Emphysema as a risk factor for the outcome of surgical resection of lung cancer

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 1146 - 1151
• Main Authors: Lee, Sung Ah, Sun, Joo Sung, Park, Joo Hun, Park, Kyung Joo, Lee, Sung Soo, Choi, Ho, Sheen, Seung Soo, Chung, Woo Young, Lee, Keu Sung, Park, Kwang Joo, Hwang, Sung Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 01-08-2010; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Body Mass Index; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - complications; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - mortality; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - surgery; Emphysema - complications; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Original; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Smoking; Survival Rate; 의학일반; Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma; Emphysema; Surgery
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.8.1146

It is unclear whether emphysema, regardless of airflow limitation, is a predictive factor associated with survival after lung cancer resection. Therefore, we investigated whether emphysema was a risk factor associated with the outcome after resection for lung cancer. This study enrolled 237 patients with non small cell lung cancer with stage I or II who had surgical removal. Patient outcome was analyzed based on emphysema. Emphysema was found in 43.4% of all patients. Patients with emphysema were predominantly men and smokers, and had a lower body mass index than the patients without emphysema. The patients without emphysema (n=133) survived longer (mean 51.2+/-3.0 vs. 40.6+/-3.1 months, P=0.042) than those with emphysema (n=104). The univariate analysis showed a younger age, higher FEV(1)/FVC, higher body mass index, cancer stage I, and a lower emphysema score were significant predictors of better survival. The multivariate analysis revealed a younger age, higher body mass index, and cancer stage I were independent parameters associated with better survival, however, emphysema was not. This study suggests that unfavorable outcomes after surgical resection of lung cancer should not be attributed to emphysema itself.