The impact of dissection of station 9 on survival and the necessity of pulmonary ligament division during upper lobectomy for lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: We conducted this study to investigate the need for dissection of station 9 lymph nodes during upper lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to find out the operative results of inferior pulmonary ligament division. METHODS: A total of 840 patients who underwent upper lobectomy for NSCLC between January 2007 and June 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were separated into two groups - those having undergone lymph node dissection of station 9 and inferior pulmonary ligament dissection (Group I) and those who did not (Group II). In these groups, the prognostic value of station 9 lymph nodes and postoperative effects (drainage time, prolonged air leak, dead space and length of hospital stay) of ligament division or preservation were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of patients with station 9 lymph node metastasis was only one (0.1%) and that was multi-station pN2 disease. Station 9 lymph nodes were found in 675 (80.4%) patients, while 22 (2.6%) patients had no lymph nodes in the dissected material. In the other 143 (17%) patients, the inferior pulmonary ligament and station 9 were not dissected. While 5-year survival was 64.9% in 697 patients of Group I, it was 61.3% in 143 patients of Group II (p = 0.56). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in postoperative effects of ligament division or preservation. CONCLUSIONS: In upper lobectomies, status of station 9 does not have a significant impact on patients' survival and lymph node staging. Additionally, preservation or division of the inferior pulmonary ligament has no significant advantage or disadvantage.

Surgical Experience of Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopy for Nonlung Cancer Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) is a valuable method in the investigation of diseases with mediastinal lymphadenopathy or those localized in the mediastinum. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of VAM in the investigation of mediastinal involvement of nonlung cancer diseases and to describe our institutional surgical experience. METHODS: Clinical parameters such as age, sex, histological diagnosis, morbidity, and mortality of all patients who underwent VAM for the investigation of mediastinal involvement of diseases except lung cancer between January 2006 and July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed, and the diagnostic efficacy of VAM was determined statistically. RESULTS: During the study period, 388 patients underwent VAM, and 536 lymph nodes were sampled for histopathological evaluation of mediastinum due to mediastinal lymphadenopathy or paratracheal lesions. The most common diagnoses were sarcoidosis (n = 178 [45.9%]), tuberculous lymphadenitis (n = 108 [27.8%]), lymphadenitis with anthracosis (n = 72 [18.6%]), and lymphoma (n = 15 [3.9%]). CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that VAM should be used because of its high diagnostic benefit in mediastinal lymphadenopathies, which are difficult to diagnose, or mediastinal lesions located in the paratracheal region. Despite the increase in the number of new diagnostic modalities, VAM is still the most effective method and a gold standard.

Prognosis of Resected Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with Ipsilateral Pulmonary Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Ipsilateral pulmonary metastasis (PM) in the same lobe (T3Satell) or different lobe (T4Ipsi Nod) constitutes a small proportion of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In our study, we aimed to determine prognostic factors and to evaluate long-term survival outcomes in the patients who underwent complete resection due to NSCLC. METHODS: Data of 1,502 surgically treated patients with NSCLC from January 2007 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty (3.3%) patients diagnosed with PM were the basis of the study. Demographic and histopathological characteristics, surgical procedures, and prognostic factors for survival were analyzed, categorizing patients according to the presence of PM in the same lobe or different lobe. RESULTS: Among the 50 patients, 23 (46%) had PM in the same lobe as the primary tumor and 27 (54%) had PM in different ipsilateral lobes. The mean size of nodules was 11.5 mm. While T3Satell was detected mostly in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (65.2%), T4Ipsi Nod was more common in adenocarcinoma (AC) (70.4%), and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.022). Survival was significantly better in the SCC-T3Satell group than the AC-T3Satell group (64 and 58.3%, respectively; p = 0.043). Although the overall 5-year survival was better in the T3Satell group, the difference between survival outcomes of both groups was not statistically significant (61.2 and 37.2%, respectively; p = 0.27). In the T3Satell group, nodule size was found to be a negative prognostic factor in survival (p = 0.042), whereas the number of nodules was found to be a negative prognostic factor in the T4Ipsi Nod group (p = 0.046). In multivariate analysis, advanced age was a poor prognostic factor for PM (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in survival between T3Satell and T4Ipsi Nod patients. Among surgically treated patients due to NSCLC, poor prognostic factors were advanced age for the patients with PM, nodule size and AC for T3Satell patients, and the number of nodules for T4Ipsi Nod patients.

Postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula in non-small cell lung cancer patients: incidence, survival, mortality, and treatment analysis.

PURPOSE: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a catastrophic complication after pneumonectomy, still associated with high mortality. We reviewed our recent experience of managing BPF, particularly after right pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and analyzed our findings. METHODS: A total of 436 patients underwent pneumonectomy for NSCLC in our department between January 2000 and June 2017. BPF developed during follow-up in 47 of these patients, who are the subjects of this retrospective analysis. RESULTS: The overall incidence of BPF was 10.8% (47/436), being 22.8% (33/145) after right pneumonectomy and 4.8% (14/291) after left pneumonectomy (P = 0.0001). The incidence of BPF in patients with a history of tuberculosis was 33.3% (6/18; P = 0.008). The fistula healed in 48.9% (23/47) of the patients and the rate of mortality caused by the fistula was 19.1% (9/47). CONCLUSIONS: The side of the pneumonectomy and previous tuberculosis were the two most important risk factors independent of the bronchial closure methods. The incidence of BPF was much higher after right pneumonectomy than after left pneumonectomy. The high mortality and morbidity rates show that the treatment of BPF is still not satisfactory.

Intraoperative management of tracheobronchial rupture after double-lumen tube intubation.

PURPOSE: Tracheobronchial rupture is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of endotracheal intubation. In this study, the diagnosis and treatment strategies of a specific group of ruptures caused by double-lumen tube intubation are herein presented. METHODS: The medical records of 18 patients diagnosed and treated for tracheobronchial rupture after undergoing double-lumen tube intubation between January 1999 and October 2010 are analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In all cases, the ruptures occurred in the membranous portion. The average length of laceration was 2.44 ± 1.78 cm. The most common site of rupture was in the lower third of the trachea (n = 7, 39 %) or the left mainstem bronchus (n = 7, 39 %). One patient was diagnosed before incision using fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and 17 patients were diagnosed using direct vision of the rupture intraoperatively. All patients were treated successfully with surgery. There were no morbidities or mortalities recorded in relation to tracheobronchial rupture. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic surgeons must be alerted to the possibility for tracheobronchial rupture in patients intubated with double-lumen tubes, a procedure commonly used in thoracic surgery. Immediate repair must be performed for any laceration diagnosed intraoperatively.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and bilobectomy versus open thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer: Mortality and survival.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate patients who had non-small cell lung cancer and underwent resection, to investigate our tendency to prefer video-assisted thoracic surgery or open thoracotomy, and to compare 30- and 90-day mortalities and survival rates. Methods: Between January 2013 and January 2019, a total of 706 patients (577 males, 129 females; mean age: 61.9±8.6 years; range, 17 to 84 years) who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy due to primary non-small cell lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as operated on through video-assisted thoracic surgery and through open thoracotomy. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates and survival rates were compared. Results: Of the patients, 202 (28.6%) underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery and 504 (71.4%) underwent open thoracotomy. Lobectomy was performed in 632 patients (89.5%) and bilobectomy was performed in 74 patients (10.5%). Patients who were chosen for video-assisted thoracic surgery were statistically significantly older, did not require any procedure other than lobectomy, did not receive neoadjuvant therapy, had a small tumor, and did not have lymph node metastases. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates in the video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups were 1.8% vs. 2% and 2.6% vs. 2.5%, respectively. The five-year survival rates of video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups were 74.1% and 65.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The 30- and 90-day mortality and five-year survival rates were 2.1%, 2.6%, and 73.5% in the video-assisted thoracic surgery group and 2.1%, 2.1%, and 68.5% in the open thoracotomy group, respectively, indicating no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Throughout the study period, video-assisted thoracic surgery was more preferred in patients with advanced age, in those who had a small tumor, who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy, did not have lymph node metastasis, and did not require any procedure other than lobectomy. In the video-assisted thoracic surgery and open thoracotomy groups, 30- and 90-day mortality and five-year survival rates were similar. Based on these findings, both procedures seem to be acceptable in this patient population.

FDG PET/CT signs of proven pulmonary hydatid cyst: is there any clue?

PURPOSE: Pulmonary hydatid cyst (PHC) can imitate many diseases. Sometimes, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is performed in terms of malignancy exclusion for complicated cysts. Although some specific findings (doughnut sign) have been identified in hydatid cyst of the liver, there is no specific sign described for PHC. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of a common finding in PHC patients scanned with PET/CT inadvertently. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2015 to 2020, patients proven to have PHC were analyzed retrospectively. From all the patients, only 17, having a previous PET/CT, were included the study. Lesions were evaluated in three groups according to FDG uptake: A, negative; B, focal; C, doughnut sign. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 17. Nine of the patients were male and the median age was 41.94 + 14.68 (16-65) years. SUV max of the lesions ranged from 0.5 to 15.8 (mean ± SE: 4.68). According to the FDG uptake of the lesions, five were in Group A, two in Group B, and the remaining ten (58.8%) in Group C with doughnut sign. To correlate the CT findings with PET/CT findings, doughnut sign, which is a typical finding of hydatid cysts of liver, is seen in only four patients in Group 1-classified cysts which are non-complicated. But in Group 2 (n = 3) and 3(n = 4), the finding of doughnut sign is three in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT is not a recommended imaging technique for PHC, but in cases where a definitive diagnosis is difficult, interpreting PET/CT findings is significant. This study demonstrates that previously described doughnut sign for liver hydatid cysts is also common for perforated pulmonary cysts. According to our knowledge, this is the first largest series of determining PET/CT findings of PHC. Further larger series will contribute to the literature.

Comparison of Brock University, Mayo Clinic and Herder models for pretest probability of cancer in solid pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVE: Risk analysis models, which are used in the diagnostic algorithm of incidental pulmonary nodules, are based on patient data from developed countries. Mayo Clinic, Brock University and Herder are among the most known models. We aim to compare the reliability of these models in patients with indeterminate solid nodules and to investigate the contribution of the predictors used to the model. METHODS: We analysed 305 patients who performed transthoracic needle biopsy and positron emission tomography/computed tomography for solid nodules, retrospectively. For all three models, the malignancy risk probabilities of patients were calculated, and patients were classified as low (<5%), moderate (60%) and high (<60%) risk groups. Later, the malignancy rates of each model in three different risk groups were compared within each other and among the models. RESULTS: The malignancy rate is 73% in 305 patients. In the Mayo Clinic and Herder models, the difference in the low-, medium- and high-risk groups is significant (p < 0.001). In the medium-risk group, the rate of malignancy is 96.8% in the Brock model. In the high-risk group, the rate of malignancy in Herder is 88.3% and the rate of malignancy in Mayo Clinic is 28.8%. The optimal cutoff values for the Mayo Clinic, Brock University, and Herder were 29.6, 13.4 and 70 (AUC, respectively; 0.71, 0.67 and 0.73). Age, smoking, gender, size, emphysema and spiculation increase the likelihood of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Close results were obtained in all three models. In the high-risk group, the Herder model has the highest reliability rate (odds ratio 3.3, confidence interval [1.1, 10.2]). Upper lobe predilection is not a reliable predictor.

Correlation of preoperative PET/computer tomography 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (maximum standardized uptake value) with prognosis in patients with operated lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in operated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases with other prognostic parameters and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NSCLC patients treated by surgical resection were imaged with PET within 60 days before surgery. RESULTS: Overall, 525 cases consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed. The median value of SUVmax in a total of 525 cases was 12.1, and the mean was 13.3 ± 7.13. Logistic regression analysis performed to identify the variables that have an impact on SUVmax revealed that histology [hazard ratio (HR: 1.893; 95% CI; P = 0.001) and T status (HR: 8.991; 95% CI; P = 0.000) are correlated with SUVmax. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a mean survival of 73.7 ± 1.95 months and a median survival of 85.6 ± 6.03 months. In the group with an SUVmax value of less than 10, the mean survival was 81.9 ± 3.02 months (76.0-87.8), and in the group with SUVmax greater than 10.1, the mean survival was 68.6 ± 2.4 months (63.9-73.3) (P = 0.000). In the multivariate analysis, SUVmax, age, tumor histology, lymph node metastasis, comorbid diseases and complete/incomplete status of the resection were identified as the factors predictive of prognosis. CONCLUSION: It is seen that preoperative SUVmax is a parameter with prognostic significance at least as much as histopathology, age, complete/incomplete status of resection and lymph node involvement.

Surgery in congenital lung malformations: the evolution from thoracotomy to VATS, 10-year experience in a single center.

BACKGROUND: Congenital lung malformation is an umbrella term and consist of various kind of parenchymal and mediastinal pathologies. Surgical resection is often required for diagnosis and curative treatment. We aimed to review our experience in surgical treatment for congenital lung disease and present the role of minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: Surgical resections performed for benign lesions of the lung and mediastinum between January 2009 and May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were found to have congenital lung malformation as a result of pathological examination were included in our study. Distribution characteristics of the patients according to congenital lung malformation subtypes, differences in surgical approach and postoperative results were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients who underwent surgical resection and were diagnosed with the bronchogenic cyst, sequestration, bronchial atresia, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), or enteric cyst as a result of pathological examination were included the study. There were no significant differences between pathological subtypes in the postoperative length of hospital stay and drainage duration however, perioperative complication rate was higher in the sequestration group. In addition, in the first three days postoperatively, the mean pain score was found to be lower in the VATS group compared to thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital lung malformations consist of a heterogeneous group of diseases and the surgical treatment in these patients can range from a simple cyst excision to pneumonectomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery should be considered as the first choice in the surgical treatment of these patients in experienced centers.