Concomitant Lung Cancer Resection and Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Early-stage non-small cell lung cancer is best treated by complete anatomic resection. Patients who have resectable lung cancer but associated advanced emphysema are often precluded from surgery because of severe respiratory limitation. Certain highly selected patients who have clinically resectable lung cancer and severe respiratory limitation due to emphysema may have an acceptable operative risk and functional improvements by combining a suitable cancer resection with lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Several groups have evaluated their experience of combined lung cancer resection and LVRS and have reported beneficial early and long-term results. This article provides a review in this area and recommends surgical strategies in this group of patients who have concomitant lung cancer and severe emphysema.