Chest radiotherapy after left upper lobectomy may be a risk factor for thrombosis in the pulmonary vein stump.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis in the pulmonary vein stump (PVS) is not a well-known complication after pulmonary lobectomy, but it has the potential to cause embolism to vital organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for thrombosis in the PVS after pulmonary lobectomy. METHODS: A total of 439 patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy from 2008 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed, and 412 patients were further analyzed. The state of the PVS was evaluated by chest contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate the potential risk factors for thrombosis in the PVS. RESULTS: Thrombosis in the PVS was detected in 6 of 412 (1.5%) patients, and 5 of them underwent left upper lobectomy (LUL) (5/100, 5.0%) (P = 0.004). In the analyses of the LUL group, postoperative chest radiotherapy was identified as a risk factor for thrombosis in the PVS (P = 0.024), and postoperative atrial fibrillation showed a tendency to be a risk factor for thrombosis (P = 0.058). CONCLUSIONS: Chest radiotherapy after LUL is a possible risk factor for thrombosis in the PVS. Periodic chest CECT is recommended after postoperative chest radiotherapy for patients after LUL.

A pilot study of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and oral S-1 for patients with completely resected stage II to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant chemotherapy with platinum-based regimens for completely resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) provides overall survival benefit in several clinical trials. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and S-1 for patients with completely resected stage II to IIIA NSCLC. METHODS: Patients with completely resected stage IIA to IIIA NSCLC were treated with four cycles of carboplatin with area under the concentration time curve of 5 mg/mL/min on day 1 plus S-1 at 80-120 mg/bodyweight per day for two weeks, followed by one-week rest as adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of three cycles of the treatment. The secondary endpoints were safety and two-year survival rate. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were enrolled, until the study was terminated prematurely because of fatal pulmonary embolism in two patients. The median number of treatment cycles was three (range: 1-4). The completion rate of three cycles was 78.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56.6-91.4%). Two-year disease-free survival rate was 57.8%. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities included neutropenia (26.2%), anemia (5.2%), and thrombocytopenia (15.7%). Grade 3 or 4 nonhematological toxicities were anorexia (10.5%) and nausea (10.5%). Febrile neutropenia developed in 5.2%. In two patients (10.5%), grade five pulmonary embolism was observed, and the causal relationship with treatment could not be denied. CONCLUSIONS: Carboplatin and oral S-1 had modest survival benefit, but this regimen was not tolerable in an adjuvant setting because fatal pulmonary embolism occurred in two patients. KEY POINTS: Carboplatin and oral S-1 had modest survival benefit but this regimen was not tolerable. Fatal pulmonary embolism occurred in this regimen.

Left superior pulmonary vein stump thrombosis and right renal infarction after left upper lobectomy: case report and literature review.

Left upper lobectomy (LUL) has been considered to have a higher risk of thrombus formation in the pulmonary vein stump (PVS) than other lobectomies. A case of thrombus formation in the PVS and right renal infarction detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) 12 days after LUL is presented. The thrombus in the PVS was considered to be related to the renal infarction because of the lack of other potential explanations. After intravenous heparin treatment for 1 week and continuous oral anticoagulation, the thrombus in the PVS became smaller 3 months after the operation, and it basically disappeared after 1 year. Scar formation was detected in the area of renal infarction 3 months after the operation, and no specific change was detected from then on. One should consider performing postoperative chest and abdominal CECT routinely within 1 week after LUL, and, if thrombosis is found, antithrombotic therapy might then be given.

Novel approach for predicting occult lymph node metastasis in peripheral clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Occult nodal metastasis results in a poor prognosis for lung cancer patients. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient approach for predicting occult nodal metastasis in peripheral clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Data for 237 peripheral clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent complete resection were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate predictors of occult nodal metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for survival. RESULTS: Occult nodal metastasis was detected in 26/237 (11.0%) patients. Nodule type, tumor SUVmax, whole tumor size, solid tumor size, and preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were identified as preoperative predictors of occult nodal metastasis (all P<0.05). Solid tumor size (P<0.001) and preoperative serum CEA (P=0.004) were identified as independent predictors on multivariate analysis. A prediction model was established using the independent predictors. The occult nodal metastasis rate was 2.4% with solid tumor size ≤2.3 cm (low-risk group), 17.0% with solid tumor size >2.3 cm and CEA ≤5 ng/mL (moderate-risk group), and 56.0% with solid tumor size >2.3 cm and CEA >5 ng/mL (high-risk group). The occult nodal metastasis rate was significantly higher in papillary-predominant (11.0%) and solid-predominant subtypes (28.6%; P=0.001). Patients having a micropapillary component had a significantly higher occult nodal metastasis rate (24.2%) compared with no micropapillary component (P=0.007). Histological subtype with micropapillary component and all preoperative predictors were significant prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival (DFS) (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A novel approach to predict occult nodal metastasis was developed for peripheral clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma. It would be helpful for selecting candidates for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) or wedge resection and mediastinoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Complete nodal dissection should be performed for moderate to high-risk patients or patients with poor histologic subtypes.

Management of acute ischemic stroke after pulmonary resection: incidence and efficacy of endovascular thrombus aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed acute ischemic stroke by thromboembolism in the early period after lung cancer surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical records of patients who underwent lung resection for primary lung cancer was performed. Patients who underwent lobectomy, bilobectomy, and pneumonectomy were included. The clinical characteristics of the patients, the incidence of atrial fibrillation (Af) after surgery, and the incidence of acute ischemic stroke were analyzed. The clinical courses of patients having acute ischemic stroke were also reviewed. RESULTS: In 4 (0.6%) of 696 patients, acute ischemic stroke occurred in the early period during hospitalization after lung cancer surgery. Acute ischemic stroke occurred within 4 days in three cases and after 4 days in one case. The resection site of the lung was the left side in all cases, and there were three cases of left upper lobectomy and one case of left lower lobectomy. As for the two recent patients, thrombus removal was performed by a neurosurgeon, and both cases achieved successful recanalization. The time between symptom detection and recanalization was 205 and 170 min, respectively. One patient was cured without any residual effect of disease, and the other patient's hemiplegia resolved and aphasia improved. CONCLUSION: Since cerebral infarction impairs the patient's quality of life, thrombus removal should be considered if possible.

Comparison of perioperative and oncological outcomes between video-assisted segmentectomy and lobectomy for patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: a propensity score matching study.

BACKGROUND: Segmentectomy for lung cancer remains controversial because of the complexity of the procedure and concern about an increased recurrence rate. It is important to compare perioperative and oncological outcomes between segmentectomy and lobectomy. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2016, 41 segmentectomies by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and 122 VATS lobectomies for 163 patients with clinical stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were performed. Clinicopathological factors, including recurrence rate and survival rate, were compared. In order to reduce biases of outcomes, clinicopathological factors were used for propensity score matching (PSM). Then, 41 VATS segmentectomies and 41 lobectomies were selected and further analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between the two groups in age, pulmonary function, comorbidity, operative time, blood loss, chest tube duration days, postoperative stay days, complications, histological type, and multiple primary rate. Smoking index resected number of nodes, tumor size, lymph node metastasis rate, and pathological stage were higher in the lobectomy group than in the segmentectomy group (P<0.05). In the lobectomy group, 16 patients (13.1%) had recurrence, and 2 patients (1.6%) died because of cancer progression. There were no significant differences in the recurrence rate and prognosis between the two groups. In addition, Cox regression analysis suggested that sex, lymph node metastasis, and pathology stage were associated with recurrence (P<0.05), but no factor was an independent prognostic factor. After PSM, the two groups had similar clinicopathological factors, and the type of operation still had no relationship with the recurrence rate or the death rate. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative and oncological outcomes of VATS segmentectomy are similar to those of VATS lobectomy for patients with clinical stage IA NSCLC. VATS segmentectomy can be considered one of the surgical procedures appropriate for patients with clinical stage IA NSCLC.

Spontaneous regression of anterior mediastinal seminoma with normalization of ß-human chorionic gonadotropin levels.

INTRODUCTION: Although spontaneous regression (SR) of anterior mediastinal seminoma is very rare with normalization of ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) level, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is the most effective solution for definite diagnosis of indeterminate anterior mediastinal masses. DIAGNOSIS, THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS, AND OUTCOMES: A rare case of an asymptomatic 37-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal mass that was detected on a routine chest X-ray is presented. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large anterior mediastinal tumor with superior vena cava invasion and SR before VATS for definitive diagnosis. On pathology, the definitive diagnosis was seminoma. Microscopic examination showed abundant apoptotic cells within the tumor. Chemotherapy (bleomycin 30mg/day, etoposide 200mg/day, cisplatin 40mg/day) was given to this patient, and the tumor showed high sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Anterior mediastinal seminoma showing SR induced by spontaneous apoptosis of tumor cells may have good sensitivity to chemotherapy, and a good clinical outcome may be achieved in these patients. This case also highlights that VATS is the most effective solution for definite diagnosis of indeterminate anterior mediastinal masses.

Acute mesenteric ischemia and hepatic infarction after treatment of ectopic Cushing's syndrome.

SUMMARY: Patients with Cushing's syndrome and excess exogenous glucocorticoids have an increased risk for venous thromboembolism, as well as arterial thrombi. The patients are at high risk of thromboembolic events, especially during active disease and even in cases of remission and after surgery in Cushing's syndrome and withdrawal state in glucocorticoid users. We present a case of Cushing's syndrome caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting lung carcinoid tumor. Our patient developed acute mesenteric ischemia after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery despite administration of sufficient glucocorticoid and thromboprophylaxis in the perioperative period. In addition, our patient developed hepatic infarction after surgical resection of the intestine. Then, the patient was supported by total parenteral nutrition. Our case report highlights the risk of microthrombi, which occurred in our patient after treatment of ectopic Cushing's syndrome. Guidelines on thromboprophylaxis and/or antiplatelet therapy for Cushing's syndrome are acutely needed. LEARNING POINTS: The present case showed acute mesenteric thromboembolism and hepatic infarction after treatment of ectopic Cushing's syndrome.Patients with Cushing's syndrome are at increased risk for thromboembolic events and increased morbidity and mortality.An increase in thromboembolic risk has been observed during active disease, even in cases of remission and postoperatively in Cushing's syndrome.Thromboprophylaxis and antiplatelet therapy should be considered in treatment of glucocorticoid excess or glucocorticoid withdrawal.

[Primary Lung Cancer Associated with Dilated Phase of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy;Report of a Case].

A 66-year-old man diagnosed as dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (D-HCM) was pointed out an abnormal shadow on routine chest radiography. The patient had past medical history of hypertension, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The computed tomography showed a 3.8 cm-sized tumor in the left lower lobe of the lung, and histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma (cT2aN0-1M0, cStage I B-II A). Cardiosonography showed diffuse hypokinesis from basal to mid area, and ejection fraction was 36.3%. Sporadic ventricular premature contraction was seen by the Holter electrocardiogram. The patient underwent left lower lobectomy with node lymph node dissection (ND1b). The circulatory condition of the patient was stable during surgery. After surgery, careful management of electrolytes and fluid infusion, and the regular medication was started again on the next day of surgery.

[Tension Pneumothorax Developing Hemothorax after Chest Tube Drainage].

A 61-year-old man visited a physician complaining of progressive chest pain and dyspnea. The chest radiography showed complete collapse of the right lung suggesting tension pneumothorax. The patient was transferred to our hospital. A small amount of the right pleural effusion was also seen in addition to pulmonary collapse on the chest radiography. Chest drainage was performed, and continuous air leakage was seen. At 2 hours later, air leakage was disappeared but the bloody effusion was noted. The chest radiography revealed massive effusion and the enhanced computed tomography showed active bleeding. The emergency surgery was conducted. The bleeding point was a ruptured vessel between the apical parietal pleura and the pulmonary bulla. Hemostasis and the resection of the bullae was performed. Careful observation after chest drainage is necessary to prepare unexpected hemothorax in case of tension pneumothorax with pleural effusion.

[Hemopneumothorax after thoracic sympathetic nerve block; report of a case].

A 72-year-old man, who had been treated pneumothorax 50 years ago, visited a physician complaining of dyspnea after thoracic sympathetic nerve block for postherpetic neuralgia. The patient was diagnosed as pneumothorax, and was consulted to our hospital. Clinical sign and the chest radiography suggested tension hemopneumothorax, and the chest drainage was immediately performed. Although bloody fluid of 1,100 ml was initially drained, no further increase was noted. The patient was discharged on the 21st hospital day.

[Results of non-rigid prosthetic reconstruction with expanded polytetrafluoro-ethylene( ePTFE) soft tissue patch following chest wall resection for malignant tumors].

Twenty patients underwent chest wall reconstruction using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(ePTFE) soft tissue patch following resection between June 1996 and December 2012. The patients included 15 men and 5 women, aged 18 to 80 years. The indications for resection included 4 primary tumors, 8 metastatic tumors, and 8 infiltrating tumors. The lesions were located anteriorly in 10 patients, laterally in 5 patients and posteriorly in 5 patients. Skeletal resection involved an average of 2 ribs in 19 patients, and a partial sternectomy in 1 patient. The size of chest wall defects ranged from 20 to 210 cm2( mean, 69.8 cm2). Lung resection was performed in 7 patients included a wedge resection, 5 lobectomy, and a bilobectomy. Chest wall defects were closed primarily with ePTFE soft tissue patch. There were no critical complications or postoperative mortalities. The mean follow-up in all patients is 72.7 months. Recurrence of malignancy occurred in 10 patients included a local recurrence in 1 patient, and metastases in 9 patients. The overall postoperative 5-year survival rate is 61.0%. Non-rigid prosthetic reconstruction with ePTFE soft tissue patch provides satisfactory outcome. New prosthetic materials have to be examined whether they are superior to ePTFE soft tissue patch.

A prospective study of surgical procedures for patients with oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Purely localized, oligometastatic, and widely metastatic tumors are likely to require different therapeutic strategies. Although surgical procedures for isolated pulmonary, brain, or adrenal metastases from lung cancer have been extensively evaluated, most data are from retrospective studies; accordingly, we conducted a prospective multicenter trial. METHODS: Patients were eligible if they had previously untreated clinical T1-2N0-1 lung cancer with single-organ metastasis, or single-organ metachronous metastasis after complete resection of pathologic T1-2N0-1 lung cancer. Metastatic lesions were classified into three groups: group A included metastasis in single organs other than brain or lung; group B included synchronous brain metastasis; and group C included pulmonary metastasis. The treatment intervention was surgical resection of metachronous metastasis or of both synchronous metastasis and primary lung cancer. RESULTS: From December 2002 through June 2011, 36 patients were enrolled. Two patients were ineligible, and the remaining 34 were analyzed; 6 (18%) had a benign lesion and no metastasis, 5 patients (15%) underwent incomplete resection of primary lung cancer, and 20 patients (59%) underwent complete resection of both primary lung cancer and metastasis. The 5-year survival rate for these 20 cases was 44.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical T1-2N0-1 lung cancer with a single-organ metastatic lesion was a good candidate for surgical resection. A 5-year survival rate of about 40% can be expected, which could be comparable with that for stage II non-small cell lung cancer.

[Elderly Bochdalek hernia found out by intestinal obstruction].

A 78-year-old man, who had been pointed out elevation of the diaphragm by chest radiography, visited local physician complaining of abdominal pain and vomiting. He was referred to our hospital and was diagnosed as intestinal obstruction. The patient had neither respiratory symptoms nor findings of peritonitis. The radiography revealed intestinal gas with neveau formation in the left thorax. The computed tomography showed dilatation of the stomach and small intestine, and a diaphragmatic hernia was suspected. Although conservative treatment was started, radiographic and laboratory findings got worse on the 5th hospital day. The patient underwent surgery for a left diaphragmatic hernia with the intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis of Bochdalek hernia with hernia sac was established. The content of hernia was the perforated small intestine. Postoperative course was almost uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 35th postoperative day without pyothorax. In treatment of adult Bochdalek hernia, early surgery is important because patients with incarceration or perforation often experience severe postoperative complication.

Depression increases the length of hospitalization for patients undergoing thoracic surgery: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment, especially thoracic surgery, is a burdensome prospect for many patients. Depression-related anxiety, insomnia, and stress are common complaints in preoperative patients. Such depressive complaints are currently thought to affect the patients' physiological status. We examined the effect of mental status on the length of hospitalization following thoracic surgery. METHODS: The study population was comprised of 52 patients (lung cancer 88%) who underwent operative treatment for thoracic disease. Patient depressive status was evaluated using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at admission and again at discharge. Demographic data were collected retrospectively and included age, thoracotomy, and number of days in the hospital. RESULTS: SDS scores did not differ between admission and discharge (37.7 ± 9.9 vs. 40.4 ± 8.9, respectively; ns). The length of hospitalization in patients with depression (SDS score > 40) was significantly greater than for those without depression (P < 0.05). The length of hospitalization significantly correlated with the SDS score at admission (r = 0.492, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses revealed that the length of hospitalization correlated with the SDS score at admission (P < 0.01) and with endoscopic surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that depression increases the length of hospitalization for malignancy patients undergoing thoracic surgery; early intervention or treatment for depression may be required for these patients to improve outcomes.

A clinical study of the prognostic factors for postoperative early recurrence in patients who underwent complete resection for pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The 2-[F-18]-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) and serum neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are recently noteworthy prognostic factors. We studied the prognostic factor to predict early recurrence after curative resection for pulmonary adenocarcinoma including FDG uptake and NLR. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 23 patients who underwent a complete resection for pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 19 patients in the disease-free group, and 4 patients in the recurrent group. Clinical and pathological factors concerning the recurrence within 1 year of surgery were analyzed between two groups. RESULTS: No significant differences between the recurrent group and disease-free group was seen in age, gender, CEA, NLR, CRP, pathological stage, pleural invasion, pathological grading, Ki-67 expression, venous invasion and lymphatic invasion. The SUVmax was significantly elevated in the recurrent group (12.5 ± 2.01 vs. 5.70 ± 3.97, p = 0.0094). Tumor size was significantly larger in the recurrent group (5.58 ± 0.71 vs. 3.62 ± 1.33 cm, p = 0.0058). The first, recurrent sites in 4 patients were brain, in 3 patients; and lung, in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: Both tumor size and SUVmax are possible predictors of early recurrence after curative resection in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Although it is impossible to determine the SUVmax as an independent prognostic factor, the SUVmax may be one of the predictors of early hematogenous recurrence in surgically treated pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

[Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma producing CA19-9].

A 76-year-old man, who had underwent radiation for laryngeal cancer 5 years before, was pointed out abnormal pulmonary lesion on computed tomography. The 4.6 cm-sized lesion was seen in the upper lobe of the left lung. Endoscopic brushing cytology revealed adenocarcinoma. The patient was diagnosed as primary lung cancer of T2N0M0, clinical stage IB. Preoperative serum CA19-9 was elevated to 250 U/ml, although other tumor markers were within normal limits. The patient underwent left upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. Histologically, the lesion was diagnosed as well differentiated adenocarcinoma, mucinous subtype of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) in World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Immunohistochemistry shows positive for CA19-9 and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1).

[Multiple nodular pulmonary amyloidosis complicated with Sjögren syndrome].

A 67-year-old woman, who had been treated for Sjögren syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years, was consulted for examination of multiple nodular pulmonary nodules. She has been pointed out multiple pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) for 7 years, of which the number and the size gradually increased. When visuting our hospital, approximately 20 nodules up to 10 mm in size were noted. Thoracoscopic resection of the nodule was performed and histological diagnosis was amyloid, which was negative for A- and P- component and positive for transthyretin. Neither amyloid deposition in other organs nor abnormal protein in serum and urine was detected. The diagnosis of localized nodular pulmonary amyloidosis was established. As far as our knowledge, this is the 1st report of transthyretin amyloidosis with Sjögren syndrome.

[Surgical treated pulmonary metastasis from prostatic cancer; report of a case].

A 74-year-old man who had been treated by endocrine therapy for prostatic cancer for 7 years was pointed out an abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray. Computed tomography showed solitary tumor in the lower lobe of the left lung. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed pulmonary metastasis form prostatic cancer. Because no other metastatic lesions were detected, the patient underwent surgery for pulmonary lesion. The wedge resection of the left lung was performed. Microscopically, the diagnosis of pulmonary and multiple pleural metastases was established. The pulmonary metastasis without bone nor lymph node metastasis is rare. Pleural metastasis should be considered in case of pulmonary metastasis from prostatic cancer. Surgical indication for pulmonary metastasis from prostatic cancer has to be decided carefully.