The importance of tumor size in prognosis for resected bronchogenic carcinoma

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Abstract
When case follow‐up continues for 10 years or more after resection for localized bronchogenic carcinoma, the declining curve of relative survival rates levels out on a zero slope, indicating a normal life expectancy for long‐term survivors. This is the cure index. Among patients with tumors under 6 cm diameter, the smaller the tumor the greater the cure index. For tumors no larger then 2 cm, the cure index is about 80 percent; for tumors 2.5–4 cm, the cure index is better than for tumors 4.5–6 cm. Diligence in use of current methods to find and resect smaller lung carcinomas can be worthwhile. If a technological breakthrough lowered the usual limit of radiographic resolution of a tumor from 1 cm to 0.5 cm, there would be a substantial increase in the proportion of patients truly free of disseminated malignancy after resection.

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