Chirurgie beim kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancers in Germany, with 7000–8000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is characterized by a high proliferation rate and early metastasis. In the majority of cases, the tumor is already in an advanced or metastatic stage at the time of initial diagnosis. Only about 5% of SCLC patients are candidates for surgery as part of a multimodality treatment approach. In technically operable localized SCLC without mediastinal nodal involvement (stage I–II according to the Union for International Cancer Control, UICC) and with adequate cardiopulmonary reserve, anatomical lung resection by lobectomy with systematic hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy should be offered as part of a multimodality treatment approach. With the further development of minimally invasive surgical procedures, surgical therapy can be increasingly offered in experienced thoracic surgery centers with low morbidity. This will advance the study of the impact of surgery on survival outcomes in SCLC.