Sublobar resection for metachronous stage I second primary non-small cell lung cancer: A single-centre experience.

INTRODUCTION: More patients are developing second primary lung cancer (SPLC). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the extent of SPLC resection on outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 1,895 patients with lung cancer who underwent pulmonary resection from 2011 to 2018. SPLC was diagnosed using the criteria of Martini and Melamed. Patients with pathological stage I SPLC who underwent lobectomy for first primary lung cancer (FPLC) were included in the study. Outcomes and clinical factors that could affect survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were eligible for the study. Lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection was performed for 10, 32, and 12 patients, respectively. Neither overall nor relapse-free survival was significantly different based on the extent of resection for stage I SPLC. Multivariate analysis revealed that interval between FPLC and SPLC of less than 5 years was an independent risk factors for worse relapse-free survival after SPLC resection (interval: hazard ratio, 0.28; P = 0.048). The median interval from prior resection to secondary resection was 68 months. CONCLUSIONS: Sublobar resection might be a realistic option for stage I SPLC. To realize early detection of SPLC that can undergo radical sublobar resection, the surveillance period after prior resection of FPLC is worth reconsidering.

[Recurrence of a Giant Emphysematous Bulla After Bullectomy:Report of a Case].

A 38-year-old male, he was diagnosed with a giant pulmonary bulla occupying 2/3 of the right thoracic cavity on chest computed tomography( CT). The preoperative pulmonary function was unfavorable, so bullectomy of right upper lobe with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery( VATS) was performed. The outpatient follow-up was completed at 6 months after surgery. However, one year and eleven months postoperatively, the patient returned to the clinic complaining of dyspnea. Chest X-ray and CT showed a recurrence of a giant emphysematous bulla in the right upper lobe. Two years and three months after the initial surgery, the recurrent giant bulla was resected by right upper lobectomy with VATS. About four years after the reoperation, no recurrence of giant pulmonary bulla has been seen. Although there are some reports on surgical treatment and results of giant pulmonary bulla, there are few reports on recurrent cases, so we report this case.

Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal lung with a calcified abnormal vessel: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous systemic arterial supply to the normal basal segment of the left lower lobe is a congenital abnormality of the lung, frequently and is generally diagnosed at a young age. Surgery is generally recommended if symptoms such as blood sputum or fever are observed. Resection of the abnormal artery is often performed at an early age, with only few reports of surgery being performed at an older age. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on surgical treatment of abnormal calcified vessels to date. Herein, we have presented a case in which a calcified aberrant vessel of lung was resolved surgically. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old female, previously diagnosed with anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left normal basal segment of the left lung lower lobe of lung was under observation on the basis of being asymptomatic. The patient presented to the emergency room with the chief complaint of blood in the sputum and she was referred to our hospital for a surgery. Computed tomography showed circumferential calcification of the intima of the abnormal vessel, which might have contributed to incomplete resection of the artery if automatic sutures were used. Thus, the abnormal vessel was ligated and dissected using pledgeted 4-0 polypropylene sutures and vessel clips under open thoracotomy followed by left lower lobectomy. The patient was discharged seven days after surgery without any serious surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular congenital anomalies of the lung are often operated at a young age presenting due to the associated symptoms. However, even if the disease is discovered incidentally and does not cause any symptoms or calcification in the aberrant artery, early surgical intervention is important due to the possibility of calcification occuring in the future. This can help minimize the degree of surgical invasion.

Transplantation of Bioengineered Lungs Created From Recipient-Derived Cells Into a Large Animal Model.

The use of bioartificial lungs may represent a breakthrough for the treatment of end-stage lung disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of transplanting bioengineered lungs created from autologous cells. Porcine decellularized lung scaffolds were seeded with porcine recipient-derived airway and vascular cells. The porcine recipient-derived cells were collected from lung tissue obtained by pulmonary wedge resection. Following culture of autologous cells in the scaffolds, the resulting grafts were unilaterally transplanted into porcine recipients (n = 3). Allograft left unilateral lung transplantation was performed in the control group (n = 3). Left unilateral transplantation of decellularized grafts was also performed in a separate control group (n = 2). In vivo functions were assessed for 2 hours after transplantation. Histologic evaluation and immunostaining showed the presence of airway and vascular cells in the bioengineered lungs. No animals survived in the decellularized transplant group, whereas all animals survived in the bioengineered transplant and allotransplant groups. However, bioengineered lung grafts showed marked bullous changes. The oxygen exchange was comparable between the bioengineered lung graft transplant and allograft transplant groups. However, the carbon dioxide gas exchange of the bioengineered lung graft transplant group was significantly lower than that of the allograft transplant group at 2 hours after transplantation (4.10 ± 0.87 mm Hg vs 24.7 ± 10.1 mm Hg, P = 0.02). Transplantation of bioartificial lung grafts created from autologous cells was feasible in the super-acute phase. However, bullous changes and poor carbon dioxide gas exchange remain limitations of this method.

Early removal or avoiding the use of perioperative indwelling urinary catheters with spontaneous pneumothorax surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluated the safety and advantages of no using urinary catheters (UCs) during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spontaneous pneumothorax surgery. METHODS: Forty-one patients aged 30 years or younger who underwent spontaneous pneumothorax surgery at our hospital between January 2018 and March 2020 were screened. Patients with postoperative recurrence were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups: the indwelling UC group (n = 10, group A), the group with UC removal in the operating room before extubation (n = 23, group B), and the no UC group (n = 8, group C). Perioperative circulatory complications, UC insertion or re-insertion, and time to getting out of bed after surgery and confirmation of initial urination were investigated by group. RESULTS: There were no perioperative UC insertions or re-insertions, or perioperative circulatory problems in any group. The median time (interquartile range) required for confirmation of initial postoperative urination was shorter in groups B and C [group A: 13.5 (10.6, 17.3) vs group B: 6.0 (5.0, 6.8) vs group C: 5.5 (3.8, 6.8) h; p = 0.01]. However, the time to getting out of bed after surgery was not significantly different [10.5 (6.4, 15) vs 6.0 (5.0, 7) vs 5.0 (3.8, 8) h; p = 0.12)]. Multivariable analysis showed that group A had a significantly different time to confirmation of initial urination (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative and intraoperative avoidance of indwelling UC use is acceptable in spontaneous pneumothorax surgery that satisfies certain conditions. Avoiding UC use has the potential to improve the patient experience and facilitate postoperative management.

NRXN1 as a novel potential target of antibody-drug conjugates for small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a high-grade malignancy, and treatment strategies have not changed for decades. In this study, we searched for novel targets for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy for SCLC. We identified transmembrane proteins overexpressed specifically in SCLC with little or no expression in normal tissues and decided to focus on the cell adhesion molecule neurexin-1 (NRXN1). The cell surface overexpression of NRXN1 was confirmed using flow cytometry in SCLC cell lines (SHP77 and NCI-H526). The combination of a primary anti-NRXN1 monoclonal antibody and a secondary ADC exhibited anti-tumor activity in SCLC cell lines. Moreover, the knockout of NRXN1 in SHP77 cells resulted in a loss of the anti-tumor activity of NRXN1-mediated ADC therapy. Thus, NRXN1 could be a novel target for ADC therapy for the treatment of SCLC that is worth further research.

Preoperative lung surface localization for pulmonary wedge resection: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative lung surface localization is effective in sublobar resection for small lung nodules. However, the efficacy may vary depending on the underlying conditions of the lung and tumor, as well as the technique. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and limitations of preoperative lung surface localization for wedge resection by analyzing the outcomes of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous marking and virtual-assisted lung mapping (VAL-MAP). METHODS: We investigated 215 patients who underwent curative wedge resection for malignant tumors using CT-guided localization or VAL-MAP from 1998 to 2018 in our institute. Each resected nodule was assessed for successful resection, which was defined as complete resection with adequate margins. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-nineteen patients with 153 nodules were included. The overall successful resection rate was 87.6%. The successful resection rate was significantly lower for nodules with intraoperative adhesion than those without intraoperative adhesion (75.0% vs. 90.1%; P=0.034), and for tumors requiring deep resection margins (>31 mm) than those requiring shallow margins (≤31 mm) (76.7% vs. 94.6%; P=0.002). Although the successful resection rate for nodules resected using CT-guided localization was significantly lower in cases with versus without intraoperative adhesion (54.5% vs. 86.7%; P=0.048), the successful resection rate for nodules resected using VAL-MAP was not influenced by the presence or absence of adhesion (85.7% vs. 93.4%; P=0.491). CONCLUSIONS: A requirement for deeper resection and the presence of intraoperative adhesion were limitations of preoperative lung surface localization for curative pulmonary wedge resection.

Mediastinal metastasis from ovarian serous carcinoma 29 years after initial treatment.

Ovarian cancer is a critically lethal gynecologic malignancy. More than 80% of patients with ovarian cancer have relapses within 5 years after initial treatment. However, recurrence from ovarian cancer more than 20 years later is extremely rare. We report a case of a 67-year-old female with mediastinal metastasis from ovarian cancer 29 years after initial gynecologic surgery and chemotherapy.

Pulmonary resection for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: outcomes and risk factors for recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: As the number of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD) increases, surgical treatment to control disease becomes more important. However, postoperative outcomes and predictors of recurrence have been insufficiently evaluated. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 100 patients with NTMPD who underwent pulmonary resection from 2009 to 2016 at our institution. Clinical data of patients with and without postoperative recurrence were statistically compared. Recurrence was defined as microbiological re-identification or computed tomography findings highly suspicious for relapse after excluding other diseases. Recurrence-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival curves were compared using the log-rank test. Predictive factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Nine patients experienced recurrence. A significant difference in recurrence-free survival was detected between patients with and without a positive preoperative sputum culture (P = 0.000942). Moreover, patients with a positive preoperative sputum smear (≥ 2 +) had a significantly higher recurrence rate than those who did not (P = 0.000216). Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative sputum smear (≥ 2 +) is an independent risk factor for recurrence after pulmonary resection for NTMPD (odds ratio, 7.38; 95% confidential interval, 1.29-42.2; P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: NTM discharge might have an impact on postoperative recurrence of NTMPD patients without residual cavitary lesions. Preoperative NTM discharge should be minimized by optimizing medical therapy before surgical treatment to improve the postoperative course. Intensive follow-up and prolonged postoperative medical therapy should be considered for patients without a sufficient reduction in bacterial discharge before pulmonary resection.

Integrin α11 in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with tumor progression and postoperative recurrence.

Integrins are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. Integrin α11 (ITGA11) is not expressed in normal alveolar epithelial cells and is a known receptor for collagen. While integrin α11ß1 overexpression in the tumor stroma has been associated with tumor growth and metastatic potential of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), little is known about the role of ITGA11 in tumor cells. Thus, we examined the RNA expression of ITGA11 by quantitative RT-PCR in 80 samples collected from NSCLC patients who had undergone surgical resection and analyzed the clinical outcomes. We found that high expression of ITGA11 was associated with lower recurrence-free survival in all NSCLC patients (P = 0.043) and in stage I NSCLC patients (P = 0.049). These results were consistent with in silico analyses of the Cancer Genome Atlas database. We also analyzed cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacity in lung cancer cell lines after overexpression of ITGA11. Overexpression of ITGA11 in lung cancer cell lines had little effect on cell proliferation but resulted in increased migration and invasion capacity. Our findings suggest that ITGA11 plays a significant role in cancer migration and invasion, leading to higher recurrence. ITGA11 expression may be a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with surgically resected NSCLC.

Effect of normal saline flush injection into a bronchus on lung decellularization.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of normal saline flush injection into bronchus on creation of decellularized lung scaffolds. METHODS: Pigs were used: 3 lung grafts for decellularization with pre-treatment of normal saline injection into a bronchus, 3 for decellularization without pre-treatment and 3 treated as normal controls. We compared the characteristics of lung scaffolds created by each method. RESULTS: The pretreatment procedure significantly reduced the DNA content of lung grafts, suggesting effective removal of cellular components. However, this pretreatment also reduced the elastin contents of lung grafts. CONCLUSIONS: Considering this characteristic of saline pretreatment, we must continue to look for better methods to produce ideal decellularized lung grafts.

Clinical study of asbestos-related lung cancer diagnosed by asbestos medical examination.

AIM: People with occupational exposure to asbestos demonstrate a high incidence of lung cancer. Asbestos medical examination for those at risk was implemented as a national policy in Japan. This study aimed to characterize patients with asbestos-related lung cancer who were diagnosed by these examinations. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 120 individuals exposed to asbestos who were examined from 2008 to 2016 at our institution. Clinical data, including CT findings and time-related exposure variables, were evaluated. Each asbestos-related change was assigned 1 point if present, and the scores were compared between patients with and without asbestos-related lung cancer using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Five patients were diagnosed with lung cancer, and four underwent surgical treatment. At the time of writing, three of four operated patients were alive without recurrence, with a similar prognosis to patients with lung cancer unrelated to asbestos. Average scores for asbestos-related findings on CT Scan were 1.8 (9/5) for patients with lung cancer and 0.79 (91/115) for those without lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Patients with lung cancer had significantly more asbestos-related changes on CT scan than those without lung cancer. Concurrent calcified plaque and interstitial changes might be a predictor of lung cancer incidence. Although further investigation with a larger study group is needed, regular medical examination and CT scan every 6 months might contribute to the early detection of lung cancer with asbestos-related changes on CT.

Single-port thoracoscopic lung wedge resection using the Endo GIA Radial Reload.

The GIA Radial Reload is a surgical stapler with a curved cut line that is perpendicular to the direction of instrument insertion. We used the GIA Radial Reload in three cases of single-port thoracoscopic lung wedge resection. The operations were performed through a 3.0-4.5-cm incision. For the first stapler, we selected the GIA Radial Reload. The orientation of this device's cut line enabled us to easily cut the lung behind the lesion during single-port thoracoscopic surgery.

Thoracoscopic Surgery for Pneumothorax Following Outpatient Drainage Therapy.

PURPOSE: We investigated the outcomes of surgery for pneumothorax following outpatient drainage therapy. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 34 patients who underwent operations following outpatient drainage therapy with the Thoracic Vent at our hospital between December 2012 and September 2016. Indications for outpatient drainage therapy were pneumothorax without circulatory or respiratory failure and pleural effusion. Indications for surgical treatment were persistent air leakage and patient preference for surgery to prevent or reduce the incidence of recurrent pneumothorax. RESULTS: Intraoperatively, 9 of 34 cases showed loose adhesions around the Thoracic Vent, all of which were dissected bluntly. The preoperative drainage duration ranged from 5 to 13 days in patients with adhesions and from 3 to 19 days in those without adhesions, indicating no significant difference. The duration of preoperative drainage did not affect the incidence of adhesions. The operative duration ranged from 30 to 96 minutes in patients with adhesions and from 31 to 139 minutes in those without adhesions, also indicating no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Outpatient drainage therapy with the Thoracic Vent was useful for spontaneous pneumothorax patients who underwent surgery, and drainage for less than 3 weeks did not affect intraoperative or postoperative outcomes.

Outpatient drainage for patients with spontaneous pneumothorax over 50 years of age.

INTRODUCTION: The British Thoracic Society has reported a lower success rate for aspiration of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients over 50 years of age. Outpatient drainage therapy is used to manage spontaneous pneumothorax at some institutions. We examined the effect of age on outpatient drainage therapy outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 68 patients who underwent outpatient drainage therapy with a thoracic vent between December 2012 and April 2015, which included 11 patients over 50 years of age. Indications for outpatient drainage therapy included pneumothorax with no circulatory or respiratory failure and no pleural effusion. RESULTS: Of the 11 patients over 50 years of age, 5 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one had interstitial pneumonia, one had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and one has lung tumors (LTs). Among the 57 younger patients, 2 patients had COPD, and one had LTs. Unexpected hospital admission occurred in 2 patients over 50 years of age and one patient aged 50 years or less (P = 0.0658, Fisher's exact test). Six of the 11 patients over 50 years of age underwent surgery for prolonged air leakage, compared to 8 of the 57 younger patients (P = 0.00695, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient drainage therapy is useful for patients with spontaneous pneumothorax over 50 years of age, because outpatient drainage therapy alone was successful in 4 of 11 patients and admission for drainage was avoided in 9 of 11 patients. However, prolonged air leakage occurs more frequently in this age group.

Bilothorax as a complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

We report two cases of bilothorax that occurred as a complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. In an 86-year-old woman who had undergone percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice, bilothorax occurred after accidental removal of the tube. She recovered with chest drainage only. An 83-year-old man who had undergone percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for cholecystitis developed bilothorax with infection. He recovered with thoracoscopic curettage. Although bilothorax is a rare complication of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment is important, especially when bilothorax is accompanied by infection.

Right Lower Lobe Superior Segmentectomy in a Patient With a Displaced Bronchus.

An 81-year-old woman with adenocarcinoma in the lower superior segment of the right lung underwent superior segmentectomy of the right lower lobe through a thoracotomy. Preoperatively, we detected an anomalous B10c bronchus branching from the right lower superior segment bronchus with multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy. Intraoperatively, we stapled and cut the right lower superior segment bronchus at the level of the peripheral anomalous B10c bronchus under bronchoscopic visualization. Precise anatomic understanding is very important for segmentectomy, especially in patients with anomalous bronchi. Multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy are useful for preoperative planning.

[Spontaneous Pneumothorax During Pregnancy Successfully Managed with a Thoracic Vent before Surgical Therapy; Report of a Case].

A 34-year-old pregnant woman presented to our department at 31 weeks of gestation after being diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax based on chest X-ray findings. We inserted a Thoracic Vent( TV), and she was followed as an outpatient. However, since pneumothorax recurred twice after the TV was removed, she was finally admitted to the Department of Obstetrics because threatened premature delivery was suspected. The collapsed lung did not re-expand, and the surgery for pneumothorax was done before childbirth. After thoracic surgery, she safely gave birth to a girl at 40 weeks of gestation. Outpatient therapy for spontaneous pneumothorax with TV is concerned to be a useful treatment even for pregnant women.

Chest injuries related to surfing.

BACKGROUND: Surfing is a popular sport in coastal areas, which can be associated with chest injuries. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2013, 6 patients were referred to our hospital with chest injuries sustained during surfing. Clinical data were collected from their medical records and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 35 to 52 years. Five of the 6 patients were male. Four patients were injured in August, and the other two were injured in September and October. Rib fractures were observed in 3 of the 6 patients. The other 3 patients were diagnosed with chest contusions only. Hemothorax occurred in one patient. No lacerations were observed in any of the 6 patients. CONCLUSION: Chest injuries associated with surfing are usually blunt chest injuries; however, they may occasionally be life-threatening.