The combination of PD-L1 expression and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor of postoperative recurrence in non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: While PD-L1 expression and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are prognostic biomarkers for lung cancer, few studies have considered their interaction. We hypothesized that the product of PD-L1 expression (tumor proportion score) and the NLR (PD-L1 × NLR) might be a postoperative prognostic marker reflecting the immune microenvironment of lung cancer. METHODS: We analyzed the association between PD-L1 × NLR and postoperative recurrence-free survival in 647 patients with NSCLC using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: In the analysis of PD-L1 × NLR as a categorical variable, the group with PD-L1 × NLR ≥ 25.8 had a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) than the group with < 25.8 (adjusted HR 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-2.60). The adjusted HR for PD-L1 × NLR, considered a continuous variable, was 1.004 (95% CI, 1.002-1.006). The risk of postoperative recurrence increased by 1.004-fold for each unit increase in PD-L1 × NLR, and a more than 2-fold increase in risk was observed for values ≥ 170. CONCLUSIONS: PD-L1 × NLR may be used in real-world clinical practice as a novel factor for predicting the risk of postoperative recurrence after lung cancer surgery.

PIK3CA mutations associated with a poor postoperative prognosis in patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is a rare type of non-small cell lung cancer characterized by high malignancy and a poor prognosis. PPC is associated with a high frequency of postoperative relapse, and shows resistance to chemotherapy. The high malignancy of cancers is associated with genomic instability, which is related to mutations of tumor suppressor genes, such as tumor protein p53 (TP53) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). In addition, signaling pathways involving the oncogenes such as phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are associated with resistance to chemotherapy. However, the association of PPC with these gene mutations remains unknown. We investigated the impact of TP53, ATM, PIK3CA, and EGFR mutations on the postoperative prognosis of PPC. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with PPC who underwent complete resection were studied. A gene mutation analysis was performed using next-generation sequencing. Postoperative overall survival of patients with gene mutations was evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model in which the explanatory variables were the presence of each gene mutation, and the confounding factors were pathological stage and age. The robustness of the results was evaluated by a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The frequencies of pathogenic mutations in TP53, ATM, PIK3CA, and EGFR were 47, 0, 7, and 9%, respectively. A multivariable analysis adjusted for pathological stage and age showed a significant difference for only PIK3CA mutations. The hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival in cases with pathogenic mutations of PIK3CA for wild type or non-pathogenic mutations was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-18.8). Likewise, sensitivity analyses adjusted for pathological stage and sex (HR, 7.5; 95% CI 1.7-32.4) and for age and sex (HR, 5.4; 95% CI 1.4-21.7) resulted in similar findings. Although three patients with pathogenic mutations of PIK3CA that recurred postoperatively were treated by chemotherapy or immunotherapy, they survived for less than 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative prognosis of PPC with PIK3CA pathogenic mutations is particularly poor. Pathogenic mutations of PIK3CA may be a postoperative prognostic marker. Inhibition of signaling pathways associated with PIK3CA mutations may also be a target for chemotherapy after relapse of PPC.

[A Case of Anal Canal Adenocarcinoma with Perianal Pagetoid Spread without a Macroscopic Finding].

We report a case of anal canal cancer with Pagetoid spread without a macroscopic skin lesion. A 54-year-old man was admitted to a hospital with complaints of bloody stools. Endoscopic examination revealed a polyp in the anal canal, and endoscopic mucosal resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma accompanied by Pagetoid spread and the positive surgical margin. We additionally performed trans-anal resection twice, but the resected horizontal margin was positive. Mapping biopsy of rectal mucosa and perianal skin revealed adenocarcinoma in only rectal mucosa. Abdominoperineal resection was performed. Histopathological examination showed invasive adenocarcinoma with pagetoid spread and that the surgical margin was negative. Pagetoid spread of anal canal adenocarcinoma usually showed macroscopic abnormal findings, but in this case, there was no skin lesion. It suggests that preoperative mapping biopsy is helpful for determining the excision range. It is necessary to keep in mind that anal canal adenocarcinoma with no skin lesion may cause Pagetoid spread.

A case of unusually persistent traumatic intrapulmonary hematoma.

Intrapulmonary hematomas are collections of blood within alveolar and interstitial spaces. They occur mainly following thoracic trauma. Typically, intrapulmonary hematomas without bleeding or infection spontaneously disappear after several weeks to 6 months. In the current case, the patient presented with an intrapulmonary nodule 17 months after a chest injury. The size of the nodule had not changed at 4 months after the first visit. Consequently, the patient was diagnosed with an intrapulmonary hematoma by surgical resection. To our knowledge, there are no previous studies that described the cause of the persistent intrapulmonary hematoma. This study reports the case of a patient who underwent surgical resection of a persistent traumatic intrapulmonary hematoma.

[A Case of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma Successfully Treated by Radiation Therapy].

We report a case of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)successfully treated by radiation therapy. A 79-year-old woman was diagnosed with HCC and underwent liver resection. Seven months after resection, CT and MRI detected a new HCC, and she had a surgery again. One year after the surgery, CT and MRI detected local recurrence, and she underwent the third operation. Three months after the operation, the third liver recurrence was treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization( TACE). Four months later, a new lesion was detected and treated by stereotactic body radiation therapy(SBRT) twice. She remains alive without recurrence 27 months after the last radiation therapy. Very few evidence is reported of radiation therapy for HCC, but this case suggests that radiation therapy provides a benefit for patients with HCC after other treatments.

Intraoperative Diagnosis and Surgical Procedure with Imprint Cytology for Small Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: For patients with multiple small-sized pulmonary cancers, a lobectomy can disrupt future therapeutic options for other lesions. It was recently reported that limited pulmonary resections were not inferior to lobectomy for the management of selected peripheral small-sized pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Patients with adenocarcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, as proposed by the International Association for the Study of Cancer classification, have been reported to have 100% survival after 5 years. However, that classification can be applied postoperatively. Since 2005, we have been intentionally performing limited pulmonary resection procedures for small-sized adenocarcinoma cases based on intraoperative imprint cytological diagnosis and our classification (Nakayama-Higashiyama's classification). Materials and Methods: A total of 120 consecutive cases were included in this study. Lung tumors were removed intraoperatively by wedge resection, and stump smear cytology was performed, from which the cases were classified into 5 groups based on our classification. When the tumor was classified as Group I or II, the operation was finished. When diagnosed as a more advanced classification, a lobectomy and lymph node dissection were additionally performed. Results: The 5-year survival rate for Group I and II was 100%, while those for Group III and IV-V were 95.8% and 94.4%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival rates for Group I and Group II were 100% and 97.1%, respectively, and for Group III and IV-V they were 100% and 94.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Use of cytological findings along with Nakayama-Higashiyama's classification for determining operation procedure is effective for treatment of patients with small-sized pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Novel Imprint Cytological Classification for Small Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Using Surgical Specimens: Comparison with the 8th Lung Cancer Staging System and Histopathological Classification.

Objectives: Small-size lung lesions suspected of being cancer are now often being identified on computed tomography. Correspondingly, a new lung cancer staging system has been proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), in which the T1 factor and adenocarcinoma are re-subclassified. Previously, we proposed an intraoperative cytological diagnosis and its classification of small-size lung adenocarcinoma, which correlated significantly with clinical malignancy, to be used for selecting the surgical strategy. In the current study, the correlation of our intraoperative cytological classification with the new 8th IASLC classification was investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of 139 consecutive small-size lung adenocarcinoma cases were surgically resected from 2000 to 2006 and included in this study. Intraoperative stump imprint cytology using these specimens was performed, and the cases were classified into 5 groups based on our classification. The cytological classification was compared with the IASLC classification and the WHO histopathological grading. Results: According to our classification, 32 patients were in Group I, 38 in Group II, 24 in Group III, 27 in Group IV, and 18 in Group V. Compared with the IASLC classification, most of Group I was pTis or pT1mi, and most of Group II was pT1mi or pT1a (p<0.001). There was also a significant relationship between lymph node metastasis and our cytological classification (p<0.001). The histological patterns according to the WHO classification also had a significant relationship with our classification (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our cytological classification correlated not only with the T classification, but also with the adenocarcinoma subclassification of the 8th IASLC classification.

[A Case of Advanced Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Metastasis Achieved Pathological Complete Response by Chemotherapy(SOX Regimen)].

A 68-year-old woman was presented with anorexia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed type 4 gastric cancer at corpus of the stomach. Peritoneal metastasis was detected by staging laparoscopy. After a diagnosis of cT4aN1M1, cStage ⅣB advanced gastric cancer, we performed chemotherapy(SOX regimen; S-1 100 mg/body on day 1-14, followed by 7 days of rest, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1). After the 3 courses of chemotherapy, the primary tumor had been reduced. Second staging laparoscopy revealed no peritoneal metastasis. Then, we performed total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination revealed no residual cancer cells, indicating a pathological complete response (Grade 3). We report a case of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis achieved pathological complete response by chemotherapy.

Diagnostic effectiveness of preoperative water-soluble contrast enema in colorectal perforation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of performing a preoperative water-soluble contrast enema (WSCE) before emergency surgery for colorectal perforation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 68 consecutive patients who underwent a preoperative WSCE before emergency surgery for colorectal perforation during the period from January 2011 to December 2017. Clinical characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers were compared between patients with Hinchey I-II versus those with Hinchey III-IV. RESULTS: WSCE leakage occurred in 27 of 68 patients (39.7%). Univariate analysis showed that the two groups (Hinchey I-II and Hinchey III-IV) significantly differed regarding age, perforation site, cause of perforation, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, presence or absence of WSCE leakage, and white blood cell count. Multivariable analysis revealed that WSCE leakage was a predictor of Hinchey III-IV, with an odds ratio of greater than 24 (P = 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity of WSCE leakage for differentiating those with Hinchey III-IV from those with Hinchey I-II were 76.5% and 97.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study indicates that preoperative WSCE before emergency surgery is a useful tool for predicting the presence of Hinchey III-IV in patients with colorectal perforation.

Post-operative AICS status in completely resected lung cancer patients with pre-operative AICS abnormalities: predictive significance of disease recurrence.

The AminoIndexTM Cancer Screening (AICS) system, a plasma-free amino acid (PFAA)-based multivariate discrimination index, is a blood screening test for lung cancer based on the comparison of PFAA concentrations between patients with lung cancer and healthy controls. Pre- and post-operative AICS values were compared among 72 patients who underwent curative resection for lung cancer. Post-operative changes in PFAA concentrations were also evaluated. AICS values were classified as rank A (0.0-4.9), B (5.0-7.9), or C (8.0-10.0). Rank B-C patients were evaluated for outcomes and post-operative changes in their AICS values. Twenty-three of the 44 pre-operative rank B-C patients experienced post-operative reductions in AICS rank. Only one patient experienced cancer recurrence. Post-operative changes in PFAA concentrations were associated with the risk of post-operative cancer recurrence (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the absence of a post-operative reduction in AICS rank independently predicted cancer recurrence (hazard ratio: 14.28; p = 0.012). The majority of patients had high pre-operative AICS values and exhibited a reduction in AICS rank after curative resection. However, the absence of a post-operative reduction in AICS rank was associated with cancer recurrence, suggesting that AICS rank may be a sensitive marker of post-operative recurrence.

Surgical Treatment following Chemo-Targeted Therapy with Bevacizumab for Lung Metastasis from Colorectal Carcinoma: Analysis of Safety and Histological Therapeutic Effects in Patients Treated at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND: Recently, therapeutic strategies for a metastasectomy from colorectal carcinoma after chemo-targeted therapy with bevacizumab have been presented, with which some uncommon but serious adverse events have been reported. However, only few reports have investigated the safety of lung resection after such therapy or the histological effects. We retrospectively analyzed the both of them at our institute. METHODS: Of 69 colorectal carcinoma patients who underwent pulmonary metastasectomy procedures from 2009 to 2014, we investigated 11 who also received chemo-targeted therapy prior to surgery. RESULTS: In addition to bevacizumab, 5 fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin + oxaliplatin or capecitabine was given in 6 cases and 5 FU/leucovorin + irinotecan in 5 cases. The mean period from the end of chemo-targeted therapy to surgery was 2.7 ± 0.9 months. The response to therapy shown in imaging findings was progressive disease in 6, stable disease in 3, and partial response in 2 (response rate, 18.2%). The operation modes were wedge resection (n = 8, 72.3%), segmentectomy (n = 2, 1 in bilateral lobes, 1 in the right lobe, 18.2%), and lobectomy (n = 1, left lower lobectomy, 9.1%). All patients safely underwent a complete resection. As for postsurgical complications, chylothorax occurred in 1 case and prolonged pulmonary air leakage in 1 case. The histological effects of chemo-targeted therapy were slight. There was no relationship between histological findings with imaging findings obtained prior to the operation (p = 0.63). The 5-year disease-free survival rate after metastasectomy was 10.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastasectomy after chemo-targeted therapy for colorectal carcinoma patients obtained acceptable results. In addition, there was no correlation between imaging and histopathologic results following chemo-targeted therapy.

HER3 expression is enhanced during progression of lung adenocarcinoma without EGFR mutation from stage 0 to IA1.

BACKGROUND: Activating EGFR mutations, HER2, and HER3 are implicated in lung cancer; however, with the exception of EGFR gene amplification in lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutations, their involvement in disease progression during the early stages is poorly understood. In this paper, we focused on which receptor is correlated with lung adenocarcinoma progression in the presence or absence of EGFR mutation from stage 0 to IA1. METHODS: HER2 and HER3 expression and activating EGFR mutations in surgically resected lung adenocarcinoma exhibiting ground glass nodules on chest computed tomography and re-classified to stage 0 and IA1 were examined by immunohistochemistry and peptide nucleic acid-locked nucleic acid PCR clamp method, respectively. RESULTS: HER2 and HER3 expression was detected in 22.2% and 86.1% of samples, respectively. The frequency of EGFR mutation was 45.7% and was not significantly different between stage 0 and IA1 (40.0% and 48.0%, respectively), suggesting that EGFR mutation does not correlate with cancer progression from stage 0 to IA1. HER2 expression also did not correlate to progression. However, not only the frequency, but also the intensity of HER3 expression was increased in stage IA1 lung adenocarcinoma, particularly in lung adenocarcinoma without EGFR mutation. CONCLUSION: HER3 tends to be intensively expressed during the progression of lung adenocarcinoma without EGFR mutation from carcinoma in situ to invasive carcinoma.

Impact of in vitro chemosensitivity test-guided platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy on the surgical outcomes of patients with p-stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that underwent complete resection.

The impact of in vitro chemosensitivity test-guided platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy on the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing complete resection for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the utility of adjuvant chemotherapy based on the collagen gel droplet embedded culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) in patients with p (pathology)-stage IIIA NSCLC was retrospectively analyzed. A series of 39 patients that had received platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy following complete resection between 2007 and 2012 were enrolled. Their surgical specimens were subjected to the CD-DST. The patients were subsequently classified into two groups on the basis of in vitro anti-cancer drug sensitivity data obtained using the CD-DST: The sensitive group (25 patients) were treated with regimens including one or two of the anti-cancer drug(s) that were indicated to be effective by the CD-DST, whereas the non-sensitive group (14 patients) were treated with chemotherapy regimens that did not include any CD-DST-selected anti-cancer drugs. There were no significant differences in the background characteristics of the two groups [including in respect of the pathological TN (tumor-lymph node) stage, tumor histology, epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status, the frequency of each chemotherapy regimen, and the number of administered cycles]. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of the sensitive group was 32.3%, whereas that of the non-sensitive group was 14.3% (P=0.037). In contrast, no difference in overall survival (OS) was observed (P=0.76). Multivariate analysis revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy based on the CD-DST had a significant favorable effect on the DFS (P=0.01). Therefore, the present study has demonstrated that CD-DST data obtained from surgical specimens aid the selection of effective platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for patients undergoing complete resection for p-stage IIIA NSCLC. The use of CD-DST-guided platinum-based regimens may have a beneficial impact on the DFS of such patients.

Randomized Study Comparing Equal Height Staples With Graduated Height Staples in Bronchial Closure.

BACKGROUND: There are two forms of staple cartridge available for lung cancer operations, the flat face with equal height staples and the stepped face with graduated height staples. The objective of the study was to evaluate their stapling ability in lobectomy. METHODS: A randomized prospective study was conducted to compare two types of stapling reloads for bronchial closure. Stapling ability was evaluated by the staple formation on the resected bronchial stump. The stumps were sliced along the staple line, and the shapes of the staples were recorded by roentgenogram. Then, the staple formation was scored as 0 to 4 points with 4 approximating a perfect B-shaped staple. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were randomly assigned to the equal height staples (n = 30) or the graduated height staples (n = 31). From 61 patients, 183 staple lines, which included 1,144 staples, were evaluated. The case scores were significantly lower in the equal height staples than in the graduated height staples (2.17 versus 2.88, p = 0.0003), respectively. The percentage of staples that formed a complete "B" shape was significantly higher in the graduated height staples than in the equal height staples (25.3% versus 10.0%, p = 0.000). No considerable difference was found between the two groups concerning postoperative complications. No bronchopleural fistula was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The graduated height staples had significantly higher scores of the staple formation on the bronchia stump than the equal height staples. From the clinical point of view, both the equal height staples and the graduated height staples showed acceptable performance in the stapling ability.

Prophylactic middle lobe fixation for postoperative pulmonary torsion.

Background To prevent postoperative middle lobe torsion after a right upper lobectomy, we introduced a novel technique of interlobar fixation using collagen fleece coated with fibrin. In this study, the prophylactic effects of this method on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary torsion were analyzed. Methods Between April 2001 and December 2015, 3786 pulmonary resection procedures (excluding total pneumonectomy) were performed in our institution, and prophylactic interlobar fixation was selectively applied when intraoperative examination indicated that the patient was at high risk of postoperative pulmonary lobe torsion. As a control group, 842 patients who underwent pulmonary resection procedures between January 1996 and April 2001 were reviewed. Results During the study period, 10 (0.3%) patients underwent prophylactic middle lobe fixation (to the lower lobe after a right upper lobectomy in 9, and to the upper lobe after a right lower lobectomy in one). Pulmonary lobar (middle lobe) torsion occurred in only one patient (after right upper lobectomy); thus the incidence of this complication was 0.1% among patients who underwent a right upper lobectomy and 0.03% among all pulmonary resection procedures. The rates during the study period were marginally significantly lower than those in the control period (1.3% and 0.24%, respectively; p = 0.071 and p = 0.087, respectively). Conclusion Prophylactic middle lobe fixation might be useful for preventing postoperative pulmonary middle lobe torsion.

Oncologic Outcomes of Segmentectomy Versus Lobectomy for Clinical T1a N0 M0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively compared the oncologic outcome after segmentectomy versus lobectomy in patients with clinical (c-) T1a N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) detected as a part-solid ground-glass nodule or purely solid nodule on thin-section computed tomography. METHODS: From 1997 to 2010, 312 patients with c-T1a N0 M0 NSCLC were determined to require a surgical approach categorized as segmentectomy or lobectomy. Preoperatively available data were collected using logistic regression analysis, and propensity matching was performed. Factors affecting local-regional recurrence were assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS: The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates for the 80 patients who underwent segmentectomy were 97.5% and 83.5%, respectively, compared with 87.75% and 75.0%, respectively, for the 232 patients who underwent lobectomy (p = 0.019). Local-regional recurrence as the first relapse site was found in 3 the 80 segmentectomies (3.8%) of and in 15 of the 232 lobectomies (6.5%). The difference in local-regional recurrence-free survival in patients undergoing segmentectomy compared with lobectomy was not significant (p = 0.304). In 69 propensity score-matched pairs, there was no significant difference in the overall survival (p = 0.442) or local-regional recurrence-free survival (p = 0.717) between the two groups. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model identified lymphatic invasion as the only independent factor predicting local-regional recurrence (relative risk, 10.764; 95% confidence interval, 2.98 to 57.68). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the oncologic outcome of segmentectomy vs lobectomy is similar in this cohort of c-T1a N0 M0 NSCLC patients. These results will be validated by large-scale, prospective, randomized trials.

Prognostic factors in patients with postoperative brain recurrence from completely resected non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Treatment strategies for brain metastasis from lung cancer have been making progress. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the post-recurrent prognostic factors in patients with brain metastasis after complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 patients found to have postoperative brain metastasis from NSCLC in our institution from 2002 to 2008. All patients had undergone radical pulmonary resection for the lung cancer. The impact of numerous variables on survival were assessed, including gender, age, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor size, N status, histological type, number of brain metastases, tumor size of brain metastasis, presence of symptoms from the brain tumor(s), and use of perioperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 20.6 months (range, 3.4-66 months). The five-year survival rate from the diagnosis of brain recurrence was 22.5%. In univariate analysis, the favorable prognostic factors after brain recurrence included a normal range of CEA, no extracranial metastasis, no symptoms from the brain metastasis, brain metastasis (less than 2 cm), and radical treatment (craniotomy or stereotactic radiosurgery [SRS]). The multivariate Cox model identified that a small brain metastasis and radical treatment were independent favorable prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the implementation of radical therapy for metastatic brain tumor(s) when the tumor is still small contributed to an increase in patients' life expectancy.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) producing malignant pleural mesothelioma: Report of a case.

This report presents a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) producing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that was treated by tumor resection. A 76-year-old male presented with a huge right-side chest wall tumor, along with a slight fever and chest wall pain. Laboratory findings showed an increased white blood cell count (64600 cells/µL) and C-reactive protein level (20.57 mg/dL). The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor along with tissue from the chest wall and histopathological analysis led to a diagnosis of sarcomatous type of MPM. Immunohistochemical findings for both anti-human G-CSF and interleukin-6 monoclonal antibodies were positive. Although the general condition of the patient quickly improved after surgery, local recurrence occurred two months later and he died of respiratory failure seven months after the operation, though surgery provided symptom relief. G-CSF-producing MPMs usually show a poor prognosis, though less-invasive surgery may be considered for relief of symptoms.

Pulmonary metastasectomy: outcomes and issues according to the type of surgical resection.

According to a recent report by the Committee for Scientific Affairs of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery, pulmonary metastasectomy accounted for as many as 10.2 % of all entry cases of general thoracic surgery, and its use is increasing year by year. Accordingly, many studies have examined the surgical procedures used during pulmonary metastasectomy for metastases from primary tumors affecting various organs as well as the outcomes of and indications for such procedures, but some problems remain. In this article, the following questions related to the surgical approach and the type of resection used during pulmonary metastasectomy are reviewed: (1) Wedge resection--what is a safe margin for preventing local recurrence? (2) What is the clinical significance of node sampling/dissection during pulmonary metastasectomy? and (3) When is segmentectomy necessary? In addition, we discuss: (4) open thoracotomy vs. video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), (5) repeated metastasectomy for pulmonary metastases, (6) the surgical approach for bilateral pulmonary metastasectomy, (7) pneumonectomy, and (8) pulmonary metastasectomy combined with resection of the neighboring organs.

Pleural recurrence after surgery for pleomorphic adenoma arising from peripheral lung: computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy as a possible mechanism of local failure.

A 75-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow found in the right lung 2 years prior that had been increasing in size. Chest computed tomography showed a 1-cm well-defined nodule in the periphery of the right middle lobe. Although a computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy was performed, the results were indeterminate. In observations over the course of 1 year, the tumor size increased. Surgical resection was finally performed for diagnosis and treatment, and histological findings revealed a pulmonary pleomorphic adenoma. 2 years after surgery, pleural dissemination unfortunately developed. We present here a case of recurrence as pleural dissemination despite complete resection of a pulmonary pleomorphic adenoma arising from peripheral lung tissue. There is a possibility that the local failure is related to percutaneous needle biopsy.