Foreign Body Reaction Mimicking Lymph Node Metastasis is Not Rare After Lung Cancer Resection.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymphadenopathies with high 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in patients previously operated on for lung cancer are alarming for recurrence and necessitate invasive diagnostic procedures. Peroperative placement of oxidized cellulose to control minor bleeding may lead to a metastasis-like image through a foreign body reaction within the dissected mediastinal lymph node field at postoperative examinations. In this study, we investigated clinicopathological features and the frequency of foreign body reaction mimicking mediastinal lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer between January 2016 and August 2021 and who were subsequently evaluated for mediastinal recurrence with endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) were included. Patients were grouped according to the results of EBUS-TBNA as metastasis, foreign body, and reactive. Clinicopathological features of these patients were compared and characteristics of patients in the foreign body group were scrutinized. RESULTS: EBUS-TBNA was performed on a total of 34 patients during their postoperative follow-up due to suspicion of mediastinal recurrence. EBUS-TBNA pathological workup revealed metastasis in 18 (52.9%), foreign body reaction in 10 (29.4%) and reactive lymph nodes in 6 (17.6%) patients. Mean maximum standardized uptake value (SUVMax) for metastasis group and foreign body group were 9.39 ± 4.69 and 5.48 ± 2.54, respectively (p = 0.022). Time interval between the operation and EBUS-TBNA for the metastasis group was 23.72 ± 10.48 months, while it was 14.90 ± 12.51 months in the foreign body group (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Foreign body reaction mimicking mediastinal lymph node metastasis is not uncommon. Iatrogenic cause of mediastinal lymphadenopathy is related to earlier presentation and lower SUVMax compared with metastatic lymphadenopathy.

Is intensive care necessary after major thoracic surgery? A propensity score-matched study.

Background: This study aims to compare the surgical results, complications, mortality rates, and inpatient costs in two patient groups followed, whether in the intensive care unit or general ward after a major thoracic procedure and to examine clinical and surgical factors related to the development of complications. Methods: Between January 2018 and June 2021, a total of 485 patients (150 males, 335 females; mean age: 58.3±13.2 years; range, 22 to 86 years) who underwent a major thoracic surgery in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as the intensive care unit patients (n=254) and general ward patients (n=231). In the former group, the patients were followed in the intensive care unit for a day, while in the general ward group, the patients were taken directly to the ward. The groups were compared after propensity score matching. All patients were analyzed for risk factors of morbidity development. Results: After propensity score matching, 246 patients were enrolled including 123 patients in each group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in any features except for late morbidity, and inpatient costs were higher in the intensive care unit group (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Class 3, and secondary malignancy were found to be associated with morbidity (p<0.05). Conclusion: In experienced centers, it is both safe and costeffective to follow almost all of the major thoracic surgery patients postoperatively in the general ward.

Factors affecting mortality in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic injury: An analysis of 92 cases.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the factors associated with mortality in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR). METHODS: The records of patients who were operated on at a single hospital with the indication of blunt or penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries between January 2010 and June 2018 and who were perioperatively diagnosed with a diaphragmatic injury were evaluated retrospectively. The details of demographic characteristics, the type and localization of the trauma, presence and number of associated organ injuries, vital signs at admission, time from admission until surgery, type of operation, type of diaphragmatic repair, therapeutic approach, complications and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were included in this study. The mortality rate throughout the postoperative period was 15.2%. A penetrating injury was detected in 77.2% of the patients. Associated organ injury was most frequently in the liver, which was significant as a factor that increased mortality (p=0.020). The mortality rate was significantly lower among patients who underwent repair of diaphragmatic rupture when compared with untreated patients (p=0.003). Atelectasis was the most common complication. An ISS ≥24 points in patients with TDR was found to be an independent risk factor associated with mortality (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Other organs are frequently involved in cases of TDR, and mortality increased significantly in cases with associated liver injury. An ISS of ≥24 was determined to be an independent risk factor associated with mortality. Since the main determinant of mortality was the presence or absence of additional organ injuries, it is important that this should be taken into consideration in these patients.

Accelerated treatment of concomitant empyema and lung cancer by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of pleural empyema are parapneumonic effusions, and lung cancer is a rare cause of empyema. The aim of the present study is to analyse the results of the thoracoscopic treatment of empyema before definitive oncological treatment. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 332 patients including different clinical variables between 2002 and 2010. RESULTS: Among 332 patients with empyema, the etiology of this disease was lung cancer in 11 patients. Ten of these patients were male and one was female (median age, 57.9 years; range, 46-76). The initial treatment was tube thoracostomy in 8 patients and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 3 patients. Thoracoscopic debridement was performed in 4 patients whose tube thoracostomy underperformed because of insufficient drainage. The methods used for diagnosis of lung cancer were fiberoptic bronchoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Surgical resection was performed on 7 suitable patients following infection control. Postoperative bronchopleural fístula and empyema occurred after pneumonectomy in one case. No operative mortality was observed. The mean survival time was 32.8 months for patients undergoing resection. CONCLUSIONS: Empyema could be a rare presentation of lung cancer and those suitable for surgical treatment should undergo standard treatment with reasonable results.

Are there any psychological factors in male patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax?

BACKGROUND: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is usually seen in young male smokers. Pathophysiology of PSP remains unclear, and studies concerning emotional status are scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate psychological factors associated with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. METHODS: The Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. The mean age in the patient group was 24.60 years, while that in the control group was 26.45 years. The difference was not significant. The weight and body mass index of the patient group were significantly lower compared to those of the control group. The mean Beck Anxiety Inventory scores in the patient and control groups were 10.37 ± 11.34 and 8.25 ± 10.60, respectively. Anxiety levels did not differ between the groups (p = 0.389). The mean Beck Depression Inventory scores of the patient and control groups were 8.20 ± 8.37 and 6.80 ± 7.57, respectively, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.435). When the anger structures of the groups were compared, no difference was found in any sub-scale. Trait anxiety scores were higher in the patient group compared to those in the control group, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.369). CONCLUSIONS: This study's findings indicated that anger, anxiety, and depression levels did not differ between the primary spontaneous pneumothorax and healthy groups.