Salvage Surgery for Small-Cell Lung Cancer-A Literature Review

Simple Summary Salvage lung resection for lung cancer is a relatively new concept, and most of the operated patients present non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), salvage surgery is extremely rarely performed, in highly selected patients proved with limited disease after radical chemoradiation, as an alternative to second-line chemotherapy. From the published cases, it appeared that salvation surgery for SCLC presents postoperative morbidity similar to salvage surgery for NSCLC, no postoperative mortality, and a median estimated overall survival of 92% at 2 years and 66% at 5 years. Salvage lung resection for SCLC may be a reasonable treatment in very highly selected patients, offering good local control and a favorable survival outcome. (1) Background: Salvation surgery for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is exceptionally performed, and only a few cases are published. (2) Methods: There are 6 publications that present 17 cases of salvation surgery for SCLC-the salvation surgery was performed in the context of modern clearly established protocols for SCLC and after including SCLC in the TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) staging in 2010. (3) Results: After a median follow-up of 29 months, the estimated overall survival (OS) was 86 months. The median estimated 2-year survival was 92%, and the median estimated 5-year survival was 66%. (4) Conclusion: Salvage surgery for SCLC is a relatively new and extremely uncommon concept and represents an alternative to second-line chemotherapy. It is valuable because it may offer a reasonable treatment for selected patients, good local control, and a favorable survival outcome.