ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of different surgical procedure on the prognosis of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 100 patients elder than 70 years with NSCLC in our hospital between January 2012 and December 2013. There were 60 males and 40 females patients at age of 70-85 (76±12) years. The patients were divided into two groups including a standard lobectomy group (62 patients, receiving standard lobectomy) and a limited resection group (38 patients receiving limited resection). Regular following-up was carried out after the surgery. The correlation between the survival rate and the incidences of complications, the surgical procedure were analyzed. ResultsThe incidence of complications in the standard lobectomy group and the limited resection group was 35.5%(22/62)and 39.5%(15/38)respectively. The three year survival rate and the five year survival rate in the two groups were similar between the two groups(85.5% versus 54.8% and 78.9% versus 55.3%). There was no statistical difference between the two groups. Staging is an independent factor for prognosis. ConclusionLobectomy is still the main therapy method for elderly stageⅠNSCLC patients. But limited resection also appears to be a viable surgical treatment for patients with cardiopulmonary physiologic impairment.