Adenocarcinoma of the lung surgery

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shanshan Cen, M.D. [2]

Surgery

Surgery may be used to treat non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is used to potentially cure the cancer by completely removing the tumour. Surgery is rarely offered if the tumour cannot be completely removed. Evaluation before surgery

Diagnostic tests for non–small cell lung cancer help the surgeon plan the surgery. They help doctors determine whether or not the tumour can be removed with surgery.

   resectable
       The tumour can be completely removed (resected) during surgery.
       Tissue around the tumour and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed.
    unresectable
       The tumour cannot be removed by surgery.
       Tumours are considered unresectable if:
           they are too large to completely remove
           the cancer has spread to certain mediastinal lymph nodes, other organs near the lungs or to distant sites
           there is pleural effusion or pericardial effusion
           pericardial effusion
           An abnormal buildup of fluid in the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart). present

Because surgery to treat non–small cell lung cancer is a major operation, the person needs to be in good overall health and be able to tolerate surgery. Unfortunately, most people with non–small cell lung cancer have other serious medical conditions. Lung and heart function tests are done to make sure that people are healthy enough to have surgery and that they will have enough lung function after surgery.

   Surgery is offered to people who have a low risk of developing shortness of breath after surgery.
   Some people are at high risk of poor lung function and shortness of breath after surgery. Before surgery is offered to these people, the healthcare team will discuss the benefits of surgery and quality of life after surgery.
   If the person is not well enough to have surgery, the tumour is considered inoperable.

Lung surgery is done through an incision between the ribs on the side of the chest (thoracotomy). The ribs are spread so the surgeon can reach the lung.

The type of surgery done depends on the size and location of the tumour and how far it has spread within the lung. Side effects of surgery depend on the type of surgical procedure.

Back to top Wedge or segmental resection

A wedge or segmental resection removes the tumour along with a margin of healthy lung tissue. A segmental resection removes more tissue than a wedge resection.

A wedge or segmental resection may be offered for very early stage non–small cell lung cancer to preserve as much lung function as possible. These procedures may also be done in people with more advanced non–small cell lung cancer who may have poor lung function after surgery.

Wedge or segmental resection may also be done for a single tumour that has spread to the lung from other parts of the body (lung metastases).

Back to top Lobectomy

A lobectomy is the removal of the lobe of the lung that has the tumour.

A bilobectomy is the removal of 2 lobes of the right lung, which has 3 lobes. This surgery may be done if the tumour has spread into 2 joining lobes. The upper and middle lobes or the middle and lower lobes may be removed during a bilobectomy.

Back to top Pneumonectomy

A pneumonectomy is the removal of a whole lung during surgery. This surgery is done if the tumour has spread either:

   across both lobes of the left lung
   to the hilum of the lung

There are more complications with pneumonectomy when the right lung (the larger lung) is removed.

Back to top Extended pulmonary resection

Extended pulmonary resection is used to treat tumours that have spread to the chest wall, diaphragm diaphragm The thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen., nerves, blood vessels or other tissues near the lung. During surgery, a complete section (en bloc) of the surrounding tissue is removed to try to take out as much of the cancer as possible.

Back to top Sleeve resection

A sleeve resection is used to treat tumours in the large bronchus of the lung. The tumour is removed from the bronchus, along with a margin of healthy tissue on either side of the tumour. The 2 ends of the bronchus are then joined together (anastomosis).

Back to top Lymph node removal

Lymph nodes play a large part in the staging and prognosis of non–small cell lung cancer, as well as in planning for surgery. During diagnosis, tests may show if the cancer has spread to certain lymph nodes.

   N1 nodes – Cancer that has spread to these nodes can usually be completely removed with surgery.
   N2 nodes – It may not be possible to completely remove cancer that has spread to these nodes, so surgery may not be an option.
   N3 nodes – Cancer that has spread to these nodes cannot be completely removed with surgery, so surgery is not an option.

Back to top Stent placement

Non–small cell lung cancer can grow into the bronchus, causing breathing problems or pneumonia. A stent is a small metal or plastic tube that is placed into the bronchus during a bronchoscopy. It keeps the airway open and allows air into the lungs.

Back to top Chest tube placement

During surgery, a flexible tube will be inserted through a cut in the skin, between the ribs and into the space between the lungs and the wall of the chest (pleural cavity). The tube is connected to a bottle with sterile water and a suction machine. It may be held in place with stitches or tape.

A chest tube is used to drain blood, other fluids and air from the space around the lungs (pleural space) after surgery. It is left in place until x-rays show that the blood, fluids or air have been drained and that the lung can fully expand.

Back to top Thoracentesis

A thoracentesis is a procedure in which a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and between the ribs into the space between the lungs and the wall of the chest (pleural cavity). It is used to drain fluid or air from the chest cavity.

Thoracentesis may be used with non–small cell lung cancer to treat:

   air leaking from the lung into the chest, causing the lung to collapse (pneumothorax)
   bleeding into the chest (hemothorax)
   a buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion)

Back to top Pleurodesis

Pleurodesis is done to prevent a buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity and pleural effusion. Excess pleural fluid is drained, and then drugs or chemicals, such as sterile talc, are put into the pleural space through a chest tube. Pleurodesis seals the parietal pleura and visceral pleura together so there is no longer a space between them in which fluid could build up.

Back to top Surgery for metastatic non–small cell lung cancer

Surgery may be done to remove a single metastatic tumour that has spread from the lung to the:

   brain
   adrenal gland

Back to top Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a less invasive type of surgery. It uses a small video camera and surgical tools inserted through several small incisions in the chest wall. The surgeon is guided by an image on a video screen.

VATS may be used to remove small (3–4 cm) non–small cell lung cancer tumours from the outer edges (periphery) of the lung. A lobectomy may also be done using VATS.

References

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