自从四十年代临床引进烷化剂治疗癌症后,四十多年来化学治疗恶性肿瘤进展相当迅速。某些癌症用化疗得以基本控制,有些可减轻症状延长生命。癌症病人存活期的延长,急症或择期手术的机会必然增多。部分癌瘤经化疗后瘤体缩小,给原先无法割治者争得了切除的机会,术后再继续化疗可更进一步提高疗效。部分晚期癌症病人有可能需做某些姑息性手术,例如剥除胸膜外纤维层 Since the clinical introduction of alkylating agents in the 1940s to treat cancer, chemotherapy has progressed rapidly over the past 40 years. Some cancers are basically controlled with chemotherapy, and some can relieve symptoms and prolong life. The survival of cancer patients, the chance of emergency or elective surgery will inevitably increase. Some tumors shrink after chemotherapy, and they have been given the opportunity to excise the previously unrestrained patients. Continued chemotherapy can further improve the efficacy. Some patients with advanced cancer may need some palliative surgery, such as removing the extrapleural fibrous layer