Long-term results of robotic anatomical segmentectomy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer

Objectives: Anatomical segmentectomy is advocated for curative resection in select patients. We investigated the long-term results of robotic anatomical segmentectomy with mediastinal nodal dissection in patients with early-stage lung cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent robotic anatomical segmentectomy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The follow-up data were obtained to determine survival and statistically significant risk factors in both univariable and multivariable models.

Results: Seventy-one patients had clinical stage I NSCLC (36 men, 35 women, mean age 70 ± 12 years). All patients underwent R0 resection. The mean operating time was 134 min. Ten of 71 (14%) patients were upstaged. Eight of 71 (11%) patients were upstaged due to the size of tumour in the pathological specimen, and 2 of 71 (3%) patients were upstaged due to microscopic N2 nodal metastasis. Median hospitalization was 4 days (2-31 days). Complication rate was 29%. There were no complications attributable to the surgical robot. No patient died within 90 days. Mean follow-up was 54 months (range 2 months to 9 years). The overall 5-year survival was 43%, whereas lung cancer-specific 5-year survival was 55%. The 5-year lung cancer-specific survival for pathological stage I disease was 73%. Local or mediastinal recurrence occurred in 4 of 71(5%) patients. Pathological upstaging or recurrence resulted in 0% 5-year survival. The univariable and multivariable analyses showed that advanced age and pathological upstaging were statistically significant risk factors for lung cancer-specific death.

Conclusions: Robotic anatomical segmentectomy with mediastinal nodal dissection is a safe and feasible procedure. Accurate preoperative clinical staging is of critical importance for long-term survival.