Role of positron emission tomography in the early prediction of response to chemotherapy in patients with non--small-cell lung cancer.

In recent years, molecular imaging with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography, [(18)F]FDG-PET, has become part of the standard of care in initial staging of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Currently, there is an increasing interest in the role of [(18)F]FDG-PET in the evaluation of biological characteristics of the tumor and the prediction of response to anticancer therapies at an early phase of treatment. According to the existing data, quantitative assessment of therapy-induced changes in tumor [(18)F]FDG uptake may allow the prediction of tumor response and patient outcome very early in the course of therapy. Treatment may be adjusted according to the chemosensitivity of the tumor tissue in an individual patient. Thus, [(18)F]FDG-PET has the potential to reduce the side effects and costs of ineffective therapy. This review provides an update on recent studies that evaluate the role of [(18)F]FDG-PET in the early prediction of response to chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. In addition, it discusses the application of [(18)F]FDG-PET to the monitoring of new targeted forms of anticancer therapy and particularly of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Finally, it evaluates the usefulness of [(18)F]fluorothymidine, a PET tracer for imaging tumor proliferation, in predicting response to therapy in patients with lung cancer.

Thoracoscopic extrapleural pneumonectomy for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is the most common primary pleural malignancy. Surgical therapy offers limited cure benefits at the cost of high morbidity. Although technically challenging and performed rarely, a less invasive approach to extrapleural pneumonectomy was developed with the intent to speed convalescence, hasten adjuvant therapies, improve quality of life, and reduce wound surface area for possible tumor contamination.

Chylothorax.

Chylothorax is a rare complication of pulmonary resection. It requires prompt treatment, which is initially conservative. This treatment consists of drainage, nutritional support, and measures to diminish chyle flow. Surgical intervention is indicated when conservative management is ineffective. Delay in surgical intervention leads not only to serious metabolic, nutritional, and immunologic disturbances from the loss of chyle but also increases the risk for adhesion formation, loculation, organization, and infection of the chylothorax, making subsequent surgical attempts difficult and increasing postoperative morbidity and mortality. VATS provides a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection. Clipping of the thoracic duct or chemical pleurodesis may be performed with minimal morbidity and mortality. Conservative treatment is expensive and fails in most patients who have high-output chylous fistulae. On the other hand, VATS is uniformly effective, is less expensive, and has low morbidity. Indeed, VATS is rapidly becoming the preferred approach for the management of chylothorax complicating pulmonary resection. The need to prevent the occurrence of a chylothorax by careful dissection techniques and liberal clipping of lymphatic vessels particularly in areas of high anatomic risk during the initial operation cannot be overemphasized.