Extended sleeve lobectomy for interlobar lymph node metastasis invading the bronchus from peripheral lung cancer

Although extended sleeve lobectomy has been used as an alternative to pneumonectomy for the treatment of centrally located lung cancer, the validity of this surgical procedure is unclear in patients with peripheral lung cancer with interlobar lymph node metastasis invading the bronchus. We herein report four patients with peripheral lung cancer in the left lower lobe who underwent extended sleeve lobectomy consequent to interlobar lymph node metastasis. The tumor and metastasized lymph node was extirpated en bloc with division of the main bronchus and upper division bronchus, and those bronchi were anastomosed using the telescope method. All patients were doing well without recurrence. Extended sleeve lobectomy may be applicable to patients with peripheral lung cancer with interlobar lymph node metastasis invading the bronchus to avoid pneumonectomy. © 2011 The Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery.