Survival analysis of Thai patients with non-small-cell lung cancer undergoing surgical resection.

This study examined the survival duration among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing surgical resection from January 1988 to December 1992 at the Central Chest Hospital, Thailand. Patients were followed-up until death or survival as of September 1997. Survival durations for different stages were analysed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test. A total of 127 patients with histologically proved NSCLC underwent 79 lobectomies, 9 bilobectomies, 39 pneumonectomies during 1988-1992. The mean age was 60 years (SD 10.4). There were 103 males and 24 females. Percentage of histologic types were: 59 per cent adenoCA, 35 per cent squamous cell CA, and 6 per cent large cellCA. Survival analysis was feasible in 88 patients, 38 alive and 50 deaths. 1-yr, 2-yr, and 5-yr survival were as following: 85 per cent, 78 per cent, and 60 per cent in stage 1 (n = 47); 70 per cent, 50 per cent, and 30 per cent in stage 2 (n = 12); and 54 per cent, 23 per cent, and 15 per cent in stage 3a (n = 29) [log rank 19.06, df 2, p = 0.0001]. Based on the present study, the survival outcome in patients with lung cancer beyond stage 1 is uniformly poor. Measures should be made to diagnose early stage disease and expedite surgery in order that a better survival outcome can be achieved.

Hughes-Stovin syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

A young man presented with prolonged pyrexia, recurrent optic neuritis, thrombophlebitis and bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms with thrombus formation. The life-threatening hemoptysis necessitated mechanical ventilatory support and emergency left lower lobectomy. Systemic corticosteroids conferred clinical improvement and reduction of the remaining right pulmonary artery aneurysm. The patient eventually succumbed to sudden massive hemoptysis. This report underscores the unpredictable nature of this syndrome and emphasises the need for aggressive surgical intervention of pulmonary artery aneurysms in Hughes-Stovin syndrome.

Video thoracoscopic lung biopsy in diffuse interstitial lung diseases.

The present study examined the use of video thoracoscopic lung biopsy (VTLB) in diffuse interstitial lung disease, in comparison with open lung biopsy (OLB). Twenty and fifteen patients underwent VTLB and OLB, respectively, from 1987 to 1997 at the Central Chest Hospital, Thailand. Data in mean (SD). The mean age was 39 years in both groups. VTLB yielded equivalent size of lung tissues, 4.7 (2.32) cm3, and was as diagnostically useful as OLB. Estimated blood loss, 60 (37) mls, and length of pleural drainage, 2.8 (0.5) days, were comparable in either technique. As OLB had been in practice for decades, it took shorter operative time, 64 (11) mins, than VTLB, 105 (30) mins, (p = 0.005). Both VTLB and OLB approaches were safe and not associated with major postoperative complications.