Operative mortality and five year survival rates in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma

The operative mortality exceeded the five year survival rate in men aged seventy and over, in patients of both sexes with undifferentiated carcinoma, in players who had exploratory thoracotomy without resection, and in men who had right pneumonectomy.

Abstract

A series of 968 men and 108 women with histologically confirmed lung cancer operated on at twelve teaching hospitals in Philadelphia from 1956 to 1965 were analyzed in regard to operative risk and five year survival rate. Patients who were explored but did not have resection were included in the calculation of rates by age and histologic type of tumor because such patients have a significant operative mortality but no benefit. The operative mortality exceeded the five year survival rate in men aged seventy and over, in patients of both sexes with undifferentiated carcinoma, in patients of both sexes who had exploratory thoracotomy without resection, and in men who had right pneumonectomy. The operative risk was lower and the five year survival rate slightly higher in women than in men.