Introduction: The association between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and lung cancer (LC) is well established, due to common risk factors and carcinogenesis processes that occur in ILD. Due to the risk of acute exacerbation, higher mortality is observed in patients with ILD who are submitted to surgical resection (SR) in LC. The goal is to characterize the center experience regarding LC surgery and ILD.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, and patients with LC and ILD who were submitted to SR between 2019 and 2022 in Hospital Santa Marta were evaluated. Their demographic characteristics, type of ILD, histologic subtype of LC, stage, and mortality rates were recorded.

Results: 15 patients with ILD underwent SR of LC, the majority was male (10; 66.7%) and age ranged from 37 to 78 years. Smoking habits were documented in 11 patients (73.3%). Various types of ILD were identified, such as HP (7; 46.7%), sarcoidosis (3; 20%), IPF (2; 13,3%), autoimmune associated ILD (2; 13.3%) and silicosis (1; 6.7%). 8 patients (53.3%) had adenocarcinoma, 3 (20%) squamous cell carcinoma, and the other (1 in each) had small cell carcinoma, adenosquamous and typical carcinoid. One patient had simultaneously adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Almost all LC were stage IA (12; 75%), while the others (one in each, 6.3%) were IB, IIA, IIB and IIIB. Regarding SR, 8 (53.3%) were submitted to lobectomy, 6 (40%) to atypical resection and 1 (6,7%) to segmentectomy. 4 patients (26.7%) had died, but only 1 in the post operatory due to acute exacerbation of ILD.

Conclusion: Patients who underwent SR had inferior stages of LC and ILD did not affect the outcome. An adequate preoperative selection of patients is mandatory.