From 1975 through 1990, 199 patients with limited small cell lung cancer (LSCLC) were subjected to multimodality treatment including surgical resection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in our department. The median postoperative survival time of the 199 patients was 39 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 26%, which was decreased with increase of tumor-stage. In comparison of the survival time of patients in Stage Ⅰ and those in Stage Ⅲa, there was a significant difference (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in survival rate of 3 and 5 years between the patients receiving chemotherapy prior to or after surgical resection. The improvement in survival was documented by surgical resection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for LSCLC. The effect of multimodality treatment is correlated with tumor P-TNM staging, the involvement of lymph node, especially that of the mediastinal lymph node, is a negative factor influencing the prognosis. Surgical resection as an ini From 1975 through 1990, 199 patients with limited small cell lung cancer (LSCLC) were approach to multimodality treatment including surgical resection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in our department. The median postoperative survival time of the 199 patients was 39 months, and the 5- Year survival rate was 26%, which was decreased with increase of tumor-stage. In comparison of the survival time of patients in Stage I and those in Stage IIIa, there was a significant difference (P<0.01). There were no significant differences In survival rate of 3 and 5 years between the patients receiving chemotherapy prior to or after surgical resection. The improvement in survival was documented by surgical resection combined with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for LSCLC. The effect of multimodality treatment is correlated with tumor P-TNM staging , the involvement of lymph node, especially that of the mediastinal lymph node, is a negative factor influencing the prognosis. Surgica l resection as an ini