Results of initial surgery and postoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of 104 small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were reported. The overall resectability rate was 84.6%. Operative modes include pneumonectomy in 16 cases, regular lobectomy (bilobectomy) in 62, and sleeve lobectomy in 10. There was no resection mortality. The clinical TNM staging was: stage I in 77 cases, stage II in 19, stage III a in 8. The pathological TNM staging was: stage II in 45 cases, stage I in 32, stage III a in 25, stage III b in 1, and stage IV in 1. A total of 54 cases was incorrectly staged, of which 46 cases were clinically understaged while 8 cases were overstaged. The follow-up rate reached 94.9%. The overall 5-yr survival rate was 27.5%. The modes of resection, surgica pathological staging and postoperative chemotherapy are three factors possibly related to long-term survival. The 5-yr survival rate for lobectomy and pneumonectomy was 30.9% and 12.5%, that for stage I, II, III was 33.3%, 14.3%, and 33.3%. The 5-yr survival rate with and without postoperative chemotherapy was 32.4% and 16.7%. The results suggest that for SCLC surgery is indicated in T3N0 and T3N1 among stoge I, II and III a patients. Correct preoperative staging and postoperative chemotherapy are indispensable for better prognosis.