Prognostic Impact of Inflammation-Based Factors in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Achieving Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) post-neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and surgery for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have a favorable prognosis. However, recurrence occurs in approximately 20-30% of all patients, with few studies evaluating their prognostic factors. We identified these prognostic factors, including inflammation-based markers, in patients with ESCC showing pCR after nCRT and surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy post-nCRT (January 2007-August 2017) were studied. Survival analysis evaluated 5-year overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Risk factors, including inflammation factors, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were analyzed using Cox-proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Overall, 123patients participated herein. After a median follow-up duration of 67 months (44-86 months), 17 patients (12.3%) had recurrent disease. The 5-year OS and RFS rates were 71.6% and 68.0%, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, older age ( ≥ 60 years) [hazard ratio (HR) 3.228, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.478-7.048, p = 0.003], higher pretreatment T stage (≥ T3; HR 2.563, 95% CI 1.335-4.922, p = 0.005), nonapplication of induction chemotherapy (HR 2.389, 95% CI 1.184-4.824, p = 0.015), and higher post-nCRT PLR (≥ 184.2; HR 2.896, 95% CI 1.547-5.420, p = 0.001) were poor independent prognostic factors for 5-year RFS. The patient group with three to four identified factors with poor outcomes exhibited a 5-year RFS rate of 46.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Significant prognostic factors include higher post-nCRT PLR, older age, higher clinical T stage, and nonapplication of induction chemotherapy. Identifying higher recurrence risk patients is crucial for tailored follow-up and treatment.

Outcomes of Lung Transplantation in Patients With Right Ventricular Dysfunction: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis Comparing ECMO Configurations in a Bridge-to-Transplant Setting.

This study aimed to assess the lung transplantation (LT) outcomes of patients with right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), focusing on the impact of various extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configurations. We included adult patients who underwent LT with ECMO as a bridge-to-transplant from 2011 to 2021 at a single center. Among patients with RVD (n = 67), veno-venous (V-V) ECMO was initially applied in 79% (53/67) and maintained until LT in 52% (35/67). Due to the worsening of RVD, the configuration was changed from V-V ECMO to veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO or a right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator (Oxy-RVAD) in 34% (18/67). They showed that lactic acid levels (2-6.1 mmol/L) and vasoactive inotropic score (6.6-22.6) increased. V-A ECMO or Oxy-RVAD was initiated and maintained until LT in 21% (14/67) of cases. There was no significant difference in the survival rates among the three configuration groups (V-V ECMO vs. configuration changed vs. V-A ECMO/Oxy-RVAD). Our findings suggest that the choice of ECMO configuration for LT candidates with RVD should be determined by the patient's current hemodynamic status. Vital sign stability supports the use of V-V ECMO, while increasing lactic acid levels and vasopressor needs may require a switch to V-A ECMO or Oxy-RVAD.

Clinical impact of pre-existing acute exacerbation in patients with interstitial lung disease who underwent lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease (AE-ILD) significantly impacts prognosis, leading to high mortality rates. Although lung transplantation is a life-saving treatment for selected patients with ILD, its outcomes in those presenting with AE-ILD have yielded conflicting results compared with those with stable ILD. This study aims to investigate the impact of pre-existing AE on the prognosis of ILD patients who underwent lung transplantation. METHOD: We conducted a single-center retrospective study by reviewing the medical records of 108 patients who underwent lung transplantation for predisposing ILD at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between 2008 and 2022. The primary objective was to compare the survival of patients with AE-ILD at the time of transplantation with those without AE-ILD. RESULTS: Among the 108 patients, 52 (48.1%) experienced AE-ILD at the time of lung transplantation, and 81 (75.0%) required pre-transplant mechanical ventilation. Although the type of ILD (IPF vs. non-IPF ILD) did not affect clinical outcomes after transplantation, AE-ILD was associated with worse survival outcomes. The survival probabilities at 90 days, 1 year, and 3 years post-transplant for patients with AE-ILD were 86.5%, 73.1%, and 60.1%, respectively, while those for patients without AE-ILD were higher, at 92.9%, 83.9%, and 79.6% (p = 0.032). In the multivariable analysis, pre-existing AE was an independent prognostic factor for mortality in ILD patients who underwent lung transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Although lung transplantation remains an effective treatment option for ILD patients with pre-existing AE, careful consideration is needed, especially in patients requiring pre-transplant mechanical respiratory support.

Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes Between Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Resection With and Without Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopic Lymphadenectomy for Left-Sided Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) combined with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for left-sided lung cancer pulmonary resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1194 consecutive patients who underwent VATS anatomical resection for left-sided lung cancer between January 2007 and December 2016. Using propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), perioperative outcomes and long-term survival outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Among 1194 patients, 295 (24.7%) underwent additional VAMLA (VATS + VAMLA group) and 899 patients (75.3%) underwent VATS only (VATS group). The proportion of patients with advanced N stage were higher in the VATS + VAMLA group (24.7%) than in the VATS group (18.3%). After IPTW adjustment, all baseline profiles between the two groups became similar. The long-term overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were similar between the VATS + VAMLA group and the VATS group (5-year OS, 77.8% versus 79.3%, p = 0.957; 5-year RFS, 69.6% versus 70.1%, p = 0.498). However, among patients with borderline pulmonary function (FEV1 ≤ 60% or DLCO ≤ 60%), the VATS + VAMLA group (n = 23) had a better prognosis than the VATS group (n = 36) (5-year OS, 67.4% versus 46.7%, respectively; p = 0.047; 5-year RFS, 74.6% versus 53.5%, respectively; p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: VAMLA might be a good complement to VATS for left-sided lung cancer, wherein optimal mediastinal lymph node dissection is not feasible under one-lung ventilation, such as when patients have borderline pulmonary function.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in resectable thymic epithelial tumour.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability for the prediction of histologic grades and prognostic values on recurrence and death of pretreatment 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with resectable thymic epithelial tumours (TETs). METHODS: One hundred and fourteen patients with TETs who underwent pretreatment 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. TETs were classified into three histologic subtypes: low-risk thymoma (LRT, WHO classification A/AB/B1), high-risk thymoma (HRT, B2/B3), and thymic carcinoma (TC). Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was used to assess the diagnostic performance of PET/CT variables (maximum standardised uptake value [SUVmax], metabolic tumour volume [MTV], total lesion glycolysis [TLG], maximum diameter). Cox proportional hazards models were built using PET/CT and clinical variables. RESULTS: The tumours included 52 LRT, 33 HRT, and 29 TC. SUVmax showed good diagnostic ability for differentiating HRT/TC from LRT (AUC 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76 - 0.92) and excellent ability for differentiating TC from LRT/HRT (AUC 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 - 0.98), with significantly higher values than MTV, TLG, and maximum diameter. With an optimal cut-off value of 6.4, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for differentiating TC from LRT/HRT were 69%, 96%, and 89%, respectively. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses for freedom-from-recurrence, SUVmax was an independent prognostic factor (p < 0.001), whereas MTV and TLG were not. SUVmax was a significant predictor for overall survival in conjunction with clinical stage and resection margin. CONCLUSION: SUVmax showed excellent diagnostic performance for prediction of TC and significant prognostic value in terms of recurrence and survival. KEY POINTS: • Maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) shows excellent performance in the differentiation of thymic carcinoma from low- and high-risk thymoma. • SUVmax is an independent prognostic factor for freedom-from-recurrence in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model and a significant predictor for overall survival. • 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT can provide a useful diagnostic and prognostic imaging biomarker in conjunction with histologic classification and stage and help choose appropriate management for thymic epithelial tumours.

Surgical Outcomes of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Single-Zone N2 in the Aortopulmonary Zone.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluate the surgical outcome of clinically single-zone N2 lung cancer limited to aortopulmonary zone (AP zone; lymph node #5 or #6). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, in whom mediastinal lymph node metastasis was confined to AP zone. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients who underwent upfront surgery were included in final analysis. Among these patients, pathological nodal outcomes were pN0-1 in 27 patients (32.1%), pN2a in 31 (36.9%), and pN2b in 26 (31.0%). In multivariate analysis, adenocarcinoma (p = 0.005) and staging workup without endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for unexpected pN2b. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 55.9 and 54.4%, respectively. There was no survival difference among patients with pN0-1, pN2a, and pN2b (p = 0.717). In survival analysis, there were no significant risk factors for OS. However, female sex and the ratio of positive lymph nodes to removed lymph nodes were significant risk factors for DFS in multivariate analysis (p = 0.032 and p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: In this study, cN2a in the AP zone with current diagnostic tool exhibited a relatively high false-positive rate (cN2/pN0-1; 32.1%). However, despite the possibility of pN2b, there were no significant differences in survival outcome according to the pathologic nodal stage.

The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and cisplatin after surgery in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter randomized phase III trial.

There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aimed to assess whether adjuvant capecitabine and cisplatin improve survival compared to surgery alone among patients with locally advanced ESCC. This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Patients were eligible if they underwent curative resection for ESCC staged T2-4 or N1 and M0 according to the TNM cancer staging system sixth edition. The intervention group received four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (capecitabine: 1,000 mg/m 2 b.i.d for 14 days, and intravenous cisplatin: 75 mg/m2 at day 1, every 3 weeks). A total of 136 patients were randomly assigned to either the adjuvant chemotherapy group (n = 68) or surgery-alone group (n = 68). Seven patients who rejected chemotherapy after randomization were excluded from the final analysis. The cumulative incidence of recurrence within 18 months after surgery was significantly lower in the adjuvant chemotherapy group than in the surgery-alone group (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.25-0.95]. However, the 5- and 10-year disease-free survival did not differ between treatment groups (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.53-1.34 and HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.50-1.18, respectively). Adjuvant chemotherapy after curative resection in patients with locally advanced ESCC reduced early recurrence but had no statistically significant increase in the long-term disease-free survival. Due to the limited sample size of this study, additional randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are necessary.

Predicting Postoperative Complications and Long-Term Survival After Lung Cancer Surgery Using Eurolung Risk Score.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of the parsimonious Eurolung risk scoring system for predicting postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival in Korean patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: This retrospective analysis used the data of patients who underwent anatomical resection for non-small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2018 at a single institution. The parsimonious aggregate Eurolung score was calculated for each patient. The Cox regression model was used to determine the ability of the Eurolung scoring system for predicting long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 7,278 patients in the study, cardiopulmonary complications and mortality occurred in 687 (9.4%) and 53 (0.7%) patients, respectively. The rate of cardiopulmonary complications and mortality gradually increased with the increase in the Eurolung risk scores (all P < 0.001). When risk scores were grouped into four categories, the Eurolung scoring system showed a stepwise deterioration of overall survival with the increase in risk scores, and this association was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the Eurolung scoring system, classified into four categories, was a significant prognostic factor of overall survival even after adjusting for covariates such as tumor histology and pathological stage (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Stratification based on the parsimonious Eurolung scoring system showed good discriminatory ability for predicting postoperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival in South Korean patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer. This might help clinicians to provide a detailed prognosis and decide the appropriate treatment option for high-risk patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgical outcomes of pulmonary metastasectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients according to approach method: thoracoscopic versus open approach.

BACKGROUND: The role of surgical intervention as a treatment for pulmonary metastasis (PM) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been established. In this study, we investigated the clinical outcomes of pulmonary metastasectomy. Using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, we compared the results according to the surgical approach: video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) versus the open method. METHODS: A total of 134 patients (115 men) underwent pulmonary metastasectomy for isolated PM of HCC between January 1998 and December 2010 at Seoul Asan Medical Center. Of these, 84 underwent VATS (VATS group) and 50 underwent thoracotomy or sternotomy (open group). PSM analysis between the groups was used to match them based on the baseline characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 33.4 months (range, 1.8-112.0), 113 patients (84.3%) experienced recurrence, and 100 patients (74.6%) died of disease progression. There were no overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate, and pulmonary-specific disease-free survival rate differences between the VATS and the open groups (p = 0.521, 0.702, and 0.668, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed local recurrence of HCC, history of liver cirrhosis, and preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level as independent prognostic factors for overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.729/2.495/2.632, 95% confidence interval 1.142-2.619/1.571-3.963/1.554-4.456; p = 0.010/< 0.001/< 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Metastasectomy can be considered a potential alternative for selected patients. VATS metastasectomy had outcomes comparable to those of open metastasectomy.

Natural Progression of Ground-glass Nodules after Curative Resection for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study investigated the natural course of synchronous ground-glass nodules (GGNs) that remained after curative resection for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Prospectively collected retrospective data were reviewed concerning 2,276 patients who underwent curative resection for NSCLC between 2008 and 2017. High-resolution computed tomography or thin-section computed tomography data of 82 patients were included in the study. Growth in size was considered the most valuable outcome, and patients were grouped according to GGN size change. Patient demographic data (e.g., age, sex, and smoking history), perioperative data (e.g., GGN characteristics, histopathology and pathological stage of the resected tumours), and other medical history were evaluated in a risk factor analysis concerning GGN size change. RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 36.0 months (interquartile range, 23.0-59.3 months). GGN size decreased in 6 patients (7.3%), was stationary in 43 patients (52.4%), and increased in 33 patients (40.2%). In univariate analysis, male sex, the GGN size on initial CT, part-solid GGN and smoking history (≥ 10 pack-years) were significant risk factors. Among them, multivariate analysis revealed that lager GGN size, part-solid GGN and smoking history were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: During follow-up, 40.2% of GGNs increased in size, emphasising that patients with larger GGNs, part-solid GGN or with a smoking history should be observed.

Experience of International Air Transportation and Subsequent Lung Transplant in a Patient with COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: a Case Report.

We report an inspiring case of a 55-year-old Korean female diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in Mexico. The patient was assessed for lung transplant as a salvage therapy for treatment-refractory ARDS following no signs of clinical improvement for > 7 weeks, despite best treatment. The patient was transported from Mexico to Korea by air ambulance under venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. She was successfully bridged to lung transplant on day 88, 49 days after the initiation of ECMO support. ECMO was successfully weaned at the end of operation, and no bleeding or primary graft dysfunction was observed within the first 72 hours. The patient was liberated from mechanical ventilation on postoperative day 9 and transferred to the general ward 5 days later. Despite the high doses of immunosuppressants, there was no evidence of viral reactivation after transplant. At 3 months post-transplantation, she was discharged to home without complication. Our experience suggests that successful lung transplant for COVID-19-associated ARDS is feasible even in a patient with prolonged pre-transplant ECMO support. Lung transplant may be considered a salvage therapy for COVID-19-associated ARDS that does not respond to conventional treatments.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation: analysis of Korean organ transplantation registry (KOTRY) data.

BACKGROUND: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplantation has greatly increased. However, data regarding the clinical outcomes of this approach are lacking. The objective of this multicenter prospective observational cohort study was to evaluate lung transplantation outcomes in Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) patients for whom ECMO was used as a bridge to transplantation. METHODS: Between March 2015 and December 2017, a total of 112 patients received lung transplantation and were registered in the KOTRY, which is a prospective, multicenter cohort registry. The entire cohort was divided into two groups: the control group (n = 85, 75.9%) and bridge-ECMO group (n = 27, 24.1%). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in pre-transplant and intraoperative characteristics except for poorer oxygenation, more ventilator use, and longer operation time in the bridge-ECMO group. The prevalence of primary graft dysfunction at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after transplantation did not differ between the two groups. Although postoperative hospital stays were longer in the bridge-ECMO group than in the control group, hospital mortality did not differ between the two groups (25.9% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.212). The majority of patients (70.4% of the bridge-ECMO group and 77.6% of the control group) were discharged directly to their homes. Finally, the use of ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation did not significantly affect overall survival and graft function. CONCLUSIONS: Short- and long-term post-transplant outcomes of bridge-ECMO patients were comparable to recipients who did not receive ECMO.

Recent Trends in Demographics, Surgery, and Prognosis of Patients with Surgically Resected Lung Cancer in a Single Institution from Korea.

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, demographics information has changed significantly in patients with surgically resected lung cancer. Herein, we evaluated the recent trends in demographics, surgery, and prognosis of lung cancer surgery in Korea. METHODS: Patients with surgically resected primary lung cancer from 2002 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify prognostic factors for overall survival. The annual percent change (APC) and statistical significance were calculated using the Joinpoint software. RESULTS: A total of 7,495 patients were enrolled. Over the study period, the number of lung cancer surgeries continued to increase (P < 0.05). The proportion of women to total subjects has also increased (P < 0.05). The proportion of elderly patients (≥ 70 years) as well as those with tumors measuring 1-2 cm and 2-3 cm significantly increased in both genders (all P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with adenocarcinoma, video-assisted thoracic surgery, sublobar resection, and pathological stage I significantly increased (P < 0.05). The 5-year overall survival rate of lung cancer surgery increased from 61.1% in 2002-2006 to 72.1% in 2012-2016 (P < 0.001). The operative period was a significant prognostic factor in multivariable Cox analysis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The mean age of patients with lung cancer surgery increased gradually, whereas tumor size reduced. Prognosis of lung cancer surgery improved with recent increases in the frequency of adenocarcinoma, video-assisted thoracic surgery, sublobar resection, and pathological stage I. The operation period itself was also an independent prognostic factor for overall survival.

Surgical Outcome of Colon Interposition in Esophageal Cancer Surgery: Analysis of Risk Factors for Conduit-Related Morbidity.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the feasibility, surgical outcomes, and conduit-related complications of colon interposition in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: Patients with esophageal cancer who underwent colon interposition for esophageal reconstruction between June 2000 and June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 67 consecutive patients (mean age, 62.2 ± 7.9 years) were enrolled. During this time period, 944 patients underwent esophageal reconstruction using gastric conduit. Twelve patients (17.9%) also received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). The median follow-up duration was 44 months (range, 1-168 months); median survival duration was 63 months (range, 1-168 months); and 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 61.6 and 49.4%, respectively. A total of 43 patients (64.2%) experienced at least 1 postoperative morbidity. According to the Clavien-Dindo grading system, 36 patients (54%) experienced postoperative morbidity of higher than Grade III. Pulmonary complications were most commonly observed complications among the patients (18 patients, 26.9%). Anastomosis site leakage developed in 11 patients (16.4%), and 3 of these patients (6.0%) eventually experienced graft failure. On multivariate analysis, nCRT was determined as a significant risk factor for conduit-related complications (leakage, graft failure, fistula, and stricture). CONCLUSION: Colon interposition is associated with relatively high complication rates, whereas nCRT is associated with conduit morbidity.

Surgical Outcomes after Pulmonary Resection for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Localized Pleural Seeding First Detected during Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Curative resection is not indicated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with pleural seeding, which is classified as stage IV (M1a) disease. However, some patients with a presumably resectable main tumor are diagnosed with localized pleural seeding during surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 3,975 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC from 2000 to 2011. Among these cases, 78 (2.0%) patients had unexpected pleural seeding detected during surgery. Exploration with pleural biopsy was performed in 42 of these patients (exploration-only group) and pulmonary resection, including for the main tumor, was performed in 36 cases (resection group; sublobar resection in 12, lobectomy in 21, and pneumonectomy in 3 patients). Survival and cancer progression rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate prognostic factors associated with survival. RESULTS: Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological type in both the exploration and resection groups (88.1 and 86.1%, respectively). Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was detected in 22 (52.4%) patients of the exploration group and 21 (58.3%) patients of the resection group. Baseline characteristics including age, sex, comorbidity, pulmonary function, and clinical T/N status were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no postoperative deaths in either group but postoperative complications occurred in two (4.8%) patients of the exploration group and three (8.3%) patients of the resection group. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates in the exploration group were 41.1 and 15.2%, respectively, with a median survival time (MST) of 33 months, whereas they were 66.7 and 42.7%, respectively, in the resection group, with a 52-month MST (p = 0.012). Local and regional progression-free rates were significantly different (p < 0.001 and p = 0.029, respectively) between groups, whereas no difference was seen in the distant metastasis rates (p = 0.957). In multivariate survival analysis, surgical resection was the only significant prognostic factor (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection including the main tumor, regardless of resection extent, may increase long-term survival for NSCLC patients with localized pleural seeding first detected during surgery, without a significant increase in hospital mortality or morbidity.

The First Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation in Korea: a Case Report.

Lung transplantation is the only treatment for end-stage lung disease, but the problem of donor shortage is unresolved issue. Herein, we report the first case of living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) in Korea. A 19-year-old woman patient with idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension received her father's right lower lobe and her mother's left lower lobe after pneumonectomy of both lungs in 2017. The patient has recovered well and is enjoying normal social activity. We think that LDLLT could be an alternative approach to deceased donor lung transplantation to overcome the shortage of lung donors.

The Different Clinical Aspects of Pediatric Primary Airway Tumors in the Larynx, Trachea, and Bronchi.

Primary airway tumors are rare in children and no literature reviewed their characteristics each location. We evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Korean children with primary airway tumors, from the larynx to bronchi. A retrospective chart review of children with primary tumors of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi at Asan Medical Center from January 2000 to July 2016 was conducted. Nineteen children were diagnosed with primary airway tumors of the larynx (47.4%), trachea (10.5%), and bronchi (42.1%). Median follow-up duration was 2.8 years and there were recurrences in 21.1%. Laryngeal tumors were associated with a younger median age at onset (2 months) and diagnosis (4 months), and most were relatively small (median size = 5.3 mm) and symptomatic. Tracheal and bronchial tumors were found in older children (age at onset and diagnosis > 11 years) and large (> 15.0 mm). Most (75%) patients with bronchial tumors were asymptomatic and all the patients with tracheal tumors were symptomatic. This study suggests that we should consider different the locations in primary airway tumor based on the age at onset and diagnosis, initial symptoms or signs, and size of tumor.

Clinical results of surgical resection of mediastinal teratoma: efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery.

BACKGROUND: In patients with a mediastinal tumor, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is considered to be associated with more postoperative advantages compared to open procedures. However, open procedures are still preferred in cases with large or malignant tumors. Therefore, in order to determine the appropriate surgical strategies for resection of teratomas, we here review our experience with such cases. METHODS: Between January 2000 and February 2014, we experienced 132 patients diagnosed with mediastinal teratoma. By using data from a retrospective review of the patients' medical records, we compared the demographic characteristics, hospital stay duration, chest tube indwelling time, operative time, and mass size of the VATS group with those of the patients in the open group. Moreover, we also analyzed the postoperative complications and recurrence. Finally, based on our findings, we created a '∆V (volume of the mass-volume of the cyst in the mass)' capable of determining the appropriate surgical strategy, measured by preoperative computed tomography scan. RESULTS: We excised the mass using VATS in 79 patients, while 53 patients underwent open procedures, including thoracotomy (n = 10) and median sternotomy (n = 43). The operative times, the hospital stay duration, and the chest tube indwelling time were significantly shorter in the VATS group compared to in the open group (Table 1). Four cases were converted to thoracotomy. The mean mass sizes were 6.53 ± 2.20 cm and 8.58 ± 3.45 cm in the VATS and open groups, respectively. The '∆V' of the VATS group was higher than that of the open group. There were three postoperative complications. Table 1 Comparison of the perioperative variables between the VATS group and open groups VATS (n = 79) Open (n = 53) p value Preoperative variables Age (years) 32.34  ±  13.44 29.30 ± 14.76 0.223 Female 63 28 0.001 BMI 22.07 ± 3.34 22.59 ± 3.91 0.409 ASA class 0.272 Class 1 39 21 Class 2 40 32 Mass size (cm) 6.53 ± 2.20 8.58 ± 3.45 <0.001 ∆V (cm(3)) 988.15 ± 1590.85 3093.22 ± 4947.33 0.001 Intraoperative variable Operative time (min) 129 ± 46 170 ± 45 <0.001 Postoperative variable Hospitalization (days) 6.00 ± 3.03 8.94 ± 3.99 <0.001 ICU stay (days) 0 0.42 ± 0.50 <0.001 CTD time (days) 2.00 ± 1.24 3.8 ± 3.63 <0.001 Median F/U duration (months) 47.16 ± 43.60 27.52 ± 34.00 The data are presented as mean ± standard deviation VATS video-assisted thoracic surgery, CTD chest tube indwelling CONCLUSION: VATS for mediastinal teratoma can be performed safely in selected patients with large or malignant masses. The proposed '∆V' appears to be a useful method for determining the appropriate surgical strategy in the large size teratoma cases.

The First Successful Heart-Lung Transplant in a Korean Child with Humidifier Disinfectant-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

From 2006 to 2011, an outbreak of a particular type of childhood interstitial lung disease occurred in Korea. The condition was intractable and progressed to severe respiratory failure, with a high mortality rate. Moreover, in several familial cases, the disease affected young women and children simultaneously. Epidemiologic, animal, and post-interventional studies identified the cause as inhalation of humidifier disinfectants. Here, we report a 4-year-old girl who suffered from severe progressive respiratory failure. She could survive by 100 days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and finally, underwent heart-lung transplantation. This is the first successful pediatric heart-lung transplantation carried out in Korea.

New 3-Tiered Circumferential Resection Margin Criteria in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the optimal cutoff value of circumferential resection margin (CRM) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in patients who underwent radical esophagectomy. BACKGROUND: Tumor involvement of a CRM in ESCC has not been clearly defined. METHODS: We reviewed 479 pT3 ESCC patients to find the optimal cutoff point of distance from CRM in addition to 0 µm for discriminating survival time. RESULTS: The partitions at and near the 500 µm distance from CRM generated the largest log-rank statistics (P = 0.0086). Therefore, we added 500 µm as an additional cutoff value for a positive CRM. Compared to patients with CRM greater than 500 µm, patients with CRM 0 µm showed worse overall survival (P < 0.001) and progression-free survival (P < 0.001), followed by patients with 0 to 500 µm (P = 0.008 and 0.066, respectively). In multivariable analyses, overall survival differences remained significant [0 < CRM ≤ 500 µm vs CRM > 500 µm, hazards ratio (HR) = 1.875, 97.5% CI: 1.243-2.829, P = 0.002; CRM = 0 µm vs CRM > 500 µm, HR = 2.666, 97.5% CI: 1.745-4.076, P < 0.001]. In comparison of criteria from the College of American Pathologists, the Royal College of Pathologists, and this study, HRs of positive CRM (95% CI, P-value) were 1.969 (1.501-2.584, P < 0.001), 1.384 (1.039-1.844, P = 0.027), and 1.696 (1.342-2.143, P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ESCC, we developed new, 3-tiered CRM criteria providing more detailed prognostic information than the 2-tiered criteria.