The importance of the TNM staging system for patient management, clinical research and communicating information about lung cancer is of international importance. Modifications of the TNM classification system is scheduled for the near future. A retrospective review of 2376 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer treated in a monocentric institution between 1996 and 2005 was performed. The overall 5-year survival rate was 46.8%. A total of 2083 patients had complete resections with a 5-year survival of 50.7%. After complete resection the 5-year survival rates by pathological stage of the disease were as follows: 68.5% for IA, 66.6% for IB, 55.3% for IIA, 49.0% for IIB, 35.8% for IIIA, 35.4% for IIIB, and not defined (3-year survival: 33.1%) for IV. The difference in prognosis between stage IIB and IIIA was significant (p=0.001) there was no significant difference between IA and IB, between IB and IIA, between IIA and IIB, between IIIA and IIIB, or between IIIB and IV. In stage IV there was a significant difference in survival between patients with pulmonary metastases or distant extrapulmonary metastases (p=0.001). In multivariate analysis, we also found gender and histology to be independent significant prognostic factors for survival. Multiple factors influence the long-term survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer after surgical resection. The present stage related prognosis seems to characterize patient prognosis and outcome reliable. For further data review there should be a focus on stage IV disease.