Is Lobectomy Associated With Improved Outcomes Compared to Segmentectomy in Small Cell Lung Cancer Discovered at the Time of Resection?

Authors

• Sneha S Alaparthi
• Anurag Ishwar
• Gregory Whitehorn
• Isheeta Madeka
• Tyler Grenda
• John D Jacob
• Nathaniel R Evans Iii
• Olugbenga T Okusanya

Publication/Presentation Date

3-1-2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents approximately 10%-15% of all lung cancer cases in the United States. The extent of surgery for early-stage SCLC remains controversial,with the treatment standard being chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. We aim to evaluate outcomes among the patients who underwent a lobectomy or segmentectomy in SCLC diagnosed on the day of resection.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized the NCDB. We examined patients >18 who underwent a lobectomy or segmentectomy between 2010 and 2019 who had clinically node negative SCLC diagnosed at the time of resection. Outcome variables include 5- year, 30-day, 90-day mortality and readmission rates. Propensity score matching was utilized to compare outcomes between groups.

RESULTS: 564 patients were examined, with a mean age of 68. Males comprised of 42.9% of the cohort. 65 (12%) patients underwent segmentectomy and 499 (88%) patients underwent lobectomy. There were no differences in nodal upstaging (P = .31) and T stage upstaging (P = .37) between the 2 cohorts. 90.2% of the population was clinical stage I (P = .003). There were no significant differences in 5- year, 30-day, 90-day mortality (P = .22, P = .40, P = .77), and readmission (P = .57) in this cohort. After PSM (n = 118) there continued to be no significant difference in all outcomes between cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that rates of T and N upstaging, 5-year mortality, and short-term outcomes did not differ amongst cohorts, showing that patients who undergo segmentectomy may not benefit from undergoing a more extensive resection.

Volume

27

Issue

2

First Page

161

Last Page

168

ISSN

1938-0690

Published In/Presented At

Alaparthi, S. S., Ishwar, A., Whitehorn, G., Madeka, I., Grenda, T., Jacob, J. D., Evans Iii, N. R., & Okusanya, O. T. (2026). Is Lobectomy Associated With Improved Outcomes Compared to Segmentectomy in Small Cell Lung Cancer Discovered at the Time of Resection?. Clinical lung cancer, 27(2), 161–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cllc.2025.08.017

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

41033938

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article