Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography of the pulmonary veins and their anatomical variations: involvement in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery-lobectomy for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Identification and section of pulmonary veins are an essential part of anatomical pulmonary resections. Intraoperative misunderstandings of pulmonary venous anatomy can lead to serious complications such as bleeding and delayed lung infarction or necrosis. We evaluated principally the rate of pulmonary veno-us anatomical variations, and secondarily the reliability and clinical outcomes of a preoperative morphological analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2012 and October 2013, we studied 100 consecutive patients with highly suspected or diagnosed stage I-II primitive lung cancer lesion. The surgical procedure initially retained was video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pulmonary resections and we studied preoperatively the proximal pulmonary venous anatomy using 64 channels multi- -detector computed tomography (CT)-scan angiography to describe the venous anatomical variations. RESULTS: There were 65 men and 35 women with a mean age of 63 years. A pulmonary venous anatomical variation was present in 36 (36%) patients, and right-sided anatomical variations were more frequent than on left-sided ones (25% vs. 11%). The most frequent variation encountered on the right side was the existence of three separate pulmonary veins (16%), and on the left side a single pulmonary vein (8%). Surgical conversion occurred in 21% and we didn't experience a pulmonary venous lesion (0%) or a post-operative lung infarction (0%). CONCLUSIONS: We described pulmonary venous anatomical variations and their frequency. Anatomical variations exist and preoperative assessment of pulmo-nary venous anatomy using CT scan is a useful tool in VATS lobectomy to avoid unnecessary extension of pulmonary resections or iatrogenic complications in lung cancer surgery.

[Results of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in lung cancer: importance of the lymph node involvement prevalence]. / Résultats des ponctions ganglionnaires transbronchiques sous contrôle d'une écho-endoscopie bronchique: importance de la prévalence.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the non-surgical invasive staging by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and we detailed the differences of our series, in order to understand the criteria allowing to achieve a better performance. METHODS: Retrospective observational study conducted between 2007 and 2011, including all patients with proven NSCLC who underwent EBUS-TBNA. RESULTS: For the 92 EBUS-TBNA performed, we found a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 98%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 45%, an accuracy of 80% and a prevalence of lymph node involvement at 84%. A learning curve has been demonstrated and a significant difference was found based on the number of punctures by procedure (P=0.02) or on histological type (P=0.02). By analyzing the data of the literature, we have been able to demonstrate that the accuracy and the negative predictive value are correlated with the prevalence. If we take into account this correlation, we can consider the results of our study close to those of the literature. CONCLUSION: We highlighted a number of criteria that will influence the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA. While some have already been described, other criteria such as histological type or patient selection criteria are less discussed. The key point is the correlation between the prevalence and EBUS-TBNA results. Results of the assessment of lymph node involvement techniques should be interpreted according to the prevalence of lymph node involvement.