The Prognostic Significance of Lung Cancer of Peripheral Origin

¹ Department of Laboratories, Harrisburg Polyclinic Hospital

The purpose of this study was to determine any possible differences in the long term survival of patients with lung cancer of both peripheral and central bronchogenic origin. Twenty five per cent of a total of 109 cases were found to be of peripheral origin. The ten year survival of this group was about 15 per cent. This was in marked contrast to a ten year survival rate of 2.6 per cent of lung cancer of central derivation.

Five separate necropsied cases of lung cancer of peripheral type are briefly summarized. In each instance that cause of death was unrelated to cancer. Analysis of the latter group emphasizes that localized cancer of varied cell types may be found in a potentially resectable stage.

The possible factors affecting the long term survival of patients with lung cancer are briefly discussed. Since tumors of peripheral origin comprise about 25 per cent of all lung cancer, this is an important group in which higher salvage rates might be obtained.