Argentine consensus recommendations for lung cancer screening programmes: a RAND/UCLA-modified Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) screening improves LC survival; the best screening method in terms of improving survival is low-dose CT (LDCT), outpacing chest X-ray and sputum cytology. METHODS: A consensus of experts in Argentina was carried out to review the literature and generate recommendations for LC screening programmes. A mixed-method study was used with three phases: (1) review of the literature; (2) modified Delphi consensus panel; and (3) development of the recommendations. The Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework was used to generate 13 evaluation criteria. Nineteen experts participated in four voting rounds. Consensus among participants was defined using the RAND/UCLA method. RESULTS: A total of 16 recommendations scored ≥7 points with no disagreement on any criteria. Screening for LC should be performed with LDCT annually in the population at high-risk, aged between 55 and 74 years, regardless of sex, without comorbidities with a risk of death higher than the risk of death from LC, smoking ≥30 pack-years or former smokers who quit smoking within 15 years. Screening will be considered positive when finding a solid nodule ≥6 mm in diameter (or ≥113 mm3) on baseline LDCT and 4 mm in diameter if a new nodule is identified on annual screening. A smoking cessation programme should be offered, and cardiovascular risk assessment should be performed. Institutions should have a multidisciplinary committee, have protocols for the management of symptomatic patients not included in the programme and distribute educational material. CONCLUSION: The recommendations provide a basis for minimum requirements from which local institutions can develop their own protocols adapted to their needs and resources.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoid tumors: Is there a predictive role to the Ki 67 index?

INTRODUCTION: There are several factors predicting evolution in carcinoid tumors (CT) to date including the Ki67 role. AIMS: The aim of this study is to identify a KI67 cut-off point for a population of CT and determine its prognostic implication in global and disease-free survival. METHODS: Hematoxylin-eosin slides of 102 CT were revised. The percentage of cells expressing Ki 67 was determined manually. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The variables were compared with the t-test or the Wilcoxon test according to their distribution, the categorical ones with Chi-square or Fisher's test. The best cut-off point was established by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves, then using that value as a dichotomous variable. RESULTS: 72 typical carcinoids (TC) and 30 atypical carcinoids (AC) were analyzed; 66% were female. Median age (TC 38 vs. AC 51, P = 0.001), Ki67 expression (TC 0.63 vs. AC 2, P = 0.003), tumor size (TC 2.5 vs. AC 2.6, P = 0.001), the percentage relapse (TC 3.4% vs. AC 23%, P = 0.006), and the number of deaths (TC 1 vs. AC 4, P = 0.042) were significantly higher in the AC subgroup. The best cut-off point for Ki 67 was 0.755 (area under the curve AUC 0.564, 95% confidence interval 0.270-0.857), with no significant differences found in the disease-free and overall survival curves when considering values < or ≥ at the established cut-off point. The best cut-off point of the Ki-67 when exclusively analyzing AC was 1.18. When using this value as a predictive variable, a marginal statistical association was observed between Ki-67 expression, mortality (P = 0.077), and the frequency of relapses (P = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: Histological type is the best predictor of prognosis in the carcinoid tumor group. In the AC subgroup, the marginal association between mortality, frequency of relapses and Ki values 67 ≥ 1.18 has clinical relevance future analyses are required to determine the real predictive value of this variable.

Characteristics and outcomes of thymomas in Latin America: Results from over 10 years of experience (CLICaP-LATimus).

BACKGROUND: Thymomas are a group of rare neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics, clinical characteristics and treatment approaches in Latin America. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients with histologically proven thymomas diagnosed between 1997 and 2018. Demographics, clinicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes were collected locally and analyzed in a centralized manner. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 53 years old (19-84), 53.3% (n = 72) of patients were female and 87.4% had an ECOG performance score ranging from 0-1. A total of 47 patients (34.8%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Concurrent myasthenia gravis occurred in 21.5% of patients. Surgery was performed in 74 patients (54.8%), comprising 27 (20%) tumorectomies and 47 (34.8%) thymectomies. According to the Masaoka-Koga system, overall survival (OS) at five-years was 73.4%, 63.8% and 51%, at stages I-II, III-IVA and IVB, respectively (p = 0.005). Furthermore, patients with low lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (≤373 IU/L) at baseline and myasthenia gravis concurrence showed significantly better OS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate analysis, high LDH levels (HR 2.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-7.8]; p = 0.036) at baseline and not performing a surgical resection (HR 4.1 [95% CI: 1.3-12.7]; p = 0.016) were significantly associated with increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provides the largest insight into the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with thymomas in Latin America. Survival in patients with thymomas continues to be very favorable, especially when subjected to adequate local control.

Minimal invasive surgery in locally advanced N2 non-small cell lung cancer.

Locally advanced lung cancer, defined by nodal involvement in upper mediastinal stations (N2) (stage IIIA-N2), includes a wide spectrum of patients with multiple therapeutic alternatives. Such heterogeneity is explained, at least in part, by tumor size and magnitude of mediastinal nodal involvement. In this setting, many variants can influence the prognosis, such as the specific nodal stations compromised, the burden of mediastinal disease, and the presence of skip metastasis. In the surgical field, the advent of minimally invasive techniques, including video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotic surgery, have revolutionized the management of early-stage lung cancer, but implementations of these approaches in the locally advanced setting have been erratic. This review attempts to highlight the most relevant scientific data of the surgical management of locally advanced lung cancer patients, analyzing not only the medical evidence but also the cost-effectiveness and accessibility.

Ciliated muconodular papillary tumor and thymoma: unusual presentation for two types of rare tumors: a case report.

We present the case of 68-year-old woman with presumptive diagnosis of lung malignancy and lymph node mediastinal disease surgically treated that resulted in two independent lesions: a ciliated muconodular papillary tumor (CMPT) and a B2 thymoma. The nodule was in right lower lobe (RLL) had irregular borders and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan confirmed a 20 mm mass irradiating towards the visceral pleura and small central cavitation and moderate uptake [standardized uptake value (SUV) =2.7]. In the anterior mediastinum there was a solid 25 mm nodule with an SUV of 2.4, interpreted as a pre-vascular lymph node enlargement. Lobectomy by video-thoracoscopy has been made and anterior mediastinum mass closely related to the thymus was resected. Pulmonary tumor diagnosis was CMPT and thymoma B2 diagnosis was did in mediastinal nodule. CMPT are extremely rare lesions made up of a bronchiolar-like epithelial proliferation, with basal and mucinous cells, that usually presents as a solid or subsolid peripheral pulmonary nodule. Thymomas represent the most frequent tumor of anterior mediastinum constituted by epithelial thymic cells proliferation. There is no association described in the literature between the two histological entities. Our aim is to alert about this CMPT lung tumor and its unusual coexistence with a mediastinal mass which simulates N2 metastatic lung cancer. We considered that establish specific treatment guidelines are needed for these diseases with different prognoses.

[Placental transmogrification of the lung. Atypical presentation of the bullous emphysema]. / Transmogrificación placentaria de pulmón. Presentación atípica del enfisema bulloso.

Placental transmogrification of the lung is an extremely rare lesion, associated with giant bullous emphysema and considered by some authors to be a histological variant of unilateral giant bullous emphysema. Its etiology is still unknown and represents a challenge for both clinical and pathological diagnosis. We present the case of a young patient, who consults with dyspnea of one year of evolution, and whose postoperative diagnosis includes this rare entity.

La transmogrificación placentaria del pulmón es una lesión extremadamente infrecuente, asociada al enfisema bulloso gigante y considerada por algunos autores una variante histológica del enfisema bulloso gigante unilateral. Su etiología aún es desconocida y representa un desafío tanto para el diagnóstico clínico como anatomopatológico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven, que consulta con disnea de un año de evolución, y cuyo diagnóstico postoperatorio incluye esta rara entidad.

Transmogrificación placentaria de pulmón. Presentación atípica del enfisema bulloso / Placental transmogrification of the lung. Atypical presentation of the bullous emphysema

Resumen La transmogrificación placentaria del pulmón es una lesión extremadamente infrecuente, asociada al enfisema bulloso gigante y considerada por algunos autores una variante histológica del enfisema bulloso gigante unilateral. Su etiología aún es desconocida y representa un desafío tanto para el diagnóstico clínico como anatomopatológico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven, que consulta con disnea de un año de evolución, y cuyo diagnóstico postoperatorio incluye esta rara entidad.

Abstract Placental transmogrification of the lung is an extremely rare lesion, associated with giant bullous emphysema and considered by some authors to be a histological variant of unilateral giant bullous emphysema. Its etiology is still unknown and represents a challenge for both clinical and pathological diagnosis. We present the case of a young patient, who consults with dyspnea of one year of evolution, and whose postoperative diagnosis includes this rare entity.

Recommendations for detection, prioritization, and treatment of thoracic oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: the THOCOoP cooperative group.

The world currently faces a pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2. Relevant information has emerged regarding the higher risk of poor outcomes in lung cancer patients. As such, lung cancer patients must be prioritized in terms of prevention, detection and treatment. On May 7th, 45 experts in thoracic cancers from 11 different countries were invited to participate. A core panel of experts regarding thoracic oncology care amidst the pandemic gathered virtually, and a total of 60 initial recommendations were drafted based on available evidence, 2 questions were deleted due to conflicting evidence. By May 16th, 44 experts had agreed to participate, and voted on each of the 58 recommendation using a Delphi panel on a live voting event. Consensus was reached regarding the recommendations (>66 % strongly agree/agree) for 56 questions. Strong consensus (>80 % strongly agree/agree) was reached for 44 questions. Patients with lung cancer represent a particularly vulnerable population during this time. Special care must be taken to maintain treatment while avoiding exposure.

Mediastinal germ cell tumors: cohort of patients with this rare entity.

BACKGROUND: Extragonadal germ cell tumors are infrequent and represent between 1-10% of all mediastinal tumors. It presents differences to those of gonadal location in terms of clinical presentation, behavior and prognosis which is poor even with treatment. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive cohort study on 16 patients with diagnosis of mediastinal germ cell tumor surgically treated at Maria Ferrer Respiratory Rehabilitation Hospital and Alexander Fleming Specialized Medical Institute. RESULTS: Nine men and 7 women were analyzed over a period of 10 years. The median age was significantly lower among men (22 vs. 38 years, P<0.01). The most common initial symptom was pain in 43.75%. Chest tomography was the diagnostic method used in 13 patients (81.25%). Tumor marker levels were raised in 7 patients (43.75%), and decreased after surgery. All women had a mature teratoma, however, no statistically significant difference was found at the histological distribution by gender (P=0.336). The median tumor size was 9.50 centimeters. The most frequent surgical approach was sternotomy. No woman in the series received treatment before or after surgery, while 88.90% of men received neoadjuvant treatment for invasion or intimate contact with neighboring structures (P=0.001). Chemotherapy was indicated in 33.30% of the male population due to relapse. The median follow-up was 36 months (range, 1-95 months). No statistically significant differences were observed in the median follow-up (P=0.950), the percentage of relapses (P=0.091) and overall survival by gender (P=0.335). Overall survival was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Tumors were predominantly primary and not seminomatous. Multimodal treatment was a useful tool to improve the chances of resection and overall survival. There was a percentage of women higher than the published literature, teratomas predominated in them, and surgery was the only necessary treatment.

Timoma y miastenia gravis: algunas reflexiones / Thymoma and myasthenia gravis: some reflections

La miastenia gravis es un desorden autoinmune cuyo espectro de síntomas abarca desde la debilidad ocular hasta la depresión respiratoria. Por tanto, debe tratarse como tal asociando corticoides e inmunosupresores, de ser necesario, a los fines de obtener estabilidad clínica al momento del procedimiento quirúrgico. Ello es independiente de la presencia o no de un timoma. La paciente presentaba síntomas bulbares (afectación de músculos orofaríngeos y fonatorios), perteneciendo al menos a un estadío IIb de la clasificación Clínica de Osserman, lo que implicaba que tal vez las condiciones clínicas en las cuales fue llevada a cirugía no fueron las más adecuadas, y pudieron motivar las complicaciones posteriores

Osteoclastoma recidivante de origen costovertebral / Recurrent osteoclastoma origin costovertebral

El tumor de células gigantes u osteoclastoma es una lesión benigna, aunque con comportamiento agresivo, puesto de manifiesto por la posibilidad de recidivar, invadir estructuras aledañas y vasculares y posibilidad de desarrollar metástasis. Sin embargo, no responde a ningún tratamiento sistémico. Presentamos el caso de una mujer joven con varias recaídas locales de un tumor de células gigantes de origen costovertebral, con metástasis pulmonar única contralateral, y su tratamiento.

The giant cell tumour is a benign condition, but with aggressivebehavior, as evidence by the ability to recur, presentvascular invasion and possibility of metastasis. There isno role to systemic treatment for these tumours. We reportthe case of a young woman with several local relapses ofgiant cell tumour, with contralateral lung metastases andits treatment.

Tumor fibroso solitario pleural de lenta evolución / Giant solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura of slow evolution

El tumor fibroso solitario pleural es una neoplasia infrecuente originada en las células submesoteliales de la superficie pleural. Generalmente se manifiesta como una masa exofítica que crece hacia dicho espacio comprimiendo estructuras adyacentes. Su diferencia con el mesotelioma pleural maligno no sólo yace en su origen histológico, sino también en los antecedentes epidemiológicos y el curso clínico de la enfermedad. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con una masa pleural gigante de 11 años de evolución, los inconvenientes suscitados con el diagnóstico y, finalmente, la resolución quirúrgica definitiva.

The solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare neoplasm originating from submesothelial cells of the pleural membrane. Its usual manifestation is as an exophytic mass that grows into the pleural cavity compressing adjacent structures. The difference with malignant pleural mesothelioma does not only lie in its histological origin, but also in the epidemiological history and clinical course of the disease. We report a patient with a giant pleural mass of 11 years of evolution, the problems arising for the diagnosis, and finally the definitive surgical treatment.

Tumor fibroso solitario pleural de lenta evolución / Giant solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura of slow evolution

El tumor fibroso solitario pleural es una neoplasia infrecuente originada en las células submesoteliales de la superficie pleural. Generalmente se manifiesta como una masa exofítica que crece hacia dicho espacio comprimiendo estructuras adyacentes. Su diferencia con el mesotelioma pleural maligno no sólo yace en su origen histológico, sino también en los antecedentes epidemiológicos y el curso clínico de la enfermedad. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con una masa pleural gigante de 11 años de evolución, los inconvenientes suscitados con el diagnóstico y, finalmente, la resolución quirúrgica definitiva. (AU)

The solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare neoplasm originating from submesothelial cells of the pleural membrane. Its usual manifestation is as an exophytic mass that grows into the pleural cavity compressing adjacent structures. The difference with malignant pleural mesothelioma does not only lie in its histological origin, but also in the epidemiological history and clinical course of the disease. We report a patient with a giant pleural mass of 11 years of evolution, the problems arising for the diagnosis, and finally the definitive surgical treatment. (AU)

Factores de pronóstico y resultados a largo plazo de timomas tratados quirúrgicamente en una cohorte de pacientes argentinos / Prognostic factors and long-term results of surgically treated thymoma in a cohort of patients Argentine

Los timomas representan el tumor más frecuente del mediastino anterior. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar las características clínico patológicas de los timomas tratados quirúrgicamente desde enero de 1971 hasta diciembre del 2008 en el Hospital de Rehabilitación Respiratoria María Ferrer, e investigar los factores que afectan la supervivencia. De los 131 casos analizados, 11 fueron perdidos de seguimiento (6%); de los restantes 120, 26 se hallaban fallecidos al final del estudio (21.7%). Se analizaron las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, síntomas de miastenia gravis al momento del diagnóstico, estadificación de Masaoka(1994) del tumor original, clasificación histológica de la OMS (1999), radioterapia postoperatoria y evolución clínica de la miastenia gravis según la clasificación modificada de Osserman. Fueron analizados 66 hombres (54%) y 56 mujeres (46%), con una mediana de edad de 48 años (rango13-78); 78 presentaban miastenia gravis al momento del diagnóstico (64%), y el 97% de ellos persistían sintomáticos luego del tratamiento quirúrgico. En el análisis univariado, la presencia de miastenia gravis al momento del diagnóstico (HR 0.527, IC 95% 0.243 - 1.141, p = 0.10), la evolución clínica de la enfermedad (HR 18.81, IC 95% 4.070 - 86.886,p = 0.000) y el estadio de Masaoka (HR 2.044, IC 95% 0.934 - 4.474, p = 0.074) se asociaron significativamente con la frecuencia de la muerte en pacientes con timoma. En el análisis multivariado, ese valor resultó ser casi 7 veces mayor en timomas invasores que en los estadios I y II (HR 7.272, IC 95% 2.19 - 24.11, p = 0.001), mientras que la radioterapia adyuvante disminuyó en un 79% este riesgo en nuestra población (HR 0.214 IC 95% 0.0648 - 0.7085, p= 0.12)...

Thymomas are neoplasias originating from epithelial cellsof the thymus. The aim is to present a serie of surgicallytreated thymomas at the Hospital de Rehabilitación Respi -ratoria María Ferrer from January 1971 to December 2008and to determine which factors affected the survival ofthese patients during the follow-up time. All patients withdiagnostic of thymoma surgically treated were included.A total of 131 cases were analized, 11 of which were lostto follow-up (6%); of the remaining 120, 26 were dead atthe end of the study (21.7%). The following variables wereanalyzed: age, gender, symptoms of myasthenia gravis atthe time of diagnosis, staging of Masaoka (1994) of theoriginal tumor, the 1999 WHO classification, postoperativeradiotherapy treatment and clinical course of myastheniagravis defined by the modified Osserman classification.Out of the 120 patients studied, 66 were men (54%) and 56female (46%), with a median age of 48 years old (range 13-78); 78/120 had myasthenia gravis at the time of diagnosis(64%), and 97% of them had persistent symptoms aftersurgical treatment. In univariate analysis, symptoms ofmyasthenia gravis at the time of diagnosis (HR 0.527, 95%CI 0.243 - 1.141, p = 0.10), clinical course of myastheniaaccording to the Osserman classification (HR 18.81, CI95% 4.070 - 86.886, p = 0.000) and staging of Masaoka(HR 2.044, 95% CI 0.934-4.474, p = 0.074) showed a signi -ficant association with the frequency of death in patientswith thymoma. In multivariate analysis, the risk of deathin patients with invasive thymomas proved to be almost7 times higher than in stages I and II (HR 7.272, 95% CI2.19 - 24.11, p = 0.001), whereas the postoperative adjuvanttherapy decreased 79% this risk in our population (HR0.214, 95% CI 0.0648 - 0.7085, p = 0.012)...

Plásticas bronquiales como alternativa terapéutica en lesiones centrales / Bronchoplastic as a therapeutic alternative in central lesions

Introducción: Los procedimientos broncoplásticos son útiles en lesiones de localización central. El objetivo es describir la serie de plásticas bronquiales realizadas por el mismoequipo quirúrgico en dos centros de Argentina. Pacientes y métodos: 54 plásticas bronquiales realizadas desde enero de 1978 hasta diciembre del 2009 fueron analizadas. Las lesiones fueron categorizadas como benignas,de bajo y alto grado de malignidad para el análisis. Resultados: Se practicaron 29 lobectomías asociadas a plástica bronquial (54%), 21 resecciones en manguito (39%) y 4 lobectomías asociadas a plástica bronquial y arterial(7%). El promedio de edad de los pacientes con lesiones de bajo grado de malignidad es significativamente menor (34 años vs 53 p=0.0025), mientras que la prevalencia del sexo masculino (37.5% vs 75%, p=0.051), el antecedente de tabaquismo (31% vs 75%, p=0.002) y el número de plásticas vasculares (2.5% vs 37.5%, p=0.002) fue mayor entre los carcinomas. El riesgo de muerte fue 9 veces mayor entre los carcinomas (HR8.64, IC 95% 1.6-47.7, p=0.013), sin diferencias significativas en la supervivencia a 5 años y 10 años entre los dos grupos. Conclusiones: los procedimientos broncoplásticos permiten una resección oncológicaviable con preservación de parénquima pulmonar sin afectar la supervivencia alejada.

Introduction: bronchoplastic procedures are useful in tumours of central location.The aim of this study is to describe the range of bronchoplastic procedures performed by the same surgical team at two centers in Argentina. Patients and methods: The study included 54 bronchoplastic therapies made fromJanuary 1978 through December 2009. The lesions were classified as benign, low grade of malignancy and high grade of malignancy. Results: 29 sleeve lobectomies (54%), 21 sleeve resections (39%) and 4 lobectomieswith bronchovascular plastic procedures (7%) were performed. The mean age ofpatients with low grade of malignancy was significantly lower (34 years vs. 53 years; p = 0.0025), whereas male prevalence (37.5% vs 75%, p = 0.051), smoking habit history (31% vs 75%, p = 0.002) and number of bronchovascular plastic procedures(2.5% vs 37.5%, p = 0.002) was higher in cases of high grade of malignancy. The risk of death was 9 times higher in these patients (HR 8.64, 95% CI 1.6-47.7, p = 0.013) but no significant differences in survival at 5 and 10 years between the twogroups were observed. Conclusions: bronchoplastic procedures allow oncologic resection with preservationof lung parenchyma without affecting survival.