The role of the surgeon in treating patients with lung cancer. An updating article

ABSTRACT Lung cancer is a type of neoplasia with one of the highest incidences worldwide and is the largest cause of mortality due to cancer in the world today. It is classified according to its histological and biological characteristics, which will determine its treatment and prognosis. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 85% of the cases, and these are the cases that surgeons mostly deal with. Small cell lung cancer accounts for the remaining 15%. Surgery is the main method for treating early stage lung cancer, and lobectomy is the preferred procedure for treating primary lung cancer, while sublobar resection is an alternative for patients with poor reserve or with very small tumors. Surgeons need to be trained to use the resources and techniques available for lung resection, including less invasive approaches such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS), and need to be familiar with new oncological approaches, including curative, adjuvant or palliative treatments for patients with lung cancer.

Bronchial carcinoid tumors: second primary neoplasms and outcomes of surgical treatment / Tumores carcinoides brônquicos: segunda neoplasia primária e desfechos do tratamento cirúrgico

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze determinants of prognosis in patients with bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically and the potential concomitance of such tumors with second primary neoplasms. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 51 bronchial carcinoid tumors treated surgically between 2007 and 2016. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and determinants of prognosis were evaluated. Primary neoplasms that were concomitant with the bronchial carcinoid tumors were identified by reviewing patient charts. Results: The median age was 51.2 years, 58.8% of the patients were female, and 52.9% were asymptomatic. The most common histology was typical carcinoid (in 80.4%). Five-year DFS was 89.8%. Ki-67 expression was determined in 27 patients, and five-year DFS was better among the patients in whom Ki-67 expression was ≤ 5% than among those in whom it was > 5% (100% vs. 47.6%; p = 0.01). Concomitant primary neoplasms were observed in 14 (27.4%) of the 51 cases. Among the concomitant primary neoplasms that were malignant, the most common was lung adenocarcinoma, which was observed in 3 cases. Concomitant primary neoplasms were more common in patients who were asymptomatic and in those with small tumors. Conclusions: Surgical resection is the mainstay treatment of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors and confers a good prognosis. Bronchial carcinoid tumors are likely to be accompanied by second primary neoplasms.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os determinantes do prognóstico em pacientes com tumores carcinoides brônquicos tratados cirurgicamente e possível segunda neoplasia primária concomitante. Métodos: Trata-se de uma análise retrospectiva de 51 tumores carcinoides brônquicos tratados cirurgicamente entre 2007 e 2016. A sobrevida livre de doença (SLD) foi calculada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier, e os determinantes do prognóstico foram avaliados. As neoplasias primárias concomitantes aos tumores carcinoides brônquicos foram identificadas por meio da análise dos prontuários dos pacientes. Resultados: A mediana de idade foi de 51,2 anos, 58,8% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 52,9% eram assintomáticos. A classificação histológica mais comum foi carcinoide típico (em 80,4%). A SLD em cinco anos foi de 89,8%. A expressão de Ki-67 foi determinada em 27 pacientes, e a SLD em cinco anos foi melhor nos pacientes nos quais a expressão de Ki-67 foi ≤ 5% do que naqueles nos quais a expressão de Ki-67 foi > 5% (100% vs. 47,6%; p = 0,01). Neoplasias primárias concomitantes foram observadas em 14 (27,4%) dos 51 casos. Entre as neoplasias primárias malignas concomitantes, a mais comum foi o adenocarcinoma pulmonar, observado em 3 casos. Neoplasias primárias concomitantes foram mais comuns em pacientes assintomáticos e naqueles com tumores pequenos. Conclusões: A resseção cirúrgica é o principal tratamento de tumores carcinoides broncopulmonares e propicia um bom prognóstico. É provável que tumores carcinoides brônquicos se relacionem com segunda neoplasia primária.

Pulmonary metastasectomy from soft tissue sarcomas

INTRODUCTION: Isolated pulmonary metastases from soft tissue sarcomas occur in 20-50 percent of these(the issue is about metastases, not lung cancer )patients, and 70 percent of these patients will present disease limited only to the lungs. Surgical resection is well accepted as a standard approach to treat metastases from soft tissue sarcomas isolated in the lungs, and many studies investigating this technique have reported an overall 5-year survival ranging from 30-40 percent. The most consistent predictor of survival in these patients is complete resection. The aim of the present study was to determine the demographics and clinical treatment-related variables associated with long-term (90-month) overall survival in patients with lung metastases undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy from soft tissue sarcomas. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients admitted in the Thoracic Surgery Department with lung metastases who underwent thoracotomy for resection following treatment of the primary tumor. Data regarding primary tumor features, demographics, treatment, and outcome were collected. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two thoracotomies and 273 nodules were resected from 77 patients with previously treated soft tissue sarcomas. The median follow-up time of all patients was 36.7 months (range: 10-138 months). The postoperative complication rate was 9.1 percent, and the 30-day mortality rate was 0 percent. The 90-month overall survival rate for all patients was 34.7 percent. Multivariate analysis identified the following independent prognostic factors for overall survival: the number of metastases resected, the disease-free interval, and the number of complete resections. 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 lung resection.

Characteristics associated with complete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors / Características associadas à ressecção cirúrgica completa de tumores malignos primários do mediastino

OBJECTIVE: To identify preoperative characteristics associated with complete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2006, 42 patients with primary malignant mediastinal tumors were submitted to surgery with curative intent at a single facility. Patient charts were reviewed in order to collect data related to demographics, clinical manifestation, characteristics of mediastinal tumors and imaging aspects of invasiveness. RESULTS: The surgical resection was considered complete in 69.1 percent of the patients. Cases of incomplete resection were attributed to invasion of the following structures: large blood vessels (4 cases); the superior vena cava (3 cases); the heart (2 cases); the lung and chest wall (3cases); and the trachea (1 case). Overall survival was significantly better among the patients submitted to complete surgical resection than among those submitted to incomplete resection. The frequency of incomplete resection was significantly higher in cases in which the tumor had invaded organs other than the lung (as identified through imaging studies) than in those in which it was restricted to the lung (47.6 percent vs. 14.3 percent; p = 0.04). None of the other preoperative characteristics analyzed were found to be associated with complete resection. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative radiological evidence of invasion of organs other than the lung is associated with the incomplete surgical resection of primary malignant mediastinal tumors.

OBJETIVO: Identificar características pré-operatórias associadas à ressecção cirúrgica completa de tumores malignos primários do mediastino. MÉTODOS: Entre os anos de 1996 e 2006, 42 pacientes com tumores malignos primários do mediastino foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico com intenção curativa em uma única instituição. Dados demográficos, manifestações clínicas, características do tumor mediastinal e aspectos de invasão por métodos de imagem foram identificados através da análise de prontuários. RESULTADOS: A ressecção cirúrgica foi considerada completa em 69,1 por cento dos pacientes. As causas de ressecção incompleta foram atribuídas à invasão das seguintes estruturas: grandes vasos (4 casos); veia cava superior (3 casos); coração (2 casos); pulmão e parede torácica (3 casos); e traqueia (1 caso). Os pacientes que foram submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica completa tiveram sobrevida global significativamente melhor que os pacientes submetidos à ressecção incompleta. A frequência de ressecção incompleta foi significativamente maior nos casos nos quais foram identificadas características radiológicas de invasão de outros órgãos além do pulmão do que nos casos cujas características eram restritas ao pulmão (47,6 por cento vs. 14,3 por cento; p = 0,04). Nenhuma das outras características pré-operatórias analisadas foi associada com a ressecção cirúrgica completa. CONCLUSÕES: Evidências radiológicas de invasão de órgãos além do pulmão no pré-operatório estão associadas à ressecção cirúrgica incompleta de tumores primários malignos do mediastino.

Aplicação clínica dos marcadores tumorais séricos em carcinoma não-pequenas células do pulmão / Clinical application of serum tumor markers in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

O valor clínico dos marcadores tumorais séricos em câncer de pulmão é incerto. Objetivos: Avaliar a associação da concentração sérica de marcadores tumorais com a extensão da neoplasia e seu valor prognóstico. Casuística e método: Entre fevereiro de 1995 e setembro de 1997 foram estudados 103 pacientes, no Departamento de Cirurgia Torácica do Hospital do Câncer. Antes do tratamento os pacientes foram submetidos à coleta de sangue para dosagem da concentração do CEA, CYFRA21.1, CA15.3, CA19.9, CA72.4 e NSE. Resultados: O CYFRA21.1 foi o marcador mais freqüentemente elevado (55 por cento). Os pacientes com neoplasia avançada tiveram concentração sérica média do CEA (90,82 ± 329,08ng/ml), CYFRA21.1 (20,34 ± 58,42ng/ml) e CA15.3 (56,54 ± 86,81U/ml) significativamente superior às observadas nos tumores localizados, respectivamente, 10,24 ± 35,96ng/ml, 12,67 ± 25,23ng/ml e 22,22 ± 15,86U/ml. Mesmo considerando todos os marcadores deste estudo, apenas os pacientes com CEA elevado tiveram chance 5,6 vezes maior de ser portadores de neoplasia avançada, quando comparados com aqueles com CEA normal. A sobrevida foi influenciada pelo performance status (p = 0,001), extensão anatômica (p = 0,006), concentração aumentada do CEA (p = 0,043), mais que dois marcadores aumentados (p < 0,001) e tipo de tratamento (p < 0,001). O valor prognóstico da extensão da neoplasia atingiu o limite da significância (p = 0,052); entretanto, a presença de mais do que dois marcadores aumentados e a modalidade terapêutica tiveram valor prognóstico independente (respectivamente, p = 0,035 e p = 0,005). Conclusões: Nenhum dos marcadores tumorais séricos avaliados apresenta utilidade clínica no manejo dos pacientes com CNPCP.

Tumor de células granulares da traquéia / Grabular cell tumor of the trachea: case report

Tumor de células granulares é uma neoplasia incomum com origem nas células de Schwarnn.Raramente tem origem no trato respiratório, havendo descriçäo de apenas 32 pacientes com tumor primário situado na traquéia. Relata-se o caso de uma mulher, jovem, portadora de tumor de células granulares da traquéia, tratada cirurgicamente com bons resultados