Q. Is a resection better than a lobectomy for lung nodual treatment and survival?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
A lobectomy or resection of the lung is a common surgical procedure used to remove all or part of a patient's lung. While both are effective treatments for removing tumors and nodules from the lungs, which procedure is better depends largely on the size, location, and type of tumor present.
A lobectomy involves removal of an entire lobe of the lung while a resection involves removal of only part of the lobe or segment. A lobectomy may be recommended if a tumor occupies an entire lobe or is close to major airways since it will ensure complete removal without compromising other parts of the lung tissue. Lobectomies offer longer-term survival benefit compared to resections for certain types and locations because it removes more area at risk for recurrence. They also provide better visibility during surgery than resections as they involve fewer small areas that need to be examined in detail with smaller margins between them.
However, depending on where the tumor is located, a lobectomy may require opening up much larger sections than what can be removed with just a simple resection - making recovery time longer and potentially causing more postoperative pain due to larger incision sites needed for access. Furthermore, since large portions are being taken out when performing this surgery there may also be some concern about impairment in normal bodily functions such as carrying capacity compromise caused by reduced functional performance in patients who have undergone total lobectomy operations (removal from both lungs).
Therefore, when deciding between these two procedures one must evaluate an individual's particular needs & circumstances; examining whether their candidacy allows them to tolerate either method safely and whether any major organs could be affected through undergoing said procedures given their other coexisting medical conditions before choosing one over another option – thereby allowing them obtain optimal outcome most suited for their individual situation & health status at hand!