Surgical staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma: when should we routinely resect supraclavicula

Abstract

Background: Accurate staging after the diagnosis of lung carcinoma is essential to select an appropriate therapy.
Objective: The aim of the present study is to describe the characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma in whom supraclavicular lymph node resection would detect non-palpable (N3 supraclavicular disease) lymph node metastases.
Material and methods: Data from patients undergoing mediastinal surgical staging for non-small cell lung cancer using cervical mediastinoscopy and resection of supraclavicular lymph nodes were collected between December 2016 and December 2019.
Results: A total of 60 patients were included; 76.6% were men. Mean tumor size was 4.7 cm ad mean lymph node stations evaluated by mediastinoscopy was 2.37 ± 1.44 (SD). All the patients underwent supraclavicular lymph node resection and the result was positive for epithelial carcinoma in 21 cases (35%). Of the 21 cases with N3 supraclavicular disease, 2 patients were recorded as skip metastases and the remaining cases were association with mediastinal N2 disease (p = 0.0424). There was a significant association between central tumor and N3 supraclavicular disease (p = 0.0148).
Conclusion: Supraclavicular lymph node resection may be recommended in patients with suspected or confirmed N2 lymph node disease and central tumors, before considering a multimodal therapeutic approach including surgery