Routine follow-up after surgical treatment of lung cancer: is chest CT useful? / Acompanhamento de rotina após tratamento cirúrgico de câncer de pulmão: a TC de tórax é útil?

ABSTRACT Objective: To report the experience of a routine follow-up program based on medical visits and chest CT. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving patients followed after complete surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer between April of 2007 and December of 2015. The follow-up program consisted of clinical examination and chest CT. Each follow-up visit was classified as a routine or non-routine consultation, and patients were considered symptomatic or asymptomatic. The outcomes of the follow-up program were no evidence of cancer, recurrence, or second primary lung cancer. Results: The sample comprised 148 patients. The median time of follow-up was 40.1 months, and 74.3% of the patients underwent fewer chest CTs than those recommended in our follow-up program. Recurrence and second primary lung cancer were found in 17.6% and 11.5% of the patients, respectively. Recurrence was diagnosed in a routine medical consultation in 69.2% of the cases, 57.7% of the patients being asymptomatic. Second primary lung cancer was diagnosed in a routine medical appointment in 94.1% of the cases, 88.2% of the patients being asymptomatic. Of the 53 patients who presented with abnormalities on chest CT, 41 (77.3%) were diagnosed with cancer. Conclusion: Most of the cases of recurrence, especially those of second primary lung cancer, were confirmed by chest CT in asymptomatic patients, indicating the importance of a strict follow-up program that includes chest CTs after surgical resection of lung cancer.

RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar a experiência de um programa de acompanhamento de rotina baseado em consultas médicas e TC de tórax. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo envolvendo pacientes acompanhados após ressecção cirúrgica completa de câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas entre abril de 2007 e dezembro de 2015. O programa de acompanhamento consistiu em exame clínico e TC de tórax. Cada visita de acompanhamento foi classificada como uma consulta de rotina ou fora da rotina, e os pacientes foram considerados sintomáticos ou assintomáticos. Os desfechos do programa de acompanhamento foram ausência de evidência de câncer, recidiva ou segundo câncer de pulmão primário. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 148 pacientes. A mediana do tempo de acompanhamento foi de 40,1 meses, e 74,3% dos pacientes realizaram menos TCs do que as recomendadas em nosso programa de acompanhamento. Recidiva e segundo câncer de pulmão primário foram encontrados em 17,6% e 11,5% dos pacientes, respectivamente. A recidiva foi diagnosticada em uma consulta médica de rotina em 69,2% dos casos, sendo 57,7% dos pacientes assintomáticos. O segundo câncer de pulmão primário foi diagnosticado em consulta médica de rotina em 94,1% dos casos, sendo 88,2% dos pacientes assintomáticos. Dos 53 pacientes que apresentaram anormalidades na TC de tórax, 41 (77,3%) foram diagnosticados com câncer. Conclusões: A maioria dos casos de recidiva, principalmente os de segundo câncer de pulmão primário, foi confirmada por TC de tórax em pacientes assintomáticos, indicando a importância de um programa de acompanhamento rigoroso que inclua TC de tórax após ressecção cirúrgica de câncer de pulmão.

Surgical resection of lung metastases: results from 529 patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine clinical, pathological, and treatment-relevant variables associated with long-term (90-month) overall survival in patients with lung metastases undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients who were admitted with lung metastases, and who underwent thoracotomy for resection, after treatment of a primary tumor. Data were collected regarding demographics, tumor features, treatment, and outcome.RESULTS: Patients (n = 529) were submitted to a total of 776 thoracotomies. Median follow-up time across all patients was 21.6 months (range: 0-192 months). The postoperative complication rate was 9.3%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 0.2%. The ninety-month overall survival rate for all patients was 30.4%. Multivariate analysis identified the number of pulmonary nodules detected on preoperative CT-scan, the number of malignant nodules resected, and complete resection as the independent prognostic factors for overall survival.CONCLUSION: These results confirm that lung metastasectomy is a safe and potentially curative procedure for patients with treated primary tumors. A select group of patients can achieve long-term survival after resection.

Predictive success factors for ct-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of pulmonary lesions

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomography-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of lung lesions is a simple, safe and reproducible procedure. Currently, it is widely used to diagnose lung lesions. However, different factors can influence the success rates of this procedure. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of radiological and procedural characteristics in predicting the success rates of computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of lung lesions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was developed and involved 340 patients who were submitted to a consecutive series of 362 computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies of lung lesions, between July 1996 and June 2004, using 22-gauge needles (Chiba). Variables such as the radiological characteristics of the lesions, secondary pulmonary radiological findings, and procedural techniques were studied. RESULTS: For this study, 304 (84 percent) fine needle aspiration biopsies of lung lesions provided sufficient material for cytological evaluation. The variables that predicted sufficient material for cytological evaluation were lesions larger than 40 mm (p=0.02), lesions on the superior lung lobes (p=0.02), and suspicion of primary lung malignancy (p=0.03). From the multivariate analysis, the only predictive variable for success of the biopsies was localization on the superior lobes (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of lung lesions showed greater rates of success in biopsies performed in patients with suspicion of primary lung malignancy, with lesions located in the superior lobes, and that have diameters equal to and larger than 40 mm.

Chemotherapy versus best supportive care in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, non metastatic to the brain

Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer is a fatal disease, with a median survival of 14 months. Systemic chemotherapy is the most common approach. However the impact in overall survival and quality of life still a controversy. OBJECTIVES: To determine differences in overall survival and quality of life among patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer non-metastatic to the brain treated with best supportive care versus systemic chemotherapy. PATIENTS: From February 1990 through December 1995, 78 eligible patients were admitted with the diagnosis of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer . Patients were divided in 2 groups: Group A (n=31 -- treated with best supportive care ), and Group B (n=47 -- treated with systemic chemotherapy). RESULTS: The median survival time was 23 weeks (range 5 -- 153 weeks) in Group A and 55 weeks (range 7.4 -- 213 weeks) in Group B (p=0.0018). In both groups, the incidence of admission for IV antibiotics and need of blood transfusions were similar. Patients receiving systemic chemotherapy were also stratified into those receiving mytomycin, vinblastin, and cisplatinum, n=25 and those receiving other combination regimens (platinum derivatives associated with other drugs, n=22). Patients receiving mytomycin, vinblastin, and cisplatinum, n=25 had a higher incidence of febrile neutropenia and had their cycles delayed for longer periods of time than the other group. These patients also had a shorter median survival time (51 versus 66 weeks, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: In patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, non-metastatic to the brain, chemotherapy significantly increases survival compared with best supportive care