Lobectomy versus stereotactic body radiotherapy in healthy patients with stage I lung cancer

The authors used data from the NCDB to assess long-term outcomes after SBRT (1,781) or lobectomy (13,562) for clinical stage I NSCLC in patients without important co-morbidities.  Overall survival was significantly better after lobectomy for T1N0 (HR 0.38) and for T2N0 patients (HR 0.38).  Propensity score matched patients (1781 pairs) also had significantly better survival at 5-years after lobectomy (59% vs 29%). 

Commentary: http://www.jtcvsonline.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30061-7/abstract