Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Invading the Descending Thoracic Aorta: Surgical Resection Without Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Without Cross-Clamping the Aorta: Long-Term Follow-Up of 2 Cases.

Lung cancer can sometimes invade vital adjacent mediastinal structures, such as the descending thoracic aorta. We describe 2 cases where pulmonary resection was performed en bloc including a patch of the descending thoracic aorta. These procedures were easily performed using an aortic endoprosthesis in the same anesthetic procedure. We also comment some aspects about an intraoperative endoleak, postoperative evolution, and long-term follow-up.

Is the prognosis of occult N2 disease similar to that of positive positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) scan single-station N2 disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated by surgical resection?

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study, using a prospective database, was conducted on patients treated with surgery in order to analyze the prognosis between two groups: NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) patients with occult N2 disease and patients with single station N2 disease observed on pre-operative integrated PET/CT scan. METHODS: A total of 772 patients underwent surgical treatment for lung cancer from January 2007 to December 2014. All of them had an integrated PET/CT scan in the pre-operative work-up and a pulmonary resection plus mediastinal lymphadenectomy were performed in all cases. In the selected cases, no one received induction treatment. All patients from both groups had N2 disease after examination of the histopathology specimen. Clinical and pathological characteristics, disease free survival, and overall survival, were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: A total of 34 cases presented occult N2 disease, whereas 11 cases showed single station N2 disease on pre-operative PET/CT scan. Mean disease free survival and mean overall survival for occult N2 disease compared to single-station N2 disease on PET/CT scan was 36.0 months (95% CI: 24.9-47.1) and 38.9 months (95% CI: 20.6-57.1), p=.586; and 52.3 months (95% CI: 38.9-65.7) and 38.2 months (95% CI: 21.9-54.5), p=.349, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with single-station N2 disease on PET/CT scan treated by surgical resection and mediastinal lymphadenectomy as first line treatment was similar to those with occult N2 disease. More studies are needed to support our findings.

Ratio between maximum standardized uptake value of N1 lymph nodes and tumor predicts N2 disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in 18F-FDG PET-CT scan.

OBJECTIVE: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose integrated PET-CT scan is commonly used in the work-up of lung cancer to improve preoperative disease stage. The aim of the study was to analyze the ratio between SUVmax of N1 lymph nodes and primary lung cancer to establish prediction of mediastinal disease (N2) in patients operated on non-small cell lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study of a prospective database. Patients operated on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with N1 disease by PET-CT scan were included. None of them had previous induction treatment, but they underwent standard surgical resection plus systematic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: There were 51 patients with FDG-PET-CT scan N1 disease. 44 (86.3%) patients were male with a mean age of 64.1±10.8 years. Type of resection: pneumonectomy=4 (7.9%), lobectomy/bilobectomy=44 (86.2%), segmentectomy=3 (5.9%). HISTOLOGY: adenocarcinoma=26 (51.0%), squamous=23 (45.1%), adenosquamous=2 (3.9%). Lymph nodes after surgical resection: N0=21 (41.2%), N1=12 (23.5%), N2=18 (35.3%). Mean ratio of the SUVmax of N1 lymph node to the SUVmax of the primary lung tumor (SUVmax N1/T ratio) was 0.60 (range 0.08-2.80). ROC curve analysis to obtain the optimal cut-off value of SUVmax N1/T ratio to predict N2 disease was performed. At multivariate analysis, we found that a ratio of 0.46 or greater was an independent predictor factor of N2 mediastinal lymph node metastases with a sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 69.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SUVmax N1/T ratio in NSCLC patients correlates with mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N2 disease) after surgical resection. When SUVmax N1/T ratio on integrated PET-CT scan is equal or superior to 0.46, special attention should be paid on higher probability of N2 disease.

[Pulmonary torsion complicating lobectomy: report of 2 cases]. / Torsión pulmonar como complicación de una lobectomía pulmonar, descripción de dos casos.

We report 2 cases of pulmonary torsion discovered during the early postoperative recovery of patients who had undergone lobectomy. Early diagnosis, based on chest radiography and confirmed by computed tomography, meant we were able to avoid major surgical resection and the development of further complications. Pulmonary torsion is a rare but potentially serious abnormality. Prompt diagnosis is the key to preventing tissue injury and complications such as necrotizing pneumonitis, thromboembolic disease, or septic shock. Among the diagnostic tests that can be carried out if there is good reason to suspect torsion, we emphasize simple chest radiography and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, supported by computed tomography or arteriography, even though a firm diagnosis requires surgical exploration of the affected lung. Definitive treatments range from reversing the torsion and securing the lung to resecting the lung if the parenchymal tissue has been fully compromised.

[Pneumocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid fistula following removal of a superior sulcus tumor (pancoast tumor)]. / Neumoencéfalo y fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo tras resección de tumor del sulcus superior (tumor de Pancoast).

Pneumocephalus resulting from a subarachnoid-pleural fistula following resection of a pulmonary neoplasm is a very rare postoperative complication: we have found only 17 cases in the literature. We report the case of a 65-year-old man diagnosed with a superior sulcus tumor who underwent a left upper lobectomy and costal resection following neoadjuvant radiation therapy. Soon after surgery, the patient developed a subarachnoid-pleural fistula and pneumocephalus that required reoperation and drainage. Recurrence was suspected when chronic aseptic meningitis developed. Another thoracotomy was required to resolve the complication.

[Thymectomy in myasthenia gravis]. / Timectomía en la miastenia gravis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze outcome after thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with MG underwent surgery in our service between June 1987 and June 1998. Ten had associated thymomas. Preoperative Osserman classification showed 2 at level I, 20 at level IIA, 11 at level IIB and 2 at level III. Extended thymectomy through a medial sternotomy was performed in all. RESULTS: Postoperative complications developed in three patients (1 medullary aplasia, 1 postoperative reintubation, 1 myasthenic crisis). Mean follow-up was 89 months, with 22.8% achieving complete remission and 97.1% reporting improvements. The results were similar in the 10 patients with thymomas (20% full remission and 90% showing improvement). By DeFilippi classification, 22.8% were in class 1, 22.8% in class 2, 51.4% in class 3 and 2.8% in class 4. By Osserman classification, 9 were in the same category before and after surgery, 12 had improved one level, 10 had improved 2 levels, 3 had improved 3 levels and 1 patient had improved 4 levels. CONCLUSION: Thymectomy is an appropriate therapeutic procedure in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with MG and it is the approach of choice for patients with associated thymomas. The intra- and post-operative complication rate is low and the rate of clinical improvement is high.

[Cushing's syndrome secondary to bronchial carcinoid tumor: contribution of gammagraphy with 111In-DTPA octreotide in the localization diagnosis]. / Síndrome de Cushing secundario a tumor carcinoide bronquial: valor de la gammagrafía con 111In-DTPA octreotide en el diagnóstico de localización.

Bronchial carcinoid (BC) is a rare etiology of Cushing syndrome, and difficulties in differential diagnosis with Cushing's disease are often present. We report two cases in which octreotide scintigraphy was an important diagnostic tool. The first patient showed a 1 cm non-specific pulmonary nodule on CT scan that was positive on scintigraphy, being confirmed by surgery. The second case was a man that had been operated but not cured of an ACTH secreting BC that continued with high ACTH levels and negative localization imaging studies. A subsequent scintigraphy showed a positive image suggestive of recurrence. Octreotide scintigraphy may be considered in patients with suspicion of ectopic ACTH syndrome although a positive image in CT scan be present.

[Granular cell myoblastoma localized in the thoracic wall]. / Mioblastoma de células granulosas localizado en la pared torácica.

We report the case or a 40-year-old man with a large right parasternal tumor. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a soft tissue mass infiltrating contiguous structures with no sign of adenopathy and with disease limited the chest wall. The histological type was granular cell tumor (GCT) with discrete cell pleomorphism and nuclei that varied in form and size, with prominent nucleoli. Eighteen months after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic and disease free. GCT is a rare entity that is uncommonly found on the chest wall. A diagnosis of malignancy is established when metastasis is found to be of the same histological type as that of the primitive tumor. Neither cell pleomorphism or nuclei with nucleoli allows for a diagnosis of malignancy; only a size greater than 5 cm and locally invasive behavior should lead to an assumption that these tumors are of unspecified malignancy. We believe the treatment of choice for these lesions is radical removal

[Malignant pleural effusions: a description of an alternative method of external drainage with a fine-caliber catheter]. / Derrames pleurales malignos: descripción de un método alternativo de drenaje externo con catéter fino.

We describe the results of treating symptomatic pleural effusion by implanting a Pleurocath-type small-caliber catheter connected to a three-way valve for external evacuation. The method was used in 6 patients with advanced neoplastic disease and dyspnea related to pleural effusion that could not be treated with the usual methods of pleurodesis. Dyspnea disappeared or was significantly relieved in 5 of the 6 patients, such that follow-up could be continued on an outpatient basis for 3. Catheters remained in position for periods of time ranging from 14 days to 10 months. Survival varied from 14 days to 14 months. The only important complication was one case of infection in the area of catheter insertion. We describe the extremely simple technique used and the results that have encouraged us to continue using the method in cases that meet the necessary conditions.

[Short and long term follow-up of spontaneous pneumothorax treated using video-thoracoscopy]. / Seguimiento a corto y largo plazo del neumotórax espontáneo tratado por videotoracoscopia.

The outcome of video-assisted thoracoscopic treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax was analyzed. Eighty-three procedures were performed in 79 patients (58 men, 21 women: mean age 28.3 years, range 16 to 76 years). The reasons for intervention were recurring pneumothorax in 53 patients, contralateral pneumothorax in 10 (one of whom was treated on both sides), bilateral involvement in 3, and persistent air leakage in 13. Seven patients (8.4%) also required open thoracotomy. In 72 (88%) of the remaining 76 procedures, only video thoracoscopy was used. Three patients (3.6%) underwent video-assisted thoracotomy. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.1 days (2 to 24 days). No related deaths occurred but surgical complications were reported for 3 (3.9%). Significant postoperative complications developed in 9 cases (11.8%). One patient with prolonged air leakage underwent a second procedure, video-assisted thoracotomy, 12 days after the first intervention. Seventy-one of the 72 patients received follow-up examinations, with a mean follow-up period of 28.1 months (range 54 days to 54 months). Three recurrences (3.9%) were recorded but there were no cases of chronic pain requiring analgesia. We conclude that video thoracoscopy is an effective approach, with the advantage of being minimally invasive. We therefore believe it should be the procedure of choice, once improved morbidity and recurrence rates are observed, as these factors are influenced by the learning curve.