Surgical resection of small cell lung cancer

SCLC has usually metastasized by the time of presentation. Extensive disease is present in more than 60% of patients. Systemic chemotherapy is the main treatment, with response rates of 70% but cure rates of less than 5%. Surgery is an option in fewer than 5% of these patients, who have a small primary and no evidence of spread. There are some recently published series which demonstrate that in early stage SCLC patients (Stage I - IIIA) a high local control rate can be achieved and this might subsequently result in favorable long term results. An intensive preoperative staging including mediastmoscopy is extremely important in order to identify suitable patients.