Objective. To improve surgical related mortality, Niigata Chest Surgery Group registered primary lung cancer patients who were operated on in 2001 and prospectively analyzed these patients. Patients. A total of 558 primary lung cancer patients underwent resection between January 2001 and December 2001. Results. There were 352 men (63.1%) and 206 women (36.9%), with an overall median age of 66.7 years. The overall 5-year survival rate was 65.1%, 55.8% in men and 80.9% in women. Complications related to operations were observed in 37 cases (6.6%) and the operative mortality was 0.7% (4 cases). The 5-year survival rates, in relation to reason for detection were as follows: Screening group (n = 284)
75.5%, Other disease group (n = 175)
57.3%, Symptomatic group (n = 99)
48.8%. The 5-year survival rates estimated by p-stage were: IA (n = 297)
79.9%, IB (n = 124)
67.4%, IIA (n = 16)
66.7%, IIB (n = 40)
27.5%, IIIA (n = 47)
32.7%, IIIB (n = 21)
23.8%, IV (n = 13)
0.0%. The 5-year survival rates according to histologic type were: adenocarcinoma 69.5% (n = 388), squamous cell carcinoma 52.1% (n = 128), large cell carcinoma 61.5% (n = 13), small cell carcinoma 71.4% (n = 7), carcinoid 62.5% (n = 8), and others 64.3% (n = 14). Conclusion. We determined the characteristics of lung cancer patients and the results of their operative treatment in Niigata Prefecture. We anticipate registering more lung cancer patients to expand this database of patients. The availability of this database should help to improve the lung cancer treatment in Niigata Prefecture. © 2009 The Japan Lung Cancer Society.