[Effects of size of pulmonary adenocarcinoma squamous carcinoma tumor on mediastinal lymphonode metastasis].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between primary tumor size and mediastinal nodal metastases among different cell types in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clarify the cutoff size for a higher likelihood of metastases.

METHODS

Retrospective evaluations were conducted for 1 346 NSCLC patients from January 2005 to January 2006. Primary focus was placed upon cases with primary tumor size < 8.0 cm.

RESULTS

It was shown that 2.0 cm was the critical cutoff size for increased mediastinal nodal metastases in adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01), but not in squamous cell carcinoma (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Tumor size matters differently in pulmonary adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.