Relationship Between Leaflets and Root in Normal Aortic Valve Based on Computed Tomography Imaging: Implication for Aortic Valve Repair.

Objective: By assessing the normal dimensions and the relationship between the aortic root and leaflets in Chinese population, the objective of this three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT)-based study was to establish a matching reference for leaflets and aortic root for aortic valve (AV) repair. Method: Electrocardiogram-gated multi-detector CT was performed on 168 Chinese participants with a normal aortic valve. Measurements of the aortic annuli and leaflets were obtained. The correlations between and the ratios of the specific root and leaflet measurements were analyzed. The references for the leaflet and root dimensions were suggested based on geometric height (gH) using a linear regression equation. The utility of the ratios was tested with CT images of 15 patients who underwent aortic valve repair. Result: The mean annulus diameter (AD), sino-tubular junction (STJ) diameter, geometric height (gH), effective height (eH), free margin length (FML), commissural height (ComH), inter-commissural distance (ICD), and coaptation height (CH) were 22.4 ± 1.7 mm, 27.3 ± 2, 0.4 mm, 15.5 ± 1.7 mm, 8.9 ± 1.2 mm, 32.0 ± 3.4 mm, 17.9 ± 1.9 mm, 23.1 ± 2.3 mm, and 3.1 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. The gH/AD, FML/ICD, and eH/ComH ratios were 0.69 ± 0.07, 1.38 ± 0.08, and 0.50 ± 0.07, respectively. The gH correlated with all other leaflet and root measurements (P < 0.01), whereas the FML demonstrated a better correlation with ICD compared with gH (R2 = 0.75, and R2 = 0.37, respectively). The FML/ICD and eH/ComH ratios might be used to assess leaflet-root mismatch and post-repair leaflet billowing. Conclusion: The normal aortic valve measurements based on 3DCT revealed a specific relationship between the root and leaflets; and this will guide the development of an objective method of aortic valve repair.

Cavity Formation is a Prognostic Indicator for Pathologic Stage I Invasive Lung Adenocarcinoma of ≥3 cm in Size.

BACKGROUND We investigated the correlation between cavity formation, prognosis, and tumor stage for pathologic stage I invasive lung adenocarcinomas (IADCs) ≤3 cm in size. MATERIAL AND METHODS 2106 candidates with pathologic stage I IADC were identified from Shanghai Chest Hospital between 2009 and 2014. There were 227 patients who were diagnosed as having cavity formation and another 1879 patients who were not (the non-cavitary lung cancer group). Kaplan-Meier analysis curves were conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) between these 2 groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to discover the independent risk factors of OS and RFS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was done to determine the cutoff value of cavity size for predicting prognosis. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was stratified by the size of tumor and the 8th classification of T category. RESULTS Compared with non-cavitary lung cancer group, patients with cavity formation were found to have a higher prevalence of male patients (P=0.015), older age patients (P=0.039), larger size tumors (P=0.004), and worse cancer relapse (P<0.001). Survival analysis found that patients with cavitary IADC had significantly shorter RFS than those with non-cavitary IADC (P=0.001). Further, subgroup analysis confirmed a significantly worse RFS in cavitary IADC group both in stage T1a (P=0.002) and T1b (P<0.001), but not for stage T1c (P=0.962) and T2a (P=0.364). Moreover, cavity formation was still less of a significant predictor of RFS in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.810, 95% confidence level [CI] 1.229-2.665, P=0.003). The ROC curve showed that the best cutoff value of maximum diameter of the cavity for judging RFS was 5 mm (sensitivity: 0.500; specificity: 0.783). At the same time, multiple cavities were more likely to lead to recurrence (sensitivity: 0.605; specificity: 0.439). CONCLUSIONS Cavitary adenocarcinoma was a worse prognostic indicator compared with non-cavitary adenocarcinoma, especially for cavity >5 mm and multiple cavities. Thus, for stage T1a and T1b, cavitary and non-cavitary IADC should be considered separately.

Prognosis analysis of lobectomy and sublobar resection in patients ≥75 years old with pathological stage I invasive lung adenocarcinoma of ≤3 cm: a propensity score matching-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: To determine the clinical prognosis after sublobectomy versus lobectomy in elderly patients ≥75 years old with stage I invasive lung adenocarcinoma ≤3 cm in size. METHODS: In patients ≥75 years old, 255 patients were diagnosed with stage I invasive lung adenocarcinoma ≤3 cm in size between 2010 and 2014 in Shanghai Chest Hospital, they were all treated with sublobectomy or lobectomy. Potential confounding factors that consisted in the baseline characteristics of these two groups was balanced by the method of propensity score matching (PSM). The stratified analysis was conducted to compare the relapse-free survival (RFS) and lung cancer special survival (LCSS) rates in the sublobectomy and lobectomy groups. RESULTS: As for the 255 patients, 112 cases conducted sublobectomy and 143 with lobectomy. Significant difference existed in RFS before (P=0.002) and after (P=0.010) PSM. Similarly, we still recognized significant difference in LCSS between the two groups before (log-rank P<0.001) or after (log-rank P=0.002) PSM. We still identified different RFS or LCSS rates between the stratified tumor size group and the stratified lymph node dissection group after adjustment of PSM. CONCLUSIONS: Lobectomy showed a survival advantage for sublobectomy for patient ≥75 years old with stage I lung adenocarcinoma ≤3 cm in size. Considering that lobectomy could get a better prognosis, it should be preferable for the treatment of patient ≥75 years old with stage I lung adenocarcinoma ≤3 cm in size.