18F-FDG PET/CT diagnostic performance in solitary and multiple pulmonary nodules detected in patients with previous cancer history: reports of 182 nodules.

PURPOSE: In oncological patients, 18F-FDG PET/CT performance for pulmonary nodules' characterization is not well-established. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnostic performance in pulmonary nodules detected during follow-up in oncological patients and the relationship between malignancy and nodules' characteristics. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 182 pulmonary nodules (121 solitary, 61 multiple; mean size = 16.5 ± 8.1 mm, mean SUVmax = 5.2 ± 5.1) in 148 oncological patients (89 males; mean age = 69.5 ± 8.4 years). Final diagnosis was established by histology or radiological follow-up. Diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG visual analysis (malignancy-criterion: uptake ≥ mediastinal activity), ROC curve analysis for SUVmax and nodules' characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: In 182 nodules, the prevalence of malignancy was 75.8%; PET/CT provided sensitivity = 79%, specificity = 81.8%, accuracy = 79.7%, PPV = 93.1%, NPV = 55.4%; ROC analysis (SUVmax cut-off = 1.7) provided sensitivity = 85.5%, specificity = 72.7%. In 121 solitary nodules, the prevalence of malignancy was 87.6%; PET/CT provided sensitivity = 82.1%, specificity = 73.3%, accuracy = 81%, PPV = 95.6%, NPV = 36.7%; ROC analysis (SUVmax cut-off = 2) provided sensitivity = 84%, specificity = 80%. In 61 multiple nodules, the prevalence of malignancy was 52.5%; PET/CT (nodule and patient-based analysis, respectively) provided sensitivity = 68.7% and 88.9%, specificity = 86.2% and 55.6%, accuracy = 77% and 77.8%, PPV = 84.4% and 80%, NPV = 71.8% and 71.5%; ROC analysis (nodule-based, SUVmax cut-off = 1.8) provided sensitivity = 71.9%, specificity = 82.8%. Malignant nodules were prevalent in males, in solitary pattern and in upper lobes, and had significantly greater size and metabolic activity (SUVmax and TLG) than benign ones, with no differences in interval-time between previous cancer diagnosis and nodule detection, patients' age or other nodules' features (lung side, central/peripheral). When comparing solitary and multiple patterns, malignant nodules had significantly greater size and metabolic activity than benign ones in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In oncological patients, 18F-FDG PET/CT provides good diagnostic performance for ruling in the malignancy in pulmonary nodules detected during follow-up, even at small size and especially when solitary. In multiple patterns, PET seems useful in the perspective of a personalized management, for identifying the "reference" nodule deserving histological assessment.

Analysis of variables predictive of severity in biliary peritonitis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP). METHODS: Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 22 patients with BP, and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance. RESULTS: Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age > 60 years (P= 0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P= 0.025), fever > 38°C (P= 0.009), WBC count > 17.000 cell/mm3 (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P= 0.034), and infected bile (P= 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP.

Post-intubation tracheal lacerations: Risk-stratification and treatment protocol according to morphological classification.

Background: Post-intubation tracheal laceration (PITL) is a rare condition (0.005% of intubations). The treatment of choice has traditionally been surgical repair. Following our first report in 2010 of treatment protocol tailored to a risk-stratified morphological classification there is now clear evidence that conservative therapy represents the gold standard in the majority of patients. In this paper we aim to validate our risk-stratified treatment protocol through the largest ever reported series of patients. Methods: This retrospective analysis is based on a prospectively collected series (2003-2020) of 62 patients with PITL, staged and treated according to our revised morphological classification. Results: Fifty-five patients with Level I (#8), II (#36) and IIIA (#11) PITL were successfully treated conservatively. Six patients with Level IIIB injury and 1 patient with Level IV underwent a surgical repair of the trachea. No mortality was reported. Bronchoscopy confirmed complete healing in all patients by day 30. Statistical analysis showed age only to be a risk factor for PITL severity. Conclusions: Our previously proposed risk-stratified morphological classification has been validated as the major tool for defining the type of treatment in PITL.

Synchronous primary lung cancer. Critical review of diagnostic criteria.

QUESTION OF THE STUDY: Synchronous primary lung cancers (SPLCs) may pose a radiologic-pathologic and therapeutic dilemma in according to recent WHO classification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two cases of surgically treated SPLCs are reported. RESULTS: In the first case two nodules were detected by Computed Tomography (CT) in the upper right lobe. The patient underwent lobectomy and histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The second patient presented at CT one nodule in the upper left lobe and another nodule in the upper right lobe. Sternotomic access was chosen for bilateral removal of the lesions. The diagnosis was sarcomatoid carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine adenocarcinoma. DISCUSSION: The criteria of Martini and Melamed are inadequate for the diagnosis of SPLCs. The use of TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor-1) is necessary to establish the diagnosis of SPLC in patients with adenocarcinoma of other sites. Bronchioloalveolar carcinomas must be excluded because of their multicentricity. When histology of two tumors found in the same lobe is identical and histotype is adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma or sarcomatoid carcinoma, the diagnosis of SPLCs must be excluded and those lesions must be considered as metastatic disease. The prognosis and treatment of SPLCs are discussed after critical review of the literature.

Completion pneumonectomy: a multicentre international study on 165 patients.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated factors that influenced morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing completion pneumonectomy (CP). METHODS: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients who underwent CP at six international centres. RESULTS: In total, 165 CP were performed between March 1990 and December 2009: 152 for malignant disease and 13 for benign disease. Forty-two patients (25.4%) underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Right CP was performed in 99 patients (60%) and left in 66 (40%). Thoracotomy was employed in 161 patients and median sternotomy in 4. Stapled closure of the bronchus was performed in 121 patients and hand closure in 44. The overall operative mortality was 10.3% (17 of 165). Operative mortality was 10.5% (16 of 152) in malignant diseases and 7.7% (1 of 13) in benign diseases. Complications occurred in 55.1% (91 of 165) of patients. Mean hospital stay was 16.02 ± 16.8 days (range: 3-151 days). Thirteen patients (7.9%) developed bronchopleural fistulas. No statistically significant relationship was found in mortality or morbidity according to side, gender, induction therapy and surgical approach. Stapled compared with hand closure for the bronchus did not affect the bronchopleural fistula rate (P = 0.4). The overall 5-year survival was 37.6%: 70.1% in benign disease (13 patients), 48.9% in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (63 patients), 23.9% in primary lung adenocarcinoma (62 patients), 50% in grade 1 and grade 2 neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung (4 patients), 54.7% in metastatic disease (14 patients) and 0% in primary lung sarcomas. A statistically significant better survival was observed in patients with squamous cell carcinoma versus adenocarcinoma (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: CP shows an acceptable operative mortality with a high morbidity rate. The overall 5-year survival is acceptable in properly selected patients (i.e. squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic disease). Side, gender, induction therapy and surgical approach did not influence mortality and morbidity.