JTCS Email Content Delivery
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
Valerie W. Rusch
Manjit S. Bains
Robert J. Ginsberg
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rusch, V. W.
Right arrow Articles by Ginsberg, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rusch, V. W.
Right arrow Articles by Ginsberg, R. J.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:1147-1153
© 2000 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

GENERAL THORACIC SURGERY

FACTORS DETERMINING OUTCOME AFTER SURGICAL RESECTION OF T3 AND T4 LUNG CANCERS OF THE SUPERIOR SULCUS

Valerie W. Rusch, MDa, Kalpaj R. Parekh, MDa*, Larry Leon, MSd, Ennapadam Venkatraman, PhDd, Manjit S. Bains, MDa, Robert J. Downey, MDa, Patrick Boland, MDb, Mark Bilsky, MDc, Robert J. Ginsberg, MDa

From the Thoracic Surgery,a Orthopedic Surgery,b and Neurosurgery Services,c Department of Surgery, and the Biostatistics Service,d Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

Address for reprints: Valerie W. Rusch, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, Rm C-867, New York, NY 10021 (E-mail: ruschv{at}mskcc.org ).


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
Background: The treatment of superior sulcus lung cancers is evolving and preoperative chemotherapy is increasingly used. To establish a historical benchmark against which new therapies can be assessed, we reviewed our 24-year experience with patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung cancers of the superior sulcus.
Methods: Data were acquired through retrospective chart review. Overall survival was calculated by the method of Kaplan and Meier, and prognostic factors were examined by log rank and Cox proportional hazards modeling.
Results: From 1974 to 1998, 225 patients underwent thoracotomy. The patients included 144 men (64%) and 81 women with a median age of 55 years. The majority of patients (55%) received preoperative radiation, but 35% did not have any preoperative treatment. Tumor stages were IIB (T3 N0) in 52%, IIIA in 15%, and IIIB in 27% of patients. Complete resection was achieved in 64% of T3 N0 tumors, 54% of T3 N2 tumors, and 39% of T4 N0 tumors. Operative mortality was 4%. Median survival was 33 months for stage IIB and 12 months for both stages IIIA and IIIB. Actuarial 5-year survivals were 46% for stage IIB, 0% for stage IIIA, and 13% for stage IIIB. By univariate and multivariable analyses, T and N status and complete resection had a significant impact on survival. Locoregional disease was the most common form of relapse.
Conclusions: Our results provide a benchmark against which new treatment regimens can be evaluated. Control of locoregional disease remains the major challenge in treating lung cancers of the superior sulcus. The potential benefit of preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy must be assessed by whether it leads to higher rates of complete resection and a lower risk of local relapse.


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
Non–small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) involving the superior sulcus was first described by Henry PancoastGo 1 in 1932. This uncommon form of NSCLC was considered incurable until 1956, when Chardack and MacCallumGo 2 reported the case of a patient who survived long term after surgical resection and postoperative radiation. Subsequently, Shaw,Go 3 Paulson,Go 4 and their associates found that preoperative radiation facilitated surgical resection and that this combined treatment was potentially curative. On the basis of their experience, preoperative radiation followed by surgical resection has been a standard of care for lung cancers of the superior sulcus for the past 25 years.

Although many small surgical series attest to the feasibility of this treatment regimen (Table I), survival at 5 years remains approximately 25% to 30%. The recent success of combined modality therapy, especially induction chemotherapy, in the management of stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC has stimulated interest in applying this approach to lung cancers of the superior sulcus. As a result, the treatment of lung cancers of the superior sulcus is now in flux, with various combinations of chemotherapy and radiation often being given in the preoperative period in a highly individualized manner. A prospective multi-institutional phase II trial (Intergroup trial 0160, SWOG trial 9416) is currently underway to test the use of concurrent induction chemotherapy and radiation followed by surgical resection in both T3 and T4 N0-1 lung cancers of the superior sulcus. It is important to have a large and reliable historical experience against which to assess the validity of this new regimen.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table I. Results of series reporting outcome after surgery for lung cancers of the superior sulcus
 
Our previous analysis, based on 124 patients,Go 5 focused on the use of brachytherapy and found that this did not improve local control or survival. Instead, completeness and type of resection and nodal metastases seemed to be significant prognostic factors. These results prompted us to focus on careful preoperative staging and extended resections that might improve long-term outcome. The current series extends our previous experience and allows a more definitive analysis of factors affecting local control and survival, as well as sites of relapse, in patients undergoing surgery for both T3 and T4 lung cancers of the superior sulcus.


   Patients and methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
Patients with NSCLC involving the apex of the lung and chest wall, associated with pain radiating down the arm with or without additional neurologic symptoms (eg, Horner syndrome), were identified from the institutional and thoracic service databases. The previously reported 124 cases were included, thereby providing for analysis a large experience spanning 24 years. Only patients treated by thoracotomy were analyzed.

A detailed retrospective chart review was performed and the following items were recorded: patient age and sex; histologic tumor type and TNM status; type of preoperative and postoperative treatment; type of operation; whether resection was complete; disease status at last follow-up contact; and, when appropriate, date and sites of relapse. A resection was considered complete if the surgeon recorded that all gross tumor was removed and the surgical margins were histologically free of disease (negative). When not available by chart review, follow-up information was obtained by direct communication with the patient, family, or referring physician.

Statistical analyses were performed with SAS and S Plus software (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). Survival probabilities were calculated by the product limit method of Kaplan and Meier.Go 6 The prognostic significance of factors was tested in a univariate model by log rank statistic for categorical covariates and by proportional hazards regression for continuous covariates. Proportional hazards regression was used to test the prognostic significance of factors in a multivariable model.Go Go 6-8


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
From January 1974 through January 1998, 225 patients underwent thoracotomy for possible resection of an NSCLC of the superior sulcus. The demographic features and data about the type of preoperative treatment and operation performed are shown in Table II. The majority of patients were male, and there was a preponderance of nonsquamous tumors. Approximately two thirds of the patients received some form of preoperative therapy, most frequently radiation, in keeping with the traditional approach to the management of lung cancers of the superior sulcus. The median dose of preoperative radiation was 4248 cGy (range 400-8000 cGy). The use of induction chemotherapy in 20% of patients reflects empiric extension of a now accepted treatment of stage IIIA (N2) NSCLC to the management of lung cancers of the superior sulcus. The lack of preoperative treatment in 35% of patients reflects individual surgeon choice to attempt a wide resection followed by high-dose external-beam radiation after the operation.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table II. Demographic features and treatment information about the 225 patients with NSCLC of the superior sulcus who underwent thoracotomy
 
The most frequent operation performed was a lobectomy, usually in conjunction with a chest wall resection (Table IIGo). The use of a limited resection, either a wedge resection or segmentectomy, has been largely abandoned in light of our previous experience,Go 5 which suggested that overall suravival was lower with limited resection than with lobectomy (Table III). The minority of patients who did not have a chest wall resection performed are those who had such a significant tumor regression with induction treatment that chest wall resection no longer seemed warranted at thoracotomy. The overall operative mortality for all patients who underwent thoracotomy was 4%.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table III. Types of pulmonary resection, rates of complete resection, and sites of first recurrence in the current series compared with our previous series
 
The final tumor TNM status and the number of patients in each tumor stage who had a complete resection and information about survival by stage are shown in Table IV. Among the 55 patients with T4 tumors, the most common site of T4 disease was the spine, which was affected in 34 (62%) of those patients. The inclusion of patients in this series who had N2 disease reflects an era at our institution during the 1970s and early 1980s when mediastinoscopy was not routinely performed. Not surprisingly, our results indicate that a complete resection was more likely to be feasible in earlier stage tumors, being more frequent among T3 N0 tumors than among T3 N2 or T4 N0 tumors. The rate of complete resection for T3 N0 tumors was higher in our most recent experience (73%) than it was for the first 124 cases reported (53%). This may reflect changes in patient selection and surgical technique.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table IV. Information about stage, resectability, and survival among the 225 patients who underwent thoracotomy for lung cancers of the superior sulcus
 
The median length of follow-up was 2 years (range 0-20 years). Information about overall survival and the relationship between this and several prognostic factors is shown in Figs 1 to 3. By univariate analyses, patients with stage IIB tumors (Fig 1Go) had a significantly better survival than those with stage IIIA or IIIB tumors (P < .01). There was no significant difference in survival between stages IIIA and IIIB (P = .7). When the 3 largest groups of patients were compared, namely T3 N0 versus T3 N2 and T4 N0, the patients with T3 N0 tumors had a significantly better survival than the other 2 groups (P < .001). There was no significant difference in survival between patients with T3 N2 tumors and those with T4 N0 tumors (P = .8).



View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Fig. 1. Survival curve estimates stratified by stage (IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IV).

 


View larger version (16K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Fig. 2. Survival curve estimates stratified by complete resection.

 


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Fig. 3. Survival curve estimates stratified by nodal status (N0, N1-2).

 
Additional univariate analyses indicated that complete resection (Fig 2Go) and N0 nodal status (Fig 3Go) also had a significant impact on overall survival. However, neither preoperative nor postoperative treatment had a significant impact on survival (P = .06 for preoperative and P = .8 for postoperative treatment).

Potential prognostic factors were then also examined in a multivariable analysis (Table V). These included patient age and sex, T and N status, the type of resection performed, the type of preoperative therapy, the histologic tumor type, and the completeness of resection. Only the completeness of resection and the T and N status still had a significant impact on overall survival.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table V. Results of the multivariable analysis of prognostic factors influencing overall survival
 
Locoregional recurrence was the most common site of first relapse, occurring in 40% of patients (Table IIIGo). Information about the precise sites of locoregional relapse was available in 154 patients and is shown in Table VI. The most frequent sites were the spine, chest wall, and lung. Among patients with T4 tumors, half of all recurrences involved the spine.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
  		Table VI. Sites of locoregional relapse by T status (some patients had more than one site of relapse)
 

   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
The management of NSCLC of the superior sulcus has evolved significantly during the past 4 decades. The early reports by Shaw,Go Go 3,9 Paulson,Go 4 Miller,Go 10 Attar,Go 11 and their associates focused on the feasibility of preoperative radiation and surgical resection and on the fact that lung cancers of the superior sulcus were not universally fatal, as assumed previously.

During the 1980s, several reportsGo Go 12-19 established the "Paulson regimen" of preoperative radiation followed by surgical resection as a standard of care that led to an approximate 30% survival at 5 years (Table IGo). From this experience it appeared that N2 disease, diseased (positive) margins, and vertebral body involvement might have an adverse impact on overall survival.Go Go Go Go 4,14,20,21 However, the significance of these prognostic factors was not firmly established because published reports usually described small numbers of patients treated in variable ways over many years. Not all authors agreed on the poor prognostic impact of T4 disease so long as complete resection was achieved.Go 15 On the other hand, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of mediastinoscopy and the fact that N2 disease, as for all other subsets of stage III NSCLC, was associated with the early development of distant metastases and an extremely poor survival.Go Go Go 4,14,15

During the 1990s, reports have focused on defining prognostic factors,Go Go Go 5,20-22 on determining the role of brachytherapy,Go 5 and on exploring new techniques that facilitate complete resection of T4 tumors.Go Go 18,23 Our previous analysis, based on 124 patients operated on from 1974 to 1991, showed that brachytherapy did not contribute significantly to local control and suggested that N2 disease, completeness of resection, T4 tumors, and, to a lesser degree, limited pulmonary resection had an adverse impact on survival. Since then, mediastinoscopy, with or without scalene node biopsy, has been a routine part of our preresection evaluation of superior sulcus tumors. The neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons frequently participate in preoperative evaluation and surgical resection. Formal vertebral resection is performed whenever indicated to try to ensure complete resection of tumor abutting or involving the spine. Although common patterns of tumor invasion of the spine sometimes preclude en bloc resection, negative surgical margins can usually be obtained, at least for T3 tumors. However, our recent experience indicates that a complete resection is still not achieved for many T4 tumors.

Most recently, interest in exploring the potential benefit of preoperative chemotherapy has been increasing. The small series of 18 cases reported by Martínez-Monge and associatesGo 24 suggests that induction chemoradiotherapy may improve the likelihood of pathologic complete response, local control, and overall survival. This approach to treatment is now being formally tested in a prospective multi-institutional clinical trial. Our current series, which includes almost twice the number of cases we reported previously, provides an important benchmark against which to assess the value of a new approach to treatment, because most of our patients had a surgical resection with preoperative and/or postoperative radiation with no consistent use of chemotherapy. Our current experience highlights several important aspects of the management of superior sulcus tumors. In addition to emphasizing the impact of T and N status on overall survival, it clearly demonstrates the importance of complete resection and the fact that only approximately half of all tumors are amenable to complete resection when managed in the traditional manner. Although the rates of complete resectability and 5-year survival are better for T3 N0 tumors (64% and 46%, respectively) than for the other TN subsets, they are still unacceptably low. This problem is not usually emphasized, but a review of published series (Table IGo) indicates that our rate of incomplete resection is similar to that reported by other authors. Locoregional recurrence remains the predominant form of relapse for both T3 and T4 tumors, although this is obviously a greater problem for T4 tumors involving the spine. Future efforts to improve the results will entail not only a multidisciplinary approach to en bloc extended resection of adjacent structures, most frequently the spine, but also preoperative therapy that yields greater tumor regression, thereby improving the rates of complete resection that are so critical to long-term survival in this form of NSCLC.


   Acknowledgments
 
Some of the patients in this series were operated on by Drs Nael Martini and Patricia McCormack (both retired) and by the late Dr Michael Burt. We thank Melody Owens for her expert assistance in manuscript preparation.


   Footnotes
 
*Dr Parekh is a resident in General Surgery at the Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, and was supported by a research fellowship from that institution. Back


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Patients and methods
Results
Discussion
References
 

  1. Pancoast HK. Superior sulcus tumor. JAMA 1932;99:1391-6. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Chardack WM, MacCallum JD. Pancoast tumor: five-year survival without recurrence or metastases following radical resection and postoperative irradiation. J Thorac Surg 1956;31:535-42.
  3. Shaw RR, Paulson DL, Kee JL Jr. Treatment of the superior sulcus tumor by irradiation followed by resection. Ann Surg 1961;7:29-40.
  4. Paulson DL. Carcinomas in the superior pulmonary sulcus. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1975;70:1095-104. [Abstract]
  5. Ginsberg RJ, Martini N, Zaman M, et al. Influence of surgical resection and brachytherapy in the management of superior sulcus tumor. Ann Thorac Surg 1994;57:1440-5. [Abstract]
  6. Kaplan EL, Meier P. Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J Am Stat Assoc 1958;53:457-81.
  7. Mantel N, Haenszel W. Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease. J Natl Cancer Inst 1958;22:718-48.
  8. Cox DR. Regression models and life tables [with discussion]. J R Stat Soc B 1972;34:187-220.
  9. Shaw RR. Pancoast’s tumor. Ann Thorac Surg 1984;37:343-5. [Abstract]
  10. Miller JI, Mansour KA, Hatcher CR Jr. Carcinoma of the superior pulmonary sulcus. Ann Thorac Surg 1979;28:44-7. [Abstract]
  11. Attar S, Miller JE, Satterfield J, et al. Pancoast’s tumor: Irradiation or surgery? Ann Thorac Surg 1979;28:578-6. [Abstract]
  12. Stanford W, Barnes RP, Tucker AR. Influence of staging in superior sulcus (Pancoast) tumors of the lung. Ann Thorac Surg 1980;29:406-9. [Abstract]
  13. Devine JW, Mendenhall WM, Million RR, Carmichael MJ. Carcinoma of the superior pulmonary sulcus treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Cancer 1986;57:941-3. [Medline]
  14. Anderson TM, Moy PM, Holmes EC. Factors affecting survival in superior sulcus tumors. J Clin Oncol 1986;4:1598-603. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Wright CD, Moncure AC, Shepard JO, Wilkins EW Jr, Mathisen DJ, Grillo HC. Superior sulcus lung tumors: results of combined treatment (irradiation and radical resection). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1987;94:69-74. [Abstract]
  16. Shahian DM, Neptune WB, Ellis FH Jr. Pancoast tumors: improved survival with preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy. Ann Thorac Surg 1987;43:32-8. [Abstract]
  17. Hilaris BS, Martini N, Wong GY, Nori D. Treatment of superior sulcus tumor (Pancoast tumor). Surg Clin North Am 1987;67:965-76. [Medline]
  18. Hilaris BS, Martini N, Luomanen RKJ, Batata M, Beattie EJ Jr. The value of preoperative radiation therapy in apical cancer of the lung. Surg Clin North Am 1974;54:831-40. [Medline]
  19. Fuller DB, Chambers JS. Superior sulcus tumors: combined modality. Ann Thorac Surg 1994;57:1133-9. [Abstract]
  20. Sartori F, Rea F, Calabrò F, Mazzucco C, Bortolotti L, Tomio L. Carcinoma of the superior pulmonary sulcus: results of irradiation and radical resection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1992;104:679-83. [Abstract]
  21. Muscolino G, Valente M, Andreani S. Pancoast tumours: clinical assessment and long term results of combined radiosurgical treatment. Thorax 1997;52:284-6. [Abstract]
  22. Maggi G, Casadio C, Pischedda F, et al. Combined radiosurgical treatment of Pancoast tumor. Ann Thorac Surg 1994;57:198-202. [Abstract]
  23. Sundaresan N, Hilaris BS, Martini N. The combined neurosurgical-thoracic management of superior sulcus tumors. J Clin Oncol 1987;5:1739-45. [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Martínez-Monge R, Herreros J, Aristu JJ, Aramendía JM, Azinovic I. Combined treatment in superior sulcus tumors. Am J Clin Oncol 1994;17:317-22. [Medline]
  25. Dartevelle PG, Chapelier AR, Macchiarini P, et al. Anterior transcervical-thoracic approach for radical resection of lung tumors invading the thoracic inlet. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1993;105:1025-34. [Abstract]
Received for publication Aug 13, 1999. Revisions requested Dec 1, 1999; revisions received Jan 11, 2000. Accepted for publication Feb 1, 2000.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
M. Tamura, M. A. Hoda, and W. Klepetko
Current treatment paradigms of superior sulcus tumours
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., October 1, 2009; 36(4): 747 - 753.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
W. D. Bolton, D. C. Rice, A. Goodyear, A. M. Correa, J. Erasmus, W. Hofstetter, R. Komaki, R. Mehran, K. Pisters, J. A. Roth, et al.
Superior sulcus tumors with vertebral body involvement: A multimodality approach.
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., June 1, 2009; 137(6): 1379 - 1387.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadioGraphicsHome page
J. F. Bruzzi, R. Komaki, G. L. Walsh, M. T. Truong, G. W. Gladish, R. F. Munden, and J. J. Erasmus
Imaging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer of the Superior Sulcus: Part 1: Anatomy, Clinical Manifestations, and Management
RadioGraphics, March 1, 2008; 28(2): 551 - 560.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 RadioGraphicsHome page
J. F. Bruzzi, R. Komaki, G. L. Walsh, M. T. Truong, G. W. Gladish, R. F. Munden, and J. J. Erasmus
Imaging of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer of the Superior Sulcus: Part 2: Initial Staging and Assessment of Resectability and Therapeutic Response
RadioGraphics, March 1, 2008; 28(2): 561 - 572.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
H. Kunitoh, H. Kato, M. Tsuboi, T. Shibata, H. Asamura, Y. Ichonose, N. Katakami, K. Nagai, T. Mitsudomi, A. Matsumura, et al.
Phase II Trial of Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgical Resection in Patients With Superior Sulcus Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancers: Report of Japan Clinical Oncology Group Trial 9806
J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2008; 26(4): 644 - 649.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MMCTSHome page
L. Spaggiari, M. D'Aiuto, G. Veronesi, F. Leo, P. Solli, M. Elena Leon, R. Gasparri, D. Galetta, F. Petrella, A. Borri, et al.
Anterior approach for Pancoast tumor resection
MMCTS, October 18, 2007; 2007(1018): 1776.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
F. Leo, P. Solli, G. Veronesi, G. Catalano, T. De Pas, F. Petrella, and L. Spaggiari
Induction Chemoradiotherapy for Superior Sulcus Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: An Answer for Few
J. Clin. Oncol., May 20, 2007; 25(15): 2146 - 2146.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
V. W. Rusch
In Reply
J. Clin. Oncol., May 20, 2007; 25(15): 2147 - 2147.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
V. W. Rusch, D. J. Giroux, M. J. Kraut, J. Crowley, M. Hazuka, T. Winton, D. H. Johnson, L. Shulman, F. Shepherd, C. Deschamps, et al.
Induction Chemoradiation and Surgical Resection for Superior Sulcus Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinomas: Long-Term Results of Southwest Oncology Group Trial 9416 (Intergroup Trial 0160)
J. Clin. Oncol., January 20, 2007; 25(3): 313 - 318.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Respir JHome page
A. Marra, W. Eberhardt, C. Pottgen, D. Theegarten, S. Korfee, T. Gauler, M. Stuschke, and G. Stamatis
Induction chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiation and surgery for Pancoast tumour
Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2007; 29(1): 117 - 126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
D. Farray, N. Mirkovic, and K. S. Albain
Multimodality Therapy for Stage III Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol., May 10, 2005; 23(14): 3257 - 3269.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
M. Goldberg, D. Gupta, A. R. Sasson, B. Movsas, C. J. Langer, A. L. Hanlon, H. Wang, and W. J. Scott
The Surgical Management of Superior Sulcus Tumors: A Retrospective Review With Long-Term Follow-Up
Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 2005; 79(4): 1174 - 1179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 The OncologistHome page
V. C. Archie and C. R. Thomas Jr.
Superior Sulcus Tumors: A Mini-Review
Oncologist, September 1, 2004; 9(5): 550 - 555.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
C. C.M. Pitz, A. B. de la Riviere, H. A. van Swieten, V. A.M. Duurkens, J.-W. J. Lammers, and J. M.M. van den Bosch
Surgical treatment of Pancoast tumours
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., July 1, 2004; 26(1): 202 - 208.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
D. G. Pfister, D. H. Johnson, C. G. Azzoli, W. Sause, T. J. Smith, S. Baker Jr, J. Olak, D. Stover, J. R. Strawn, A. T. Turrisi, et al.
American Society of Clinical Oncology Treatment of Unresectable Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Guideline: Update 2003
J. Clin. Oncol., January 15, 2004; 22(2): 330 - 353.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ChestHome page
A. N. van Geel, P. P. Jansen, R. J. van Klaveren, and J. R. M. van der Sijp
High Relapse-Free Survival After Preoperative and Intraoperative Radiotherapy and Resection for Sulcus Superior Tumors
Chest, November 1, 2003; 124(5): 1841 - 1846.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ChestHome page
M. Alifano, M. D'Aiuto, P. Magdeleinat, E. Poupardin, A. Chafik, S. Strano, and J. F. Regnard
Surgical Treatment of Superior Sulcus Tumors: Results and Prognostic Factors
Chest, September 1, 2003; 124(3): 996 - 1003.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
L. Spaggiari
Anterior approach versus posterior approach in apical chest tumor: surgeon's choice or oncological need?
Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2003; 75(2): 633 - 634.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
E. Martinod, A. D'Audiffret, P. Thomas, A. J. Wurtz, M. Dahan, M. Riquet, A. Dujon, R. Jancovici, R. Giudicelli, P. Fuentes, et al.
Management of superior sulcus tumors: experience with 139 cases treated by surgical resection
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2002; 73(5): 1534 - 1539.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
C. D. Wright, M. T. Menard, J. C. Wain, D. M. Donahue, H. C. Grillo, T. J. Lynch, N. C. Choi, and D. J. Mathisen
Induction chemoradiation compared with induction radiation for lung cancer involving the superior sulcus
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2002; 73(5): 1541 - 1544.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mayo Clin Proc.Home page
G. C. Harewood, M. J. Wiersema, E. S. Edell, and M. Liebow
Cost-Minimization Analysis of Alternative Diagnostic Approaches in a Modeled Patient With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Subcarinal Lymphadenopathy
Mayo Clin. Proc., February 1, 2002; 77(2): 155 - 164.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
V. W. Rusch, D. J. Giroux, M. J. Kraut, J. Crowley, M. Hazuka, D. Johnson, M. Goldberg, F. Detterbeck, F. Shepherd, R. Burkes, et al.
Induction chemoradiation and surgical resection for non-small cell lung carcinomas of the superior sulcus: Initial results of Southwest Oncology Group Trial 9416 (Intergroup Trial 0160)
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., March 1, 2001; 121(3): 472 - 483.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Author home page(s):
Valerie W. Rusch
Manjit S. Bains
Robert J. Ginsberg
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rusch, V. W.
Right arrow Articles by Ginsberg, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rusch, V. W.
Right arrow Articles by Ginsberg, R. J.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS