Characteristics and prognosis of patients after resection of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma measuring 2 cm or less in greatest dimension

Abstract

The preoperative level of serum CEA and vascular vessel invasion by tumor cells were found to be independent prognostic factors that were as significant as the well established determinant of pathologic stage for patients with a nonsmall cell lung carcinoma measuring < or = 2 cm in greatest dimension. These data may contribute to the explanation of the lower-than-expected survival of patients after complete surgical resection of such a small-sized tumor.