Methods A retrospective review of a prospective multi-institutional database of patients operated on for lung cancer was undertaken. In all, 1,475 patients with pathologic stage I or II NSCLC were studied (421 underwent pneumonectomy; 1,054 had a lobectomy/bilobectomy). Survival and impact of side of surgery for pneumonectomy and lesser resection groups were analyzed and compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Median survival was worse after pneumonectomy than after less extensive resections for patients overall (33 versus 57 months) and for those with stage I NSCLC (38 versus 70 months); however, median survival was better after pneumonectomy for stage II left tumors (55 versus 19 months). Pneumonectomy was an independent adverse determinant of survival for both stage I right tumors (p < 0.001) and stage I left tumors (p < 0.001), but was associated with improved survival for stage II left tumors (p = 0.009). Conclusions Pneumonectomy was found to be an independent determinant of survival in patients with stage I and II NSCLC, but results differed for right- and left-sided tumors. Further studies of survival comparing pneumonectomy with lesser resections should differentiate between right and left procedures.