Disparities and Underutilization of Surgery for Early Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends surgical resection for stage I small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite these recommendations and the curative potential of such surgery, many continue to underutilize surgery. Our aim is to investigate factors that contribute to underutilization of surgery for stage I SCLC. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients with SCLC stage I-IV from 2004 to 2018. Staging was defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer guidelines. Cochran-Armitage analysis was performed to analyze trends in surgical treatment for patients diagnosed with stage I SCLC. Multivariable logistic regression assessed relationships between patient factors and surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 296,583 patients were diagnosed with SCLC. Of the stage I patients (n = 13,003), only 29.4.% (n = 3823) underwent surgery. Trend analysis demonstrated increased frequency of surgical treatment for stage I SCLC over years 2004 to 2017, from 14.9% to 39.6% (P < .0001). Factors that were associated with underutilization of surgery for stage I SCLC include African American race, lower median income, nonprivate insurance or Medicare, community facility, and geographic regions other than the Northeast. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for stage I SCLC remains underutilized and our study identifies notable associated factors. The recognition of these factors may help patients overcome barriers to receiving recommended treatments, improve guideline adherence, and overall quality of care for stage I SCLC patients.

Excellent Prognosis of Patients With Invasive Lung Adenocarcinomas During Surgery Misdiagnosed as Atypical Adenomatous Hyperplasia, Adenocarcinoma In Situ, or Minimally Invasive Adenocarcinoma by Frozen Section.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study revealed that intraoperative frozen section (FS) analysis could differentiate invasive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accurately from preinvasive lesions. However, few articles have analyzed the clinical impact of FS errors such as underestimation of invasive adenocarcinomas (IACs), and whether complementary therapy is needed remains controversial. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the prognosis of patients undergoing limited resection for invasive LUAD misdiagnosed as atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) by intraoperative FS analysis? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From 2012 through 2018, data on 3031 patients undergoing sublobar resection of AAH, AIS, or MIA diagnosed by FS analysis were collected. The concordance rate between FS analysis and final pathologic results was evaluated. To assess the clinical significance of a discrepancy between FS and final pathologic results, patients with final pathologic results of IAC were identified for prognostic evaluation. RESULTS: When AAH, AIS, and MIA were classified together as a group, the overall concordance rate between FS and final pathologic results was 93.7%, and 192 patients (6.3%) received an upgraded diagnosis from the final pathologic results. Misdiagnosed IACs consisted of 94 patients (48.9%) with lepidic-predominant adenocarcinoma, 77 patients (40.1%) with acinar predominant adenocarcinoma, 19 patients (9.9%) with papillary predominant adenocarcinoma, one patient with solid predominant adenocarcinoma, and one patient with invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. Among these patients, no positive N1 or N2 lymph node findings were observed. Moreover, the 5-year recurrence-free survival was still 100%, although the final pathologic results turned out to be IAC. INTERPRETATION: Patients undergoing limited resection of invasive LUAD misdiagnosed as AAH, AIS, or MIA by FS analysis showed excellent prognoses. Sublobar resection guided by FS diagnosis would be adequate for these underestimated cases of invasive LUAD.

Clinical features and prognostic factors in patients with bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and evaluate the prognostic factors in patients with bone metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 356 patients with NSCLC with bone metastases from January 2012 to December 2017. The overall survival (OS) and 1-year survival rate were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared by univariate analysis using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 694 sites of bone metastases were determined among the 356 patients. The most common site of bone metastases was the ribs. The median OS was 12.5 months and the 1-year survival was 50.8% in the overall population. Univariate analysis revealed that histological type, number of bone metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), bisphosphonate therapy, and serum calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified multiple bone metastases, ECOG PS ≥2, lactate dehydrogenase ≥225 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase ≥140 U/L as independent negative prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Multiple bone metastases, high ECOG PS, and high serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase are independent negative prognostic factors for bone metastases from NSCLC.

Socioeconomic disparity trends in diagnostic imaging, treatments, and survival for non-small cell lung cancer 2007-2016.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has led to treatment and survival disparities; however, limited data exist for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study investigates the impact of SES on NSCLC diagnostic imaging, treatment, and overall survival (OS), and describes temporal disparity trends. The Ontario Cancer Registry was used to identify NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2016. Through linkage to administrative datasets, patients' demographics, imaging, treatment, and survival were obtained. Based on median household neighborhood income, the Ontario population was divided into five income quintiles (Q1-Q5; Q1 = lowest income). Multivariable regressions assessed SES association with OS, imaging, treatment receipt, and treatment delay, and their interaction with year of diagnosis to understand temporal trends. Endpoints were adjusted for demographics, stage and comorbidities, along with treatments and imaging for OS. A total of 50 542 patients were identified. Higher SES patients (Q5 vs. Q1) showed improved 5-year OS (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.92; P < .0001) and underwent greater magnetic resonance imaging head (stages IA-IV; odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.32; P < .0001), lung resection (IA-IIIA; OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.43-1.74; P < .0001), platinum-based vinorelbine adjuvant chemotherapy (IB-IIIA; OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.39-1.92; P < .0001), palliative radiation (IV; OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25; P = .023), and intravenous chemotherapy (IV; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.32-1.60; P < .0001). Lower SES patients underwent greater thoracic radiation (IA-IIIB; OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94; P = .0003). Across 2007-2016, socioeconomic disparities remain largely unchanged (interaction P > .05) despite widening income inequality.

Trends, practice patterns and underuse of surgery in the treatment of early stage small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Practice guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommend pathologic mediastinal staging and surgical resection for patients with clinically node-negative T1/T2 small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but the extent to which surgery is used is unknown. We sought to assess trends and practice patterns in the use of surgery for SCLC. METHODS: T1 or T2N0M0 SCLC cases were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB), 2004-2013. Characteristics of patients undergoing resection were analyzed. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to identify individual and hospital-level predictors of receipt of surgery, adjusting for clinical, demographic and facility characteristics. Trends in resection rates were analyzed over the study period. FINDINGS: 9740 patients were identified with clinical T1 or T2 N0M0 SCLC. Of these, 2210 underwent surgery (22.7%), with 1421 (64.3%) undergoing lobectomy, 739 (33.4%) sublobar resections and 50 (2.3%) pneumonectomies. After adjustment, Medicaid patients were less likely to receive surgery (OR0.65 95% CI 0.48-0.89, p=0.006), as were those with T2 tumors (OR0.25 CI0.22-0.29, p<0.0001). Academic facilities were more likely to resect eligible patients (OR 1.90 CI1.45-2.49, p<0.0001). Between 2004 and 2013, resection rates more than doubled from 9.1% to 21.7%. Overall, 68.7% of patients were not offered surgery despite having no identifiable contraindication. In patients not receiving surgery, only 7% underwent pathologic mediastinal staging. INTERPRETATION: Rates of resection are increasing, but two thirds of potentially eligible patients fail to undergo surgery. Further study is required to address the lack of concordance between guidelines and practice.

Improvement in Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch after Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction: Quantitative Image Analysis.

Purpose To evaluate whether bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) increases ventilation and therefore improves ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Materials and Methods All patients provided written informed consent to be included in this study, which was approved by the Institutional Review Board (2013-0368) of Asan Medical Center. The physiologic changes that occurred after BLVR were measured by using xenon-enhanced ventilation and iodine-enhanced perfusion dual-energy computed tomography (CT). Patients with severe emphysema plus hyperinflation who did not respond to usual treatments were eligible. Pulmonary function tests, the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) test, quality of life assessment, and dual-energy CT were performed at baseline and 3 months after BLVR. The effect of BLVR was assessed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results Twenty-one patients were enrolled in this study (median age, 68 years; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], 0.75 L ± 0.29). After BLVR, FEV1 (P < .001) and 6MWD (P = .002) improved significantly. Despite the reduction in lung volume (-0.39 L ± 0.44), both ventilation per voxel (P < .001) and total ventilation (P = .01) improved after BLVR. However, neither perfusion per voxel (P = .16) nor total perfusion changed significantly (P = .49). Patients with lung volume reduction of 50% or greater had significantly better improvement in FEV1 (P = .02) and ventilation per voxel (P = .03) than patients with lung volume reduction of less than 50%. V/Q mismatch also improved after BLVR (P = .005), mainly owing to the improvement in ventilation. Conclusion The dual-energy CT analyses showed that BLVR improved ventilation and V/Q mismatch. This increased lung efficiency may be the primary mechanism of improvement after BLVR, despite the reduction in lung volume. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Análisis descriptivo del tratamiento quirúrgico del cáncer de pulmón en los centros del sistema sanitario público de Andalucía. Proyecto vara II / Descriptive analysis of the surgical treatment of lung cancer at Public Health Hospitals in Andalusia: VARA Project II

Introducción: El cáncer de pulmón es el responsable de unas 3000 muertes cada año en Andalucía y, aunque la cirugía es el tratamiento de elección en estadios iniciales, menos del 20-25% son intervenidos. La Dirección del Plan Integral de Oncología de Andalucía (PIOA) realizó un estudio (Proyecto VARA I) sobre variabilidad y accesibilidad al tratamiento de radioterapia en 2003, observando una infrautilización manifiesta de este recurso en cáncer de pulmón. Esto motivó la puesta en marcha de un 2º estudio (VARA II) para evaluar el tratamiento locorregional, radioterapia y cirugía, del cáncer de pulmón en esta Comunidad. Material y métodos: Se evaluaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de los pacientes intervenidos en 2007 por cáncer de pulmón en los Hospitales Públicos de Andalucía. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y de variabilidad entre los distintos equipos quirúrgicos. Resultados: Se evaluaron 418 pacientes, de los que 303 ofrecieron datos suficientes para el análisis. La edad media fue de 64 años (94% varones) con la siguiente distribución por estadios: I (60%), II (13%), III (21%), IV (6%). Se practicó tomografía de emisión de positrones (PET) en el 75% y mediastinoscopia en el 5%. La tasa de cirugía fue del 17% del total de casos esperados de cáncer de pulmón no células pequeñas. En el 97% de los casos se practicó linfadenectomía, la mayoría de ellas (72%) con un número de (..) (AU)

Introduction: Lung cancer is responsible of 3000 deaths every year in Andalusia. Although surgery is the elective treatment in early stages, less than 20-25% are operated on. The Direction of the Comprehensive Cancer Plan of Andalusia (PIOA) performed a study (VARA I Project) about variability and accessibility to radiation therapy in Andalusia in 2003, finding a clear infra utilisation in lung cancer. This motivated a second study (VARA II) to evaluate the locoregional treatment, both radiotherapy and surgery, of lung cancer in this region. Material and methods: Medical Records of patients operated in 2007 for lung cancer in Andalusian Public Hospitals were retrospectively evaluated. Descriptive analysis and studies of variability between surgical teams were performed. Results: Medical records of 418 patients were evaluated, 303 of them showing sufficient data for the analysis. Mean age was 64 (94% males), with the following stage distribution: I (60%), II (13%), III (21%), IV (6%). A PET was realized in 75% and mediastinoscopy in 5%. Surgery rate was 17% of the total expected cases of non small cell lung cancer. A lymphadenectomy was performed in 97%, the majority of them (72%) with less than 10 nodes resected. A good clinical and pathological concordance was demonstrated and low values of perioperative mortality (6%). Inter-hospitals variability study showed significant differences on histology, PET use, number of mediastinal nodes resected and reintervention rate. Discussion: The estimated surgical rate is similar to the published by other authors, although with a larger percentage of advanced stages III-IV. An important variability in patterns of care is demonstrated. Last, a low use of diagnostic mediastinoscopy is highlighted, while the use of PET for preoperative mediastinal evaluation is increasing, especially when the hospital owns the technique (AU)

Prognostic factors and analysis of microsatellite instability in resected pulmonary metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we analyze our experience with pulmonary resection for metastases from colorectal carcinoma. The aims were to search for factors influencing prognosis and to investigate the presence of microsatellite instability in the primary tumors and the corresponding lung metastases. METHODS: We identified 81 patients who underwent surgical resection between 1991 and 2004. The microsatellite instability was determined by immunohistochemical evaluation of MSH2 and MLH1 in 117 lesions (41 primary tumors and 76 lung metastases). RESULTS: Overall 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 50%, 42%, and 30%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that stage of the primary tumor (p = 0.037), radicalness of the resection (p = 0.019), and stratification into groups according to the International Registry of Lung Metastases classification (p = 0.039) were prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that stage of the primary tumor (p = 0.030) and the radicalness of the resection (p = 0.014) were independent prognostic factors. All tumors displayed preserved expression of MSH2 and MLH1 and were considered microsatellite stable lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection of metastases from colorectal carcinoma results in long-term survival in selected patients. Complete resection, stage of the primary tumor and stratification into groups according to the International Registry of Lung Metastases classification were prognostic factors. All the metastases and the corresponding primary tumors were microsatellite stable lesions. This finding seems to demonstrate that pulmonary metastases are infrequent in colorectal carcinomas with microsatellite instability.

Differences in operative mortality between high- and low-volume hospitals in Ontario for 5 major surgical procedures: estimating the number of lives potentially saved through regionalization.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that persons undergoing certain high-risk surgical procedures at high-volume hospitals (HVHs) have a lower risk of postoperative death than those undergoing surgery at low-volume hospitals (LVHs). We estimated the absolute number of operative deaths that could potentially be avoided if 5 major surgical procedures in Ontario were restricted to HVHs. METHODS: We collected data on all persons who underwent esophagectomy (613), colon or rectal resection for colorectal cancer (18 898), pancreaticoduodenectomy (686), pulmonary lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer (5156) or repair of an unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (6279) in Ontario from Apr. 1, 1994, to Mar. 31, 1999. We calculated the excess number of operative deaths (defined as deaths in the period from the day of the operation to 30 days thereafter), adjusted for age, sex and comorbidity, among the 75% of persons treated in LVHs, as compared with the 25% treated in the highest-volume quartile of hospitals. Bootstrap methods were used to estimate 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of the 31 632 persons undergoing any of the 5 procedures, 1341 (4.24%) died within 30 days of surgery. If the 75% of persons treated at the LVHs had instead been treated at the HVHs, the annual number of lives potentially saved would have been 4 (95% CI, 0 to 9) for esophagectomy, 6 (95% CI, 1 to 11) for pancreaticoduodenectomy, 1 (95% CI, -10 to 13) for major lung resection and 14 (95% CI, 1 to 25) for repair of unruptured AAA. For resection of colon or rectum, the regionalization strategy would not have saved any lives, and 17 lives (95% CI, 36 to -3) would potentially have been lost. INTERPRETATION: A small number of operative deaths are potentially avoidable by performing 4 of 5 complex surgical procedures only at HVHs in Ontario. In determining health policy, the most compelling argument for regionalizing complex surgical procedures at HVHs may not be the prevention of a large number of such deaths.

Transfusión autóloga y hemodilución aguda en cirugía torácica: variación de parámetros fisiológicos / Autologous blood infusion combined with normovolemic haemodilution with poligeline colloid

En 20 pacientes (1 HIV+) que iban a ser operados por cirugía torácica se efectuó transfusión autóloga en agudo asociada a hemodilución normovolémica con coloide de poligelina al 3,5 por ciento . Antes y después de la exanguinación y la infusión del coloide se midió la presión arterial media, la frecuencia cardiaca y el hemocrito al comienzo y fin del procesamiento. El tiempo promedio de extracción y reinfusión fue de 28 y 22 minutos respectivamente. La caída media del hematocrito fue de 4,3 puntos (p<0,01) mientras que la presión arterial media bajó 10 por ciento y la frecuencia cardíaca se elevó 12 por ciento . Luego de la infusión del coloide los parámetros encontraron casi los niveles iniciales, lo que permitió iniciar la anestesia prácticamente en las condiciones basales. Las variaciones tensionales entre los tres momentos no alcanzaron significación estadística, mientras que las del pulso fueron significativas (p<0,05). Se concluye que el método de complejidad mínima y escasa o nula repercusión hemodinámica, es de utilidad en las operaciones torácicas al permitir hacer una reserva extra de sangre(AU)

Transfusión autóloga y hemodilución aguda en cirugía torácica: variación de parámetros fisiológicos / Autologous blood infusion combined with normovolemic haemodilution with poligeline colloid

En 20 pacientes (1 HIV+) que iban a ser operados por cirugía torácica se efectuó transfusión autóloga en agudo asociada a hemodilución normovolémica con coloide de poligelina al 3,5 por ciento . Antes y después de la exanguinación y la infusión del coloide se midió la presión arterial media, la frecuencia cardiaca y el hemocrito al comienzo y fin del procesamiento. El tiempo promedio de extracción y reinfusión fue de 28 y 22 minutos respectivamente. La caída media del hematocrito fue de 4,3 puntos (p<0,01) mientras que la presión arterial media bajó 10 por ciento y la frecuencia cardíaca se elevó 12 por ciento . Luego de la infusión del coloide los parámetros encontraron casi los niveles iniciales, lo que permitió iniciar la anestesia prácticamente en las condiciones basales. Las variaciones tensionales entre los tres momentos no alcanzaron significación estadística, mientras que las del pulso fueron significativas (p<0,05). Se concluye que el método de complejidad mínima y escasa o nula repercusión hemodinámica, es de utilidad en las operaciones torácicas al permitir hacer una reserva extra de sangre