The Role of Surgical Treatment in Second Primary Lung Cancer

Background. This study was designed to assess the treatment of patients in whom a second primary lung cancer developed after the resection of primary lung cancer. Methods. Between January 1990 and December 2008, 1852 patients underwent complete resection for primary lung cancer in our institution. Of these individuals, patients who had been identified as having a second primary lung cancer by December 2009 were selected for this study using the criteria proposed by Martini and Melamed. Results. Of 1852 patients, a second primary lung cancer developed in 40 (2.2%) during the follow-up period. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates after the resection of the first tumor were 78.3% and 39.9%, respectively. The overall 5-year survival rate from the time of detection of the second primary lung cancer was 47.8%, and the 5-year survival rate of the patients who underwent resection of the second tumor was 77.0%. The patients who underwent sublobar resection had comparable overall survival and disease-free survival compared with the patients who underwent anatomic resection. Additionally, the patients who underwent sublobar resection had a better operative outcome. Conclusions. Surgical resection is feasible and effective in the management of second primary lung cancer, and sublobar resection may be adequate. Long-term surveillance of more than 5 years is essential for early detection to increase the chance of resection of a second primary lung cancer. (Ann Thorac Surg 2011;92:256-63) (C) 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons