Abstract
The surgical treatment of lung cancer has got a long tradition at our department. The aim of this work is to evaluate the group of 3 857 patients from the years 1948-1997.
The special analysis has been performed of the group of 1 572 patients from the years 1974-1997 undergoing lung resection. Evaluating our operation policy a strong trend from pneumonectomy to less extensive operations can be found.
The introduction of bronchoplastic operations and modern diagnostic methods has substantially improved the possibility of surgical treatment. Even though it is our duty to provided the surgical treatment to all the patients if the resection is still possible the best results are to be expected in patients in the first stage of disease.
Therefore the early diagnosis followed by adequately sized resection without delay offers the best chance for the patients long term survival.