BACKGROUNDBronchioloalveolar carcinoma is a kind of special lung cancer. The aim of this study is to analyze its characteristics, surgical intervention and prognosis.

METHODSFifty-eight surgically treated patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma from 1993 to 2000 were followed up. The clinical characteristics, surgical mode, site of recurrent disease and survival were analyzed.

RESULTSOut of 58 patients, 15 were male (25.9%), and 43 were female (74.1%). Fifty-one patients performed lobectomy ( 87.9%). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 91.4%, 75.9% and 60.3% respectively. There was no remarkable difference in survival between chemotherapy group and non-chemotherapy group after surgery (P= 0.22).

CONCLUSIONSLobectomy is performed commonly in patients with bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. No obvious correlation is found between postoperative chemotherapy and survival.