Introduction:
The aim of the study was the assessment of the long-term survival after sleeve lobectomy in a group of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This method of treatment is a widely accepted procedure for central tumors, with removal of the involved lobe and part of the main stembronchus.

Material and methods:
Object of the analysis was a group of 61 patients (male 52, female 9) hospitalized between 2001 and 2005 in Poznan University of Medical Sciences, on Department of Thoracic Surgery, who underwent sleeve resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Initially the survey was distributed among 91 patients, but 61 of them replied (rate of return: 67%). Average age of the patients was 61 (between 45 and 78). The histological type was mainly
squamous cell carcinoma (n = 45) followed by adenocarcinoma (n = 12), large cell carcinoma (n = 2) and carcinoid (n = 2). The majority of patients had T2 status (n = 47).

Results:
The most common type of resection was right upper lobe sleeve resection (67,2%). The 30-day postoperative mortality was 3,2%. After resection, recurrence occurred in 10 patients, in 5 cases was local. Overall 5-years survival rate was 57%.

Conclusions:
Sleeve lobectomy achieves local tumor control for patients with NSCLC and it is a safe and effective procedure. These data suggest that results of sleeve lobectomy versus results found on the literature about pneumonectomy are comparable. In addition, this method allows further lung resection, if necessary.