Significant prognostic determinants in lung cancers of the superior sulcus: comparable analysis of resected and unresected cases.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to identify prognostic determinants and to comparably analyze clinical features of patients with both resected and unresected superior sulcus tumors (SSTs). METHODS: The data of 56 patients who underwent any treatment for an SST from 2004 through 2016 in our hospital were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine independent prognostic factors for patients with resected and unresected SST separately. RESULTS: The number of patients with resected and unresected SSTs was 24 (43%) and 32 (57%), respectively. Of the 24 patients who underwent surgery, 20 received induction therapy, with 32% achieving pathological complete response. Complete resection (R0) was performed in 22 patients (92%). On multivariate survival analysis, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (median 8.3 ng/ml, p = 0.021) was identified as the independent determinant of OS in surgical patients; whereas, initial treatment response (complete response or partial response, p = 0.032) was the independent OS indicator in non-surgical patients. The 5-year OS of the patient with resected and unresected SST was 68.8% and 29.1% (p = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant prognostic factors differ among patients stratified by the presence of surgical resection for SSTs. Preoperative CEA level in surgical candidates and initial treatment response in non-surgical patients were the independent factors associated with OS. Surgical candidates are expected to have more favorable survival than patients with unresectable SSTs.

Surgical Treatment of Superior Sulcus Tumors: A 15-Year Single-center Experience.

This paper reports on the characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with superior sulcus tumors who underwent surgery over a period of 15 years in 1 institution. Clinical records of 94 consecutive patients operated on by the same surgical team for non-small cell lung cancer between July 1998 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received lung and chest wall en bloc resection. Forty-eight (51%) received induction treatments. Surgery was an anterior approach in 46 patients (48.9%), Paulson incision in 35 (37.2%), and a combined approach in 13 (13.8%). Lung resections were 78 lobectomies (83%), 3 were pneumonectomies (3.2%), 6 were bronchoplastic reconstructions (6.4%), and 7 were wedge resections (7.4%). Nodal dissection was systematic in 96% of patients. The median number of resected ribs was 2 (1-5), chest wall residual defect was reconstructed in 42 patients (44.7%), and 21 patients had an associated vascular resection (22.3%). Resection was radical in 85 patients (90.4%). Overall 90-day mortality was 9.6%. After a median follow-up of 1.9 years, 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 35% and 23%, respectively. A lower 5-year survival was observed in patients with nodal disease (48% in N0 vs 18% in N+; P < 0.0001), incomplete resection (21% for incomplete vs 37% for complete resection; P = 0.15), and anteriorly located tumor (anterior vs posterior: 26% vs 50%; P = 0.05). Pancoast tumor is a severe condition, but long-term survival may be achieved in selected cases. Nodal involvement, completeness of resection, and vascular invasion are the most important prognostic factors, and induction treatment may play a role.

Trimodality therapy for Pancoast tumors: T4 is not a contraindication to radical surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the impact of T stage and extended surgery on the outcome of patients with Pancoast tumors after induction chemoradiation therapy. METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent chemoradiation therapy (platin-based, 45-66 Gy) followed by surgery between 1998 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: In 28 (61%) patients with T4 tumors, extended procedures (more than rib resection) were performed. There were 37 (80%) lobectomies, 6 (13%) pneumonectomies, and 3 (7%) sublobar resections. A total of 44 (96%) patients had R0 resection. About 30-day mortality was 0%, major surgical complications occurred in 9 (19.6%) patients. Overall survival (OS) at 5-years was 63%. Disease-free survival (DFS) at 5-years was 45%. At multivariate cox regression analysis adjusted for clinical factors, T factor (T3/T4) and extended surgical procedures did not impact survival. However, pathological positive N stage had a negative impact on OS and lack of pathological response negatively impacted both OS and DFS. CONCLUSION: Trimodality treatment including radical resection for Pancoast tumors provides good surgical outcome and favorable long-term results. Survival of patients with T4 tumors and extended surgical procedures comparable to that of patients with T3 tumors undergoing rib resection only.

Does induction chemoradiotherapy increase survival in patients with Pancoast tumour?

A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether induction (neoadjuvant) chemoradiotherapy (iCRT) compared with other therapeutic strategies improves survival in patients with Pancoast tumours. Altogether 248 papers were identified using the below-mentioned search. Ten of them represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group, relevant outcomes and weaknesses were tabulated. Four studies were retrospective comparative studies of induction chemoradiotherapy and surgery (trimodal therapy) versus other therapeutic strategies. Two studies were retrospective and four were prospective investigating trimodal therapy. These papers comprised a total of 550 patients. The overall survival was better with trimodal therapy compared with RT (radiotherapy) followed by surgery group in all three comparative studies. The 2-year survival varied in the trimodal therapy group from 70 to 93%, in comparison to RT group where variation was from 22 to 49%. Five-year survival for trimodal therapy varied between 36.4 and 84% in the results of two comparative studies, compared with 11 and 49% for RT and surgery, respectively. One paper looked at survival in patients who underwent surgery alone [30% at 2-year and 20% at 4-year overall survival (OS)]. The 5-year OS in the retrospective group varied between 38 and 59%. Similar results were reported for the prospective group with 5-year OS between 44 and 56%. Despite a large variation in pCR (complete pathological response) (15-93%) and R0 (77-100%) reported, both represented a positive prognostic factor for survival. Three papers looked at the impact of staging following induction chemoradiotherapy. The majority of patients had T3 disease. An advantage in survival was seen in patients with early disease compared with advanced stage. No randomized controlled trials were identified. All the 10 articles suggested there was a benefit in trimodal therapy with improvement in overall survival. We conclude that combining induction chemoradiotherapy with surgery for Pancoast tumour may offer a survival benefit compared with radiotherapy with surgery or surgery alone.

[Outcome of surgical treatment for Pancoast lung carcinoma in Iceland]. / Árangur skurdmedfedar vid Pancoast-lungnakrabbameini á Íslandi.

OBJECTIVE: Pancoast tumors are lung carcinomas that invade the apical chest wall and surrounding structures. Treatment is complex and often involves surgery together with radio- and chemotherapy. We studied the outcome of surgical resection for Pancoast tumors in Iceland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including all patients that underwent resection of a Pancoast tumor with curative intent in Iceland in the years 1991-2010. Data on symptoms, complications, TNM-stage, relapse and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve patients were operated on; 7 on the right lung. Shoulder pain (n=5) and/or chest pain (n=3), cough (n=6) and weight loss (n=5) were the most common presenting symptoms. Adenocarcinoma (n=5) and squamous cell carcinoma (n=4) were the most frequent histological types. Average tumor size was 5,9 cm (range: 2,8-15). Five cases were stage IIB and 7 stage IIIA according to operative staging. In 10 cases (83%) the surgical margins were free of tumor. All patients survived surgery and only one patient suffered a major operative complication, an intraoperative bleeding. In one case induction chemo-radiation prior to surgery was administrated, and 8 patients received postoperative radiotherapy. Recurrent disease was diagnosed in 9 patients; four had local or regional recurrence, four had distant metastases and one patient was diagnosed with both local and distant recurrences simultaneously. Survival at 5 years was 33% and median survival was 27,5 months (range: 4-181). CONCLUSIONS: Operative and short-term outcomes for patients with Pancoast tumors in Iceland are excellent. However, long-term outcomes are not as favorable and recurrence rate is high compared to other studies, possibly due to incomplete preoperative staging and less use of chemo-radiation therapy prior to surgery among these patients.

Results of surgical resection after induction chemoradiation for Pancoast tumours †.

OBJECTIVES: Pancoast tumour is a rare neoplasia in which the optimal therapeutic management is still controversial. The traditional treatment of Pancoast tumour (surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of both) have led to an unsatisfactory outcome due to the high rate of incomplete resection and the lack of local and systemic control. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of the trimodality approach. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (male/female ratio: 47/9, median age: 64 years) in stage IIB to IIIB were treated during a period between 1994 and 2013. Induction therapy consisted of 2-3 cycles of a platinum-based chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy (30-44 Gy). After restaging, eligible patients underwent surgery 2 to 4-week post-radiation. RESULTS: Thirty-two (57.1%) patients were cT3 and 24 (42.9%) cT4, 47 (83.9%) were N0 and 9 (16.1%) N+. Forty-eight (85.7%) patients underwent R0 resection and 10 (17.9%) had a complete pathological response (CPR). Thirty-day mortality rate was 5.4%, major surgical complications occurred in 6 (10.7%) patients. At the end of the follow-up, 17 (30.4%) patients were alive and 39 (69.6%) died (29 for cancer-related causes), with an overall 5-year survival of 38%. At statistical analysis, stage IIB (P = 0.003), R0 resection (P = 0.03), T3 tumour (P = 0.002) and CPR (P = 0.01) were significant independent predictors of better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: This combined approach is feasible, and allows for a good rate of complete resection. Long-term survival rates are acceptable, especially for early stage tumours radically resected. Systemic control of disease still remains poor, with distant recurrence being the most common cause of death.

Combined treatment modalities in Pancoast tumor: results of a monocentric retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective monocentric study of consecutive patients with superior sulcus tumor non-small cell lung cancer (SS-NSCLC), treated by induction concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT), article management. METHODS: From 1994 to 2005, 36 patients (15 T3, 21 T4 tumors, including N2-N3 node involvement) received induction CRT with cisplatin/vinorelbine/fluorouracil combined with 44 Gy radiotherapy (5 daily 2 Gy fractions/week). After CRT completion, RECIST evaluation and operability were assessed. In resectable patients, surgery was performed one month after CRT. Patients with unresectable disease followed CRT up to 66 Gy. The median of follow-up period was 38.6 months [2-206]. RESULTS: Induction CRT was completed for 94.4% with 71% radiological objective response (OR). Sixteen patients (44%) underwent surgical resection, and pathologic complete resection was performed in 93.8%. There were 7 patients (44%) with pathologic complete response. The median disease-free survival (DFS) time was 12.9 months with DFS rates at 1 and 2 years 53.6% and 39.1% respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 46.4 months. The OS rates at 2 and 5 years were 68.8% and 37.5% respectively with no difference between T3 and T4 tumors. In unresectable disease, the median DFS time was 8.1 months. The DFS rate at 1 year was 25.2%. The median OS was 9.1 months. The OS rates at 1 and 2 years were 45% and 16.9% respectively. Recurrences were found in 72% of patients. Brain metastasis was the most common site of recurrence. Prognostic factors for OS were the response to induction treatment, the possibility of surgery, and pathologic complete response. CONCLUSIONS: This trimodality treatment regimen confers a survival outcome in agreement with previous studies. Patients with pretreatment N3 lymph node should be included in trimodality treatment.

Subclavian artery resection and reconstruction for thoracic inlet neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: To update the long-term outcomes after subclavian artery (SA) resection and reconstruction during surgery for thoracic inlet (TI) cancer through the anterior transclavicular approach. METHODS: Between 1985 and 2014, 85 patients (60 men and 25 women; mean age, 52 years) underwent en bloc resection of thoracic-inlet non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (n=69), sarcoma (n=11), breast carcinoma (n=3) or thyroid carcinoma (n=2) involving the SA. L-shaped transclavicular cervicothoracotomy was performed, with posterolateral thoracotomy in 18 patients or a posterior midline approach in 15 patients. Resection extended to the chest wall (>2 ribs, n=60), lung (n=76), and spine (n=15). Revascularization was by end-to-end anastomosis (n=48), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft interposition (n=28), subclavian-to-common carotid artery transposition (n=8), or grafting of the autologous superficial femoral artery in an anterolateral thigh free flap (n=1). Complete R0 resection was achieved in 75 patients and microscopic R1 resection in 10 patients. Postoperative radiation therapy was given to 51 patients. RESULTS: There were no cases of postoperative death, neurological sequelae, graft infection or occlusion, or limb ischemia. Postoperative morbidity consisted of pneumonia (n=16), phrenic nerve palsy (n=2), recurrent nerve palsy (n=4), bleeding (n=4), acute pulmonary embolism (n=1), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (n=1), chylothorax (n=1), and wound infection (n=2). Five-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 32% and 22%, respectively. Long-term survival was not observed after R1 resection. CONCLUSIONS: Subclavian arteries invaded by TI malignancies can be safely resected and reconstructed through the anterior transclavicular approach, with good long-term survival provided complete R0 resection is achieved.

A comparative analysis of Pancoast tumour resection performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery versus standard open approaches.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present paper was to conduct a comparative analysis of outcomes after thoracoscopic resection versus standard thoracotomy approach in the treatment of Pancoast tumours. METHODS: All consecutive patients with Pancoast tumours undergoing surgical treatment from March 2000 to November 2012 were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether a thoracoscopic or standard thoracotomy approach was adopted. In addition to morbidity and mortality, (i) intensity of pain; (ii) respiratory function focusing on the postoperative value and its variation with respect to the predicted value (Delta); (iii) analgesic consumption at different times during the postoperative course; and (iiii) survival rate were recorded in both groups and the inter-group differences were statistically compared. RESULTS: Of the 45 enrolled patients, 34 (75%) were included in the final analysis (18 in the thoracoscopic group and 16 in the standard group). Eleven (25%) patients were excluded because they (i) were unfit for surgery after induction therapy (n = 4); (ii) refused the operation (n = 1) or (iii) had unexpected pleural involvement (n = 6). Compared with the standard group, in the thoracoscopic group we observed less pain (P = 0.01), better recovery of forced vital capacity (P = 0.01) and forced expiratory value in 1 s (P < 0.001), and a reduction in opioid (P = 0.01) and analgesic consumption (P = 0.02). The median survival for all patients was 15 months. Patients with N0/N1 disease had better median survival than N2 patients (47 vs 9 months; P = 0.009). One local recurrence in the standard group was observed 1 year after operation, whereas 2 local recurrences, 1 in the thoracoscopic group and another in the standard group, were registered 2 years after the operation (P = 1.0). Finally, 4 (22%) extrathoracic metastases in the thoracoscopic group and 5 (31%) in the standard group (P = 0.8) were found over the 2 years following the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of Pancoast tumours, a thoracoscopic approach is safe and may be an effective adjunct to standard surgical resection in selected cases. Such an approach enabled surgeons to explore the pleural cavity and avoid exploratory thoracotomy in cases of unexpected pleural involvement.

Pancoast tumor: a modern perspective on an old problem.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pancoast tumors, also known as superior sulcus tumors, to this day remain a complex and challenging condition. This review will explore the evolution of the treatment of these tumors over the better part of a century. It will illustrate how with a multidisciplinary approach and the use of trimodality therapy this entity has evolved from a universally fatal disease to one that is treatable with outcomes similar to those of other stage-matched nonsmall cell lung cancers. RECENT FINDINGS: The Southwest Oncology Group 9416 Intergroup 0160 trial reported in 2007 By Rusch et al. culminated years of research showing that trimodality therapy with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery provided optimal outcomes. Since that time, there have been studies corroborating these outcomes and utilization of novel surgical approaches including Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; however, no change in survival has been reported. SUMMARY: The treatment of tumors of the superior sulcus has evolved over the years, so that outcomes approach those of other stage-matched nonsmall cell carcinomas. In the future, new approaches, perhaps the detailed genetic analysis of tumors and guided treatments, will have a positive impact on nonsmall cell carcinomas. The tumors of the superior sulcus will hopefully follow suit in their improved outcomes.

Complete pathological response is predictive for clinical outcome after tri-modality therapy for carcinomas of the superior pulmonary sulcus.

The objective was to define the relationship between histopathological changes after pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) and clinical outcome following tri-modality therapy in patients with superior sulcus tumours. A retrospective analysis of tumour material was performed in a series of 46 patients who received tri-modality therapy between 1997 and 2007. Median follow-up was 34 months (5-154). Pathological complete response (pCR) was present in 20/46 tumours (43 %). The most common RECIST score after CRT in patients with pCR was a partial response (PR; 10/17, three unknown), whereas in patients without a pCR, stable disease was the most common (22/26) (p = 0.002). In 26 specimens with residual tumour, this was mainly located in the periphery of the lesion rather than the centre (Spearman's correlation = 0.67, p < 0.001). Prognosis was significantly better after a pCR compared to residual tumour (70 % 5-year overall survival vs. 20 %; p = 0.001) and in patients with fewer than 10 % vital tumour cells as compared to those with >10 % (65 % 5-year overall survival vs. 18 %; p < 0.001). A low mitotic count was associated with a longer disease-free survival (p = 0.02). Complete pathological response and the presence of fewer than 10 % vital tumour cells after pre-operative CRT are both associated with a more favourable prognosis. A modification of the pathological staging system after radiotherapy, incorporating the percentage of vital tumour cells, is proposed.

Evaluation of arm function and quality of life after trimodality treatment for superior sulcus tumours.

OBJECTIVES: Following trimodality treatment for superior sulcus tumours (SSTs), the 5-year survival rate has significantly improved. Quality of life and potential negative effects of this strategy have become more important. The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life and the arm and shoulder function after the resection of superior sulcus tumours following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients were selected from a thoracic surgery database. Between January 2002 and December 2010, 72 patients received trimodality treatment of whom 39 were alive at the start of this study in 2010. The following arm function tests were used: nine-hole peg test, range of motion test and action research arm test. Quality of life was assessed using the Disability of the arm and shoulder and SF-36 questionnaires. Analyses of the arm function were conducted comparing the treated side with the untreated side. For quality of life, patients treated on their dominant side were compared with those treated on their non-dominant side. RESULTS: In total, 19 patients participated in this study (15 men and 4 women). The median age was 59 years (range 39-73), median radiation dose 50 Gy (range 39-66) and median follow-up 40 months (range 4-101). There was no statistically significant difference in arm and shoulder function between the treated and the untreated arm. However, statistically significantly less pain was found if patients were treated on their dominant side. CONCLUSIONS: After the resection of SSTs following chemoradiotherapy, the arm and shoulder function on the affected side is comparable with the functions at the contralateral side. Patients treated for an SST on their dominant side are less affected in their quality of life regarding pain compared with those treated on their non-dominant side.

Long-term outcome after en bloc resection of non-small-cell lung cancer invading the pulmonary sulcus and spine.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer invading the spine historically has been considered unresectable. Nevertheless, considerable surgical progress has been made since the 1990s potentially allowing for curative resection. Here, we describe our surgical experience and long-term results. METHODS: All patients who underwent en bloc resection of non-small-cell lung cancer invading the pulmonary sulcus and spine between 1991 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included. Induction therapy consisted mostly of two cycles of cisplatin-etoposide and 45 Gy of concurrent radiation. All tumors were resected en bloc, including the lung, spine, and chest wall. Total vertebrectomy, hemivertebrectomy, and partial vertebrectomy were required in 10 patients (21%), 31 patients (64%), and seven patients (15%), respectively. Complete resection was achieved in 42 patients (88%). Postoperatively, 18 patients (38%) stayed in the intensive care unit for a median of 15 (1-140) days. Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality was 6%. Pathologic response to induction treatment was complete (n = 18) or near complete (n = 6) in 24 patients (50%). After a median follow-up of 26 (0-151) months, 24 patients are alive without recurrence. Overall 5-year survival was 61%. Response to induction therapy (complete/near complete versus other, p = 0.012), resection margin (R0 versus R1/R2, p = 0.009), and length of intensive care unit stay (p = 0.003) were significant prognostic factors in univariate analysis. Response to induction was maintained as prognostic factor in multivariable analysis (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: En bloc resection of the lung, chest wall, and spine for non-small-cell lung cancer invading the pulmonary sulcus and spine is feasible in experienced centers with excellent long-term outcome after careful patient selection. Response to induction was an independent significant prognostic factor.

[Complete resection of Pancoast tumor following induction chemoradiotherapy improves survival].

OBJECTIVE: Pancoast tumors are some of the most challenging thoracic malignant diseases to treat because of their proximity to vital structures at the thoracic inlet. We retrospectively analyzed 23 patients with pT3-4, N0-3 Pancoast tumors who underwent combined chest wall resection including the 1st rib, and discuss the anatomical considerations, assessment of induction therapy, and surgical approaches for these cancers. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2006, 23 patients with Pancoast tumors underwent combined resection of the 1st rib at our institute. Of those, 21 were male and 2 were female, with an average age of 58 years. There were 10 each of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, 2 large cell carcinoma, and 1 adenosquamous carcinoma. Over the past decade, induction chemoradiotherapy (>40Gy) was employed before surgery. RESULTS: A posterior approach was employed in 14 patients, an anterior approach in 7, and a combined anterior and posterior approach in 2. Sixteen patients underwent complete resection. One of 7 patients undergoing incomplete resection (4.3%) died on the 45th postoperative day. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 50 and 22%, respectively, for patients with complete resection. No case survived for more than 8 months out of the 7 patients with incomplete resection. Fourteen patients with pN0 showed significantly better survival than those with pN1-3 (p = 0.0053). CONCLUSION: Recent literature and our results suggest that patients with pN0 and/or a pathological complete response (pCR) after induction chemoradiotherapy could achieve long-term survival after complete resection.

Role of surgery in a multidisciplinary approach to superior sulcus tumors (SST): morbidity and prognostic factors for long-term success after resection.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of SST is still controversial several years after the proposal of a multidisciplinary approach including neoadjuvant chemotherapy and external radiation. Our objective is to report our experience of this multidisciplinary approach from the surgical point of view. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1997 to January 2008, 24 patients were treated surgically (18 with induction chemotherapy and 15 with radiotherapy). The surgical approach was thoracic (14 cases, 1 with a spinal approach) or cervical (10 patients, 2 thoracotomies). Pulmonary surgery performed consisted of 11 wedge resections, 10 lobectomies, 1 pneumonectomy and 2 cases without lung resection (1 exploratory thoracotomy and 1 local progression after a previously resected tumor). Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) was given in 7 cases. Partial vertebral body resection was performed in 5 cases. A pathologically complete response (pT0) was found in 7 cases (29 %). RESULTS: Surgery-related morbidity was mainly due to respiratory distress (5 patients). Two patients died in the first month after surgery (mortality: 8 %). The surgical approach (cervical vs. thoracic) did not influence postoperative morbidity ( p = NS). Overall 5-year survival was 56.6 % according to the Kaplan-Meier method. No influence on survival was observed with regard to the approach (cervical vs. thoracic), the use of IORT, or the performance of spinal surgery. Patients with a complete pathological response had a better 5-year survival, but this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Surgery has a role in the multidisciplinary approach, especially when we consider long-term survival. A multidisciplinary approach using neoadjuvant chemo and radiotherapy has a high rate of complete pathological response. It is also associated with a high incidence of postoperative distress syndrome. The 5-year survival is acceptable.

Chest wall resection for lung cancer: indications and techniques.

Lung cancer invasion of the chest wall is not a common challenge and represents only about 5% of all patients resected for lung cancer. In T3N0M0 tumours, long-term survival reaches 40-50%, provided certain conditions are fulfilled. The number of explorative thoracotomies and the rate of non-radical resections might be high due to the local extension of an aggressive tumour. Mortality after resection is as high as for pneumonectomy. For historical and anatomical reasons, we have to divide the patients into two groups: infiltration of, and above, the second rib (Pancoast) and tumours located caudally to the second rib. We have to define the two entities. There is a problem concerning correct diagnosis: many tumours reach the chest wall. If the lung is not adherent to the parietal pleura, a standard lobectomy can be performed. However, in the case of adhesions, the differentiation between tumour invasion and inflammation may be difficult. We do not want to perform over-treatment since lung resection en bloc with the chest wall has a higher morbidity and mortality than lobectomy. But we have to avoid opening the tumour intraoperatively or perform a non-radical resection. Therefore, we need a preoperative diagnostic tool answering the question of extrapulmonary infiltration. In this context, we will discuss whether extrapleural lung resection is acceptable in the case of pleural invasion without chest wall involvement. The prognosis of patients with tumours invading the chest wall and mediastinal lymph node metastasis is worse. But patients with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis are not excluded. Thus, careful clinical investigations are necessary. To achieve complete resection, the surgeon should use anatomical knowledge to choose the best form of access to make radical resection more feasible. The problem of pain after thoracotomy is accentuated after chest wall resection, especially after paravertebral resection. The use of modern pain treatment is very important.

[Lung cancer: centralisation of multidisciplinary treatment]. / Longkanker: centraliseren voor multidisciplinaire behandeling.

The treatment of Pancoast tumours has been a combined-modality effort for several decades. In a recent Dutch publication, the results in 36 patients are described with a mean follow-up of 26 months. These are in line with internationally-achieved outcomes: the overall and disease-free survival after 2 years was 45 and 31%, respectively, and after 5 years 28 and 19%. As such, the approach to superior-sulcus tumours is a very good example of how the modern treatment of lung cancer has developed, and it underlines the need for close collaboration between specialists with different backgrounds. The patients will benefit from centralisation of the treatment in a limited number of institutions in the Netherlands.

Induction chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiation and surgery for Pancoast tumour.

The traditional treatment of Pancoast tumour with local approaches (surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of both) leads to a poor outcome due to the high rate of incomplete resection and the lack of systemic control. The aim of the present prospective feasibility study was to determine whether a trimodality approach improves local control and survival. Patients with stage IIB-IIIB Pancoast tumour received induction chemotherapy (three courses of split-dose cisplatin and etoposide or paclitaxel) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (a course of cisplatin/etoposide combined with 45 Gy hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy). After restaging, eligible patients underwent surgery 4-6 weeks post-radiation. A total of 31 consecutive patients with T3 (81%) or T4 (19%) Pancoast tumour were enrolled in the study. Induction chemoradiotherapy was completed in all patients without treatment-related deaths. Grade 3-4 toxicity was observed in 32% of cases. In total, 29 (94%) patients were eligible for surgery. Complete resection was achieved in 94% of patients. The post-operative mortality rate was 6.4% and major complications arose in 20.6% of the patients. The median survival was 54 months with 2- and 5-yr survival rates of 74 and 46%, respectively. In conclusion, this intensive multimodality treatment of Pancoast tumour is feasible and improves local resectability rates and long-term survival as compared with historical series.

[Treatment results of pancoast tumor].

To study the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcome of patients with Pancoast tumors who underwent surgery over 11-year period. From January 1994 to May 2005, 13 patients (12 men, 1 woman) with Pancoast tumor and histology of non-small cell lung cancer underwent surgical resection. Nine patients were received induction therapy (8 chemoradiation, 1 radiation only), and there were no treatment-related deaths. Twelve lobectomies, 1 pneumonectomy, and none of wedge resections or partial resection were performed. The number of ribs resected ranged from 2-6 (median 2.8). Chest wall reconstruction was performed in 2 patients, total vertebrectomy in 2, bronchoplasty in 2, and pulmonary arterioplasty in 1. Twelve of 13 patients (92.3%) had a complete resection. Pathologic stages were IB, IIB, IIIA and IIIB in 1, 7, 2, and 1, respectively, and pathologic complete responses was noted in 1. After a median follow-up of 34 months, the 3-year survival was 78.6% for all 13 patients and 85.7% for patients who had a complete resection. It is thought that induction chemoradiation for Pancoast tumors have potential to be able to become the treatment strategy in the future.