Effects of a simple intraoperative intrathoracic hyperthermotherapy for lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion or dissemination.

We examined the effect of a simple intraoperative intrathoracic hyperthermotherapy (IIH) and a simple intraoperative intrathoracic hyperthermo-chemotherapy (IIHC) on malignant pleural effusion and/or dissemination with primary non-small lung cancer. This study included 19 patients who had malignant pleural effusion and/or dissemination recognized for the first time at the time of surgery. We performed surgical procedures on the primary lesions and then the additional therapies followed. Seven patients received IIH (group A), five patients underwent IIHC (group B), and seven patients did not have any additional therapy (group C). There was no death during the follow-up period (9-35 months) in the group A. The median survival time was 41 months in the group B and 25 months in the group C. The group A was completely free of pleural effusion and one patient in the group B suffered from pleural effusion 26 months after surgery, although the median term of freedom from pleural effusion was three months in the group C. In patients with malignant pleural effusion and/or dissemination with primary non-small lung cancer, not only IIHC but also IIH might be beneficial in the prevention of pleural effusion instead of the improvement in prognosis.