The Role of Lung Cancer Surgical Technique on Lymph Node Sampling and Pathologic Nodal Upstaging

Ann Thorac Surg. 2023 May;115(5):1238-1245. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.09.040. Epub 2022 Oct 12.

Abstract

Background: The role of operative approach in surgical lymphadenectomies and pathologic nodal upstaging for lung cancer remains unclear.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer from January 2015 to December 2020 at 16 centers within a statewide quality improvement collaborative in Michigan. Patients were stratified by operative approach, and our primary end points were number of LN recovered, number of LN stations sampled, and rates of nodal upstaging with nodal upstaging defined as a higher final pathologic nodal stage compared with preoperative clinical nodal staging.

Results: A total of 3036 patients were included: 608 (20.0%) with open lobectomies, 1362 (41.3%) with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and 1233 (37.4%) with robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) lobectomies. Using multivariable logistic regression, study investigators found that VATS was associated with lower rates of nodal upstaging (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54-0.94; P = .015) and harvesting ≥10 LNs (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.31-0.50; P < .001) as compared with open surgery, whereas no significant difference was found between RATS and open techniques. Compared with open surgery, VATS had lower rates of sampling at ≥5 nodal stations (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53-0.84; P = .001), whereas RATS rates were higher (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.85-3.06; P < .001).

Conclusions: VATS lobectomies were associated with lower rates of harvesting ≥10 LNs, sampling ≥5 LN stations, and pathologic nodal upstaging compared with open and RATS lobectomies. Compared with open procedures, RATS lobectomies were associated with higher rates of sampling ≥5 LN stations, but there was no significant difference between open and RATS approaches in rates of nodal upstaging or harvesting ≥10 LNs.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pneumonectomy / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / methods