Fig. 64: Patients with small cell carcinoma expected to survive 5 years after treatment according to clinical stage of disease. Stage IA, n=12; stage IB, n=59; stage IIA, n=3; stage IIB, n=28; stage IIIA, n=66; stage IIIB, n=194; stage IV, n=261.

The proportion of patients with small cell carcinoma achieving the complete response status required for long-term survival is related to the extent of the disease at diagnosis. The staging system provides reproducible classification for groups often described as having "limited" or "extensive" disease--terms that are inconsistently used and defined.