Background There are few reports discussing the surgical pathological characteristics of superficial endobronchial lung cancer (SELC) defined as cancer growth limited to the bronchial wall. Its prognosis and corresponding TNM staging have not been fully clarified. Little is known as to whether T status is impacted by the existence of associated atelectasis or pneumonia (which might be controversial, indicating either T1 or T2), and circumstantial invasion depth.Methods Between 1988 and 2007, 81 out of 8817 surgically treated patients met SELC criteria; there was no detectable invasion beyond the bronchial wall. A retrospective review was performed and follow-up information was collected.Results The overall five-year survival rate of 81 patients was 85.6%; for NOM0 (n=67), N1M0 (n=7) and N2M0 (n=7)patients, they were 89.3%, 75.0% and 60.0%, respectively. Intraluminal tumor size measured from 0.4 to 3.0 cm;obstructive atelectasis or pneumonia was noted in 14 patients. The presence of tumor-associated obstructive atelectasis or pneumonia did not have a significant impact upon prognosis (P=0.96), nor did the greatest diameter of the tumor (P=0.70). Histology showed carcinoma in situ (level one) in 13 cases; invasion of the submucosal layer (level two) in 12,involvement of the muscular layer (level three) in 20, invasion into the space between the muscular layer and cartilage (level four) in 21, and bronchial cartilage infiltration in 15 (level five). In cases without lymphnode metastases, five-year survival was 100% for the first three levels and 84.0% and 61.3% for the level four and level five.Conclusions Relative to TNM-based prognostic data, superficial endobronchial lung cancer exhibits increased five-year survival rates, and therefore should be placed at the forefront among tumors in the T1 class, regardless of tumor size or the presence of secondary obstructive atelectasis or pneumonia. Lymphnode metastasis is associated with a worse prognosis. Survival is negatively impacted by tumor infiltration depth into the bronchial wall.rnrn