Therapeutic options following pneumonectomy in non-small cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pneumonectomy can be considered the most appropriate treatment for lung cancer that cannot be removed by lesser resection on.

Areas covered: Therapeutic options following pneumonectomy may be required at least in 3 different scenarios: 1) an early approach due to acute surgical complications 2) a late approach due to chronic surgical complications 3) an integrated radio-chemotherapeutic adjuvant approach for advanced stages. In this review we focused on these three settings with particular emphasis to surgical approach as well as to alternative options.

Expert commentary: Pneumonectomy itself does not preclude postoperative additional treatments, if needed, to maximize oncological results and to manage potential short or long term complications.

However, as pneumonectomy puts a significant physiological stress on the respiratory and circulatory systems, the benefits and risks of pneumonectomy should be compared with those of alternative, non-resectional treatment modalities.

KEYWORDS:

• Pneumonectomy
• adjuvant chemotherapy
• radiotherapy
• single-lung surgery
• thermal ablation

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.