Outcomes of Sublobar Resection for the Patients with a Metachronous Multiple Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES In order to perform appropriate treatment for metachronous multiple lung cancer, it is important to verify the surgical treatment outcome. We evaluated the surgical outcome of metachronous multiple lung cancer focused on the sublobar resection of metachronous second lung cancer. METHODS The subjects of this study were 1,513 cases that underwent radical resection for primary lung cancer in our institution from January 2004 to April 2020. We selected 23 (1.5%) patients who underwent lobectomy for initial primary lung cancer and underwent sublobar resection for metachronous second lung cancer. RESULTS The median follow-up period from resection for initial primary lung cancer to resection for metachronous second lung cancer was 49 months. Regarding the analyses for survival, the median follow-up period after resection for initial primary lung cancer was 79 months with a five-year overall survival rate of 80.4% and a five-year relapse-free survival rate of 75.6%. Whereas the median follow-up period after resection for metachronous second lung cancer was 27 months with a five-year overall survival rate of 55.8% and a five-year relapse-free survival rate was 48.4%. CONCLUSIONS The long-term outcome for sublobar resection for metachronous second lung cancer was similar to previous reports and the rate of complications tended to be low.