Extended Pulmonary Resection for T4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Abstract. T4 non-small cell lung cancer is a locally advanced disease with poor prognosis. The operation can be challenging even for an experienced surgeon. N2 disease has been shown repeatedly as a risk factor for poor outcome, and these patients should not be candidates for surgical treatment. Surgery for locally advanced T4 tumors without mediastinal lymph node involvement (T4N0 and T4N1) has been demonstrated to result in good outcomes in carefully selected patients. Patients with T4N0–1M0 should be rejected for surgery only after consulting an expert surgical center. As with other stages, the decision for resectability and surgery should be made by a multidisciplinary team.