Prognostic impact of spread through air spaces in patients with ≤2 cm stage IA lung adenocarcinoma

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) included spread through air space (STAS) as a new invasive mode of lung cancer. As a new mode of lung cancer dissemination, STAS has a significant and negative impact on patient prognosis. The surgical approach as well as lymph node dissection (LND) for STAS-positive patients is currently unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different surgical approaches to STAS and LND on the prognosis of patients with ≤2 cm stage IA lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). This study also investigated the possible relationship between STAS and the micropapillary histological subtype and its impact on patient prognosis.