Lung cancer resection rate in south Manchester: is it comparable to international standards? Results of a prospective tracking study

Abstract

The UK has been reported to have the lowest resection and survival rates for lung cancer patients. These reports were based largely on retrospective data from the cancer registry and are now outdated. To monitor the present day surgical resection rate at our institution all newly diagnosed cases of lung cancer presenting to us were enrolled into a prospective tracking study. From September 2003 to March 2005 all suspected primary lung cancer referrals to the North West Lung Centre were tracked to identify patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. The histology of 247 patients confirmed to be new lung cancer cases were small cell (SCLC), non-small cell (NSCLC) and mixed cancers in 33 (16%), 170 (83.5%) and 1 (0.5%) patients, respectively, while 43 patients had no histological confirmation. Overall, 43 patients (17%) underwent surgery while chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used in 91 (38%) and 43 (17%), respectively. Out of 170 confirmed NSCLC patients, 43 (25%), 65 (38%) and 27 (16%) patients underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively. The remaining 35 (20%) did not receive any treatment because of patient wishes or poor condition. The surgical resection rates were 17% for all lung cancers and 25% for NSCLC. Current surgical resection rates at the South Manchester University Hospital are comparable to international standards. Similar data from the rest of the UK are required to determine the national resection rate, which may not be as low as once thought to be.