Chest
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It has been suggested that T3/N0-1/M0 non-small cell lung cancer should be classified as stage IIB rather than IIIA. This is the result of a widespread perception that the survival of patients with T3/N0-1 lung cancers greatly exceeds that of patients with stage IIIA (N2) lung cancers. This perception is based primarily on the survival of T3/N0-1 patients who have chest wall involvement. ⋯ Survival for each of these T3 categories is examined in this articles and found to be somewhat different. The available data show that patients with T3/N0-1 tumors involving the chest wall have a good prognosis after resection, whereas patients with central T3/N0-1 tumors (mediastinal or main stem bronchial involvement) have a prognosis similar to that of patients with resected IIIA (N2) tumors. If a new classification of T3/N0-1 tumors as stage IIB is to be adopted, it will be important for future studies to document which type of T3 tumor is being discussed.