Emergency right lower lobectomy for severe pulmonary abscess in a pregnant woman at the 25th week of gestation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary abscess is a severe infection commonly seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial pneumonia, immune deficiency disease, drug-induced immunocompromised state, and congenital pulmonary disease. The treatment strategy in pregnant women with a pulmonary abscess is considered challenging since adverse effects on the fetus must be avoided to ensure safe delivery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old female patient at 24 weeks of gestation (G2P1) was admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology due to sudden right chest pain. The patient had no significant medical history, including congenital anomalies, and no history of drug addiction or smoking. Laboratory data indicated high levels of inflammation (white blood cell 12,000/µL, C-reactive protein 16.0 mg/dL), and computed tomography demonstrated a large intrapulmonary cyst located in the middle of the right lower lobe, with some fluid collection. As the patient had no medical history of congenital pulmonary anomalies, she was initially diagnosed with a pulmonary cyst infection and treated with intravenous antibiotics. However, the infection did not resolve for over a week, and a spike in fever developed after admission. There was no definitive evidence concerning the risk of preterm delivery and fetal abortion during non-obstetric surgery. However, to control the severely infected pulmonary abscess that was refractory to antibiotics and obtain a pathological diagnosis while saving the life of both the mother and fetus, we elected to perform an emergent right lower lobectomy by open thoracotomy with a fissureless maneuver after receiving informed consent. Postoperatively, the infection gradually improved, and the patient was discharged on the 16th postoperative day without any major complications in the mother or fetus. Although she later experienced coronavirus disease-19 at 29 weeks of gestation, a boy was born at 40th weeks of gestation without any complications. Pathologically, no infectious agents, malignancies, or congenital anomalies other than lung abscesses associated with the pulmonary infarction were observed. The mother and child were healthy 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We experienced a rare case of a pulmonary abscess in a pregnant woman who needed an emergent right lower lobectomy to control the severe infection and obtain a correct pathological diagnosis. Under cooperation from an obstetrician and anesthesiologist, emergency pulmonary resection can be performed safely for serious abscess formation even for pregnant women who have several months left until delivery.

Alveolar adenoma with a single cyst: A case report.

Alveolar adenoma is a rare and benign pulmonary tumor, which originates from type II pneumocytes and is often incidentally identified on radiographic images. Alveolar adenoma presents as a peripleural, solitary and cystic nodule in the lung and may mimic other types of lung tumors, thus rendering its differential diagnosis difficult. Alveolar adenoma is diagnosed based on histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The present study describes the case of a 50-year-old male patient with alveolar adenoma. He visited a local doctor ~3 years prior due to left chest pain. A chest computed tomography scan revealed a cystic lesion in segment 8 of the left lung. A nodular shadow appeared in the cyst and gradually increased in size; the patient was thus referred to the authors' hospital. The nodule was well-defined, solitary and solid; thus, lung cancer or aspergilloma were suspected. Thoracoscopic wedge resection was performed as diagnostic therapy. The frozen sections were non-diagnostic, and a pathological examination revealed an alveolar adenoma with no evidence of malignancy and a negative culture. The patient had a good post-operative course, with no sign of recurrence at the follow-up evaluation 46 months later. On the whole, alveolar adenoma is a rare, benign pulmonary tumor that is difficult to diagnose pre-operatively.

[Multiple Metastatic Lung Tumors in the Left Upper Lobe Complicated with Hypoplasia and Chronic Atelectasis of the Left Lower Lobe:Report of a Case].

An 80-year-old man with surgical history of colon cancer was referred to our department for surgical treatment for multiple metastatic lung tumors in the left upper lobe. The patient had been showing complete atelectasis of the left lower lung lobe one year prior to the consultation. Six months after wedge resections for the pulmonary metastases, the left lower lobe was re-expanded, showing bronchiectasis with rudimentary pulmonary artery branches. Further, the ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy showed decreased uptake in the left lower lobe. These findings indicated that the patient had the hypoplasia of the left lower lobe.

[Radiofrequency Ablation for Pulmonary Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer Caused Iatrogenic Pneumothorax, Leading to Empyema].

A female patient in her 40s who underwent surgery for recurrent right lung metastasis from resected ovarian cancer was referred to our department because of the right pneumothorax due to radiofrequency ablation for multiple lung metastases. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis( MRSE) was detected from the tip of the drainage catheter indicated persistent pulmonary fistula with right empyema, and surgical treatment was performed. A white coat of the whole lung surface and air leakage were observed at radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treated lesion and partial resection of the right lung, debridement, and irrigation were performed. A pathological examination revealed residual viable ovarian cancer cells and pleural fistula.

Risk factors for postoperative cerebral infarction in Lung Cancer patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative cerebral infarction is a rare but serious complication after lung cancer surgery. We aimed to investigate the risk factors and evaluate the efficiency of our devised surgical procedure to prevent cerebral infarction. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 1,189 patients who underwent a single lobectomy for lung cancer at our institution. We identified the risk factors for cerebral infarction and investigated the preventive effects of performing resection of the pulmonary vein as the last step of the surgical procedure during left upper lobectomy. RESULTS: Among the 1,189 patients, we identified 5 male patients (0.4%) with postoperative cerebral infarction. All five underwent left-sided lobectomy including three upper and two lower lobectomies. Left-sided lobectomy, a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and lower body mass index were associated with postoperative cerebral infarction (Ps < 0.05). The 274 patients who underwent left upper lobectomy were stratified by two procedures: lobectomy with resection of the pulmonary vein as the last step of the surgical procedure (n = 120) and the standard procedure (n = 154). The former procedure significantly shortened the length of the pulmonary vein stump when compared with the standard procedure (mean stump length: 15.1 vs. 18.6 mm, P < 0.01), and the shorter pulmonary vein might possibly prevent postoperative cerebral infarction (frequency: 0.8% vs. 1.3%, Odds ratio: 0.19, P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Resecting the pulmonary vein as the last step during the left upper lobectomy enabled the length of the pulmonary stump to be significantly shorter, which may contribute to preventing cerebral infarction.

[Giant Bullae Misdiagnosed as Pneumothorax:Report of a Case].

A 46-year-old man was taken to a hospital by ambulance because of sudden onset of dyspnea, and was inserted chest drainage tube with a diagnosis of right-sided tension pneumothorax on chest X-ray. Since the chest drainage was not effective, he was transferred to our institute. Based on chest computed tomography (CT) findings, a diagnosis of giant bullae of the right lung was made, and surgical treatment was performed. Postoperatively, the improvement of respiratory function was confirmed.

The surgical Apgar score predicts postoperative complications and the survival in lung cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The surgical Apgar score (SAS)-calculated using the intraoperative variables estimated blood loss, lowest heart rate, and lowest mean systolic pressure-is associated with mortality in cancer surgery. We investigated the utility of the SAS in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 691 patients who underwent surgery for primary lung cancer between 2015 and 2019 in a single institute and analyzed the impact of the SAS. RESULTS: Of the 691 patients, 138 (20%), 57 (8.2%), and 7 (1.0%) had postoperative complications of all grades, grades ≥ III, and grade V, respectively, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The C-index for postoperative complications of grades ≥ III was 0.605. A lower score (0-5 points) (odds ratio 3.09 against 8-10 points, P = 0.04) and a lower percentage of vital capacity (odds ratio 0.97, P = 0.04) were independent negative risk factors for major postoperative complications. Patients with a lower score (0-5 points) had poor 5-year overall and cancer-specific survival rates (60.1% and 72.3%, respectively; P < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical Apgar score predicted postoperative complications and the long-term survival. Surgeons may improve surgical results using the SAS.

The pulmonary surgical Apgar score for lung cancer surgery predicts postoperative complications and long-term survival.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical Apgar score, calculated using 3 intraoperative variables (blood loss, lowest mean arterial pressure and lowest heart rate), is associated with mortality in cancer surgery. The original score has less applicability in lung cancer surgery; therefore, we innovated the modified pulmonary surgical Apgar score with additional intraoperative oxygen saturation representing pulmonary parenchymal damage and cardiopulmonary dynamics. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data of 691 patients who underwent surgery for primary lung cancer between 2015 and 2019 at a single institute. We analysed the utility of the pulmonary surgical Apgar score compared with the original surgical Apgar score. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were observed in 57 (8.2%) and 7 (1.0%) of the 691 patients who were stratified as grade ≥III and V, respectively, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. We compared the fitness of the score in predicting postoperative complications; the calculated c-index (0.622) was slightly higher than the original c-index (0.604; P = 0.398). Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on their scores as follows: 0-6 points (n = 59), 7-9 points (n = 420) and 10-12 points (n = 212). Univariable and multivariable analyses demonstrated that a lower score was an independent negative risk factor for postoperative complications (odds ratio 3.53; P = 0.02). Patients with lower scores had a considerably poor 5-year overall survival (64.6%) (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The pulmonary surgical Apgar score predicts postoperative complications and long-term survival in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery and may be utilized for postoperative management.

Symptom severity trajectories and distresses in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection from surgery to the first post-discharge clinic visit.

This study aimed to characterize patients' symptom severity trajectories and distresses from video-assisted thoracoscopic lung resection to the first post-discharge clinic visit. Seventy-five patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection for diagnosed or suspected pulmonary malignancy prospectively recorded daily symptom severity on a 0-10 numeric scale using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory until the first post-discharge clinic visit. The causes of postoperative distresses were surveyed, and symptom severity trajectories were analyzed using joinpoint regression. A rebound was defined as a statistically significant positive slope after a statistically significant negative slope. Symptom recovery was defined as symptom severity of ≤3 in two contiguous measurements. The accuracy of pain severity on days 1-5 for predicting pain recovery was determined using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. We applied Cox proportional hazards models for multivariate analyses of the potential predictors of early pain recovery. The median age was 70 years, and females accounted for 48%. The median interval from surgery to the first post-discharge clinic visit was 20 days. Trajectories of several core symptoms including pain showed a rebound from day 3 or 4. Specifically, pain severity in patients with unrecovered pain had been higher than those with recovered pain since day 4. Pain severity on day 4 showed the highest area under the curve of 0.723 for predicting pain recovery (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified pain severity of ≤1 on day 4 as an independent predictor of early pain recovery (hazard ratio, 2.86; P = 0.0027). Duration of symptom was the leading cause of postoperative distress. Several core symptoms after thoracoscopic lung resection showed a rebound in the trajectory. Specifically, a rebound in pain trajectory may be associated with unrecovered pain; pain severity on day 4 may predict early pain recovery. Further clarification of symptom severity trajectories is essential for patient-centered care.

Results of emergency salvage lung resection after chemo- and/or radiotherapy among patients with lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate the outcomes of emergency salvage surgery following life-threatening events (serious haemorrhage and/or infections) among patients with lung cancer who had undergone chemo- and/or radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the data of patient from 2015 to 2020, retrospectively. The clinical characteristics, including preoperative treatment, perioperative outcomes and survival time, were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 862 patients who underwent primary lung cancer surgeries, 10 (1.2%) underwent emergency surgeries. The preoperative clinical characteristics were: median age, 63.7 years [interquartile range (IQR) 55-70.5]; sex (male/female), 9/1; clinical staging before initial treatment (I/II/III/IV), 1/1/3/5; initial treatment (chemoradiotherapy/chemotherapy/proton beam therapy), 5/4/1; and indications for emergency surgery (lung abscess/lung abscess with haemoptysis/haemoptysis/empyema), 5/3/1/1. The selected procedures and results were as follows: lobectomy/bilobectomy/pneumonectomy, 8/1/1 (all open thoracotomies); median operation time, 191.0 min (IQR 151-279); median blood loss, 1071.5 ml (IQR 540-1691.5); postoperative severe complications, 3 (30%); hospital mortality, none; median postoperative hospital stay, 37 days (12-125); control of infection and/or haemoptysis, all the cases; final outcome (alive/dead), 3/7 (all the cancer deaths); median postoperative survival, 9.4 months (IQR 4.3-20.4); and median survival from initial treatment, 19.4 months (IQR 8.0-66.9). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency salvage lung resection is a technically challenging procedure; however, the results were feasible and acceptable when the surgical indication, procedure and optimal timing were considered carefully by a multidisciplinary team. Although the aim was palliation, some patients who received additional chemotherapy afterwards and, thus, had additional survival time.

Solitary pulmonary metastasis after meningioma surgery of the head: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Meningioma is the most common type of benign primary brain tumor that is rarely associated with distant metastasis. No established treatment strategy for metastatic meningiomas exists to date. Herein, we report a case of solitary pulmonary metastasis of meningioma detected 2 years after neurosurgical resection of the primary tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: A 75-year-old male patient underwent neurosurgical resection of a convexity meningioma (World Health Organization grade II atypical meningioma), followed by postoperative radiotherapy for the residual tumor. Two postoperative years later, a solitary 10-mm pulmonary nodule in the left lower lung lobe was detected on chest computed tomography. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic left lower lobectomy for suspected pulmonary metastasis of meningioma. The pathological diagnosis was solitary pulmonary metastasis of meningioma. No sign of further recurrence was noted at 8 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We present a rare and unique surgical case of solitary pulmonary metastasis of meningioma. Further investigation is necessary to establish the standardized treatment strategy for metastatic meningiomas.

Right Epipericardial Fat Necrosis After Thymectomy.

A 62-year-old male patient underwent median sternotomy and thymectomy for thymoma (World Health Organization classification type B1+B3, Masaoka classification stage II). A 10-month follow-up postoperative computed tomography showed a 22-mm nodule in the anterior mediastinal lipid tissue just above the right diaphragm. The patient was followed for 8 years, and the nodule's capsule eventually became calcified. Considering the possibility of postoperative recurrence of thymoma, we excised the nodule. The pathologic diagnosis was epipericardial fat necrosis. In some cases, fat necrosis is difficult to distinguish from malignancy by imaging only; surgical resection has diagnostic significance and should be considered.

[Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteriosis Difficult to Differentiate from Local Recurrence of the Metastatic Lung Tumor of the Uterine Cervix Cancer at the Staple-line:Report of a Case].

A 70-year-old woman underwent right S6 segmentectomy and left S6 partial resection for lung metastasis of uterine cervix cancer. Although she received adjuvant chemotherapy, chest computed tomography revealed a new pulmonary nodule on the staple stump of the right lung. We diagnosed the tumor as local recurrence at the stump and planned to continue chemotherapy. However, the size of the tumor increased, and we performed right middle and lower lobectomy. Based on the pathological and bacteriological examinations, an epithelioid cell granuloma infected by Mycobacterium avium was established.

Hypercalcemia Owing to Overproduction of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Fetal Lung Adenocarcinoma: Case Report.

Hypercalcemia is a common electrolyte abnormality in malignancy and is largely caused by activation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) pathways. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with hypercalcemia primarily owing to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 overproduction from a high-grade fetal lung adenocarcinoma. Histologically, the tumor itself and tumor-adjacent macrophages were positive for the CYP27B1 protein, a key enzyme that generates 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Suppression was observed in serum PTH and PTH-related hormone levels, suggesting hypercalcemia is independent of the PTH pathway. Serum calcium level returned to normal after surgical resection of the lung cancer, supporting extrarenal overproduction of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 elicited by the tumors is the cause of hypercalcemia in this patient.

Prognostic effect of preoperative red cell distribution width on the survival of patients who have undergone surgery for non-small cell lung cancer.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a prognostic factor for various malignancies, including colorectal, breast and lung cancer. The effect of preoperative RDW on the prognosis of patients who have undergone surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was investigated in the present study. This retrospective, single-institution study included consecutive patients who had undergone complete NSCLC resection between January 2006 and December 2013 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Kansai Medical University Hospital (Hirakata, Japan). The overall and recurrence-free survival rates were compared using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. A stepwise backward elimination method with a probability level of 0.15 was performed to select the most powerful outcome predictor sets. A total of 338 cases with NSCLC were analyzed. Of these, 25 had high RDWs (≥50 fl) and 313 had low RDWs (<50 fl). The 5-year overall survival rates in patients with high and low RDWs were 0.40 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.58] and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76-0.84), respectively, and the recurrence-free survival rates were 0.48 (95% CI: 0.25-0.68) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.64-0.75), respectively. High RDW was identified as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=2.29; 95% CI: 1.3-4.01; P=0.004) but not for recurrence-free survival (HR=1.70; 95% CI: 0.93-3.12; P=0.085) by univariate and multivariate analysis. A high preoperative RDW was an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients who had undergone radical resection of NSCLC. Therefore, patients with high RDW should be carefully monitored postoperatively, regardless of the disease stage.

Emergent salvage surgery for massive hemoptysis after proton beam therapy for lung cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Salvage surgery is an effective therapeutic option for patients experiencing relapses after chemoradiotherapy for advanced-stage lung cancer or after high-dose radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer. We report a case involving an emergent salvage surgery for a patient with massive hemoptysis who developed lung cancer recurrence after undergoing proton beam therapy 7 years prior to presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old male patient was emergently admitted due to massive hemoptysis. He had undergone proton beam therapy for a stage I adenocarcinoma of the left upper lobe 7 years ago, and was receiving chemotherapy for local recurrence. We performed an emergent salvage pulmonary resection to achieve hemostasis. During the operation, we confirmed the presence of a left broncho-pulmonary arterial fistula, which was considered as the origin of the massive hemoptysis. We repaired the fistula between the pulmonary artery and left upper bronchus without incident; an orifice of the fistula at the left pulmonary artery was sutured using a non-absorbable monofilament, and the central portion of the orifice of the fistula at the left upper bronchus was closed with a mechanical stapling device. The postoperative diagnosis was of an adenocarcinoma-ypT3(pm1) N0M1a (dissemination)-IVA, ef1b. The patient has survived for over a year with the cancer in almost complete remission following the administration of an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent salvage surgery demands high skill levels with optimal timing and correct patient selection. Our case suggested that the procedure played an important role in controlling serious bleeding and/or infectious conditions. Consequently, he could receive chemotherapy again and survive for over a year.

Isolated middle mediastinal mass associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a multi-organ disorder predominantly occurring in middle-aged to elderly male patients characterized by multi-organ fibrosis, specific pathological findings of storiform fibrosis with IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration, and elevated serum IgG4 level. We herein report a rare presentation of IgG4-RD forming an isolated mass in the middle mediastinum mimicking a mediastinal tumor and discuss the clinical significance of mediastinal IgG4-RD. CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old male patient without any symptom was referred due to left middle mediastinal mass (3.8 × 2.4 cm). Because of suspected lymphoma, Castleman's disease, and lymphangitis due to tuberculosis, we performed a thoracoscopic resection for diagnosis and treatment. The mass was yellowish white with well-encapsulated, and storiform fibrosis with plasma cell infiltration, and obliterative phlebitis were observed microscopically. Additional immunohistochemical stain revealed IgG4-RD. Other radiological findings and serological results did not show evidence of other organs being affected from IgG4-RD nor autoimmune diseases. He is now followed at outpatient clinic without additional treatment for over a year, and an enhanced computed tomography does not show any recurrence. CONCLUSION: It was a rare presentation of IgG4-RD forming isolated middle mediastinal mass, which suggests that we might suspect IgG4-RD for undetermined mediastinal mass in case of middle to elderly male patient.

Clinical impact and utility of positron emission tomography on occult lymph node metastasis and survival: radical surgery for stage I lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical result of early-staged lung cancer is not satisfactory due to unexpected postoperative lymph node metastasis and recurrence. This study aimed to investigate which preoperative factors-including the standard uptake value max (SUVmax) of positron emission tomography-could predict occult lymph node metastasis and survival. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 598 patients with clinical stage I lung cancer who underwent surgery, and examined their preoperative clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 1586 patients had surgery for primary lung cancer between 2006 and 2019; 598 patients with clinical stage I lung cancer were the study inclusion; occult lymph node metastasis was detected in 102 (17.1%). Univariable and multivariable analyses showed that SUVmax ≥ 3 (P < 0.001), clinical invasive tumor size ≥ 2 cm (P = 0.009), and carcinoembryonic antigen > 5 (P = 0.03) were associated with significant risk factors rated (%) for occult lymph node metastasis, as follows: high-risk group (three factors), moderate-risk group (two factors) and low-risk group (one factor or none) corresponding to 32.2 (28/87), 22.8 (41/180) and 7.3 (19/262), respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival rates (%) of patients without lymph node metastasis holding SUVmax 6 or over were as poor as those of patients with lymph node metastasis (72.0% vs 64.1%; P = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: We might consider wedge resection or segmentectomy, omitting lymphadenectomy, for the low-risk group; adjuvant therapy is indicated for patients without lymph node metastasis having SUVmax 6 or over.

[Pulmonary Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma Found as Multiple Bilateral Lung Nodules 11 Years after Hysterectomy;Report of a Case].

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma (PBML) is a rare entity. We herein report a case of PBML found as multiple bilateral lung nodules 11 years after total hysterectomy. The patient was a 53-year-old woman with past surgical history of abdominal total hysterectomy for a uterine leiomyoma at the age of 42. She was referred to our department for further evaluation of multiple pulmonary nodules detected by a chest radiography. A chest computed tomography revealed multiple bilateral small lung nodules less than 10 mm in diameter. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography showed no significant FDG accumulation to these nodules. The patient finally underwent video assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lower lobe of the right lung for surgical biopsy. The final pathological diagnosis was PBML, based on the comparative evaluation of the surgical specimens from the lung and the uterus. No evidence of enlargement in the remaining pulmonary nodules was noted for 9 months after surgical lung biopsy.