Background & objective: There is much controversy on the diagnosis and treatment of metachronous multiple primary lung cancer (MMPLC). Until now, there is no absolutely accurate diagnostic criteria. This study was designed to discuss its diagnosis, and to compare the survival rates after different therapeutic modalities.
Methods: The clinical features of 44 patients with MMPLC admitted to our hospital since 1961 were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: There were 44 patients in this series, which accounted for 0.39% of all patients with lung cancer treated in our hospital. As to the initial cancer and the repeated cancer, they shared the same pathological type in 23 patients, and located on the same side of the lung in 12 patients. Twenty-four patients received operations, including 12 curative patients. The postoperative morbidity and mortality were 33.3% and 8.3%, respectively. The other 20 patients received radiotherapy or/and chemotherapy. The 5-year survival rates of operative group, curative operative group, and non-operative group were 20.8%, 33.4%, and 10.0%, respectively.
Conclusions: Comprehensive consideration of clinical features may lead to a rational diagnosis and treatment strategy, 5-year survival rate of the operative group, especially the curative group, is significantly higher than that of the non-operative group. The repeated operation, especially the second operation on the same side of the lung, should be performed at the qualified institutes and by the experienced doctors.