More on the First Pneumonectomy

Abstract

To the Editor.— As a radiation therapist, I was interested in the discussion in the letters to the editor concerning the operability of bronchogenic carcinoma (233:1165, 1975). Drs Gueldner and Lawrence were commenting on an article by Dr Irwin Stoloff concerning identification of tumor in a stem bronchus as a contraindication for surgical intervention in bronchogenic carcinoma (227:299-301, 1974). Gueldner and Lawrence recalled the case of Drs Graham and Singer (101:1371-1374, 1933) who performed the first pneumonectomy and whose patient lived for 30 years despite positive lymph nodes. It is rarely mentioned by surgeons that Graham and Singer used a radon-seed implant after the one-stage pneumonectomy, which was performed on April 5, 1933, in St Louis. They reported, "... seven radon seeds of 1.5 millicuries each were inserted into various parts of the stump." There has recently been a reawakening of interest in the use of interstitial radiation therapy. It might