Evaluation of the Odds of Survival of Patients with Micrometastasis of Lung Cancer to Rib

Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer-related death, and the most prevalent cancer worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the presence of micro metastasis in specimens obtained from rib resections after surgery, and its impact on the recurrence rate and prognosis of patients with early-stage lung cancer.

In this cross-sectional study, 49 patients with lung cancer underwent rib biopsy during lung resection surgery, and were referred to the pathology department for micrometastasis. In the next stage, all patients were followed up and their death or survival status was determined and the survival rate of patients according to the presence or absence of rib micrometastasis was evaluated and compared.

Of the 49 studied patients, 10 (20.4%) had lung to rib micrometastasis. The mean survival time in patients with and without rib micrometastasis was 10.80 ± 1.75 and 26.58 ± 3.58 months, respectively, and the mean survival in the group with rib micrometastasis was significantly lower (P = 0.011).

It seems that the presence of rib micrometastasis in patients with lung cancer is associated with a reduced survival time. Therefore, bone biopsy of patients with lung cancer in the time of thoracotomy to determine rib micrometastasis, may be helpful in timely treatment and increase patient survival.