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Surgery
Source: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 16, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview / The following types of treatment are used:
Four types of surgery are used to treat lung cancer:
Wedge resection is surgery to remove a tumor and some of the normal tissue around it. When a slightly larger amount of tissue is taken, it is called a segmental resection.
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Lobectomy is surgery to remove a whole lobe (section) of the lung.
Pneumonectomy is surgery to remove one whole lung.
Sleeve resection is surgery to remove part of the bronchus.
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After the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some people may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after the surgery to lower the risk that the cancer will come back is called adjuvant therapy.
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice