Surgical treatment for chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis: a retrospective study from a single institution.

PURPOSE: Coccidioidomycosis, caused by the Coccidioides species, is a well-known disease in the Southwestern United States and North Mexico, with scattered reports in Latin America countries. While this disease is still rare in Japan and other Asian countries, its incidence has been increasing over the last two decades. Coccidioides species are highly infectious and require caution when encountered. This study presents a case series of chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis surgically treated at a single institution. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of six patients who underwent lung resection for pulmonary coccidioidomycosis at Chiba University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2021. RESULTS: All six patients had travelled to the Southwestern United States. Preoperative serology was negative for the anti-Coccidioides antibody in four patients and positive in two. Chest computed tomography revealed a single, well-defined round nodule in all patients. Preoperative biopsy taken from three patients failed to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Histopathological examination of the resected pulmonary nodules revealed granulomas that contained numerous spherules with many endospores, thereby confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis should be suspected based on travel history and radiological findings. Meticulous care should be taken during specimen processing to prevent cross infection.

[Experience with Surgical Stabilization for Traumatic Rib Fractures and Sternal Fractures].

The treatment of traumatic rib fractures and sternal fractures have focused on pain and respiratory management, and conservative treatment has been recommended. Recently, however, a number of case series from abroad have been reported and demonstrated the usefulness of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) and sternal fractures (SSSF). We have experienced seven cases of SSRF and two cases of SSSF at International University Health and Welfare Narita Hospital and Atami Hospital. Based on our experienced cases, we have outlined the preoperative evaluation, indication for surgery, timing of surgery, surgical techniques, and postoperative course. Of these nine cases, the clinical course of two cases of SSRF and one case of SSSF were detailly presented. The surgical indications and techniques for traumatic rib fractures and sternal fractures vary from institution to institution, and there is no single optimal treatment. We hope that the accumulation of cases, and discussions will help to build a higher quality evidence for surgical treatment of thoracic trauma in Japan.

[The Basic Research of Antigen-antibody Reaction in Lung Transplantation].

Lung transplantation has become popular in Japan, showing better survival rate than other countries. However, the results are still not satisfactory compared with other solid organ transplantation. One of the reasons for this might be that knowledge on donor-specific antibodies or antibody-related rejection, which has been attracting attention these days, is less than that of kidney or liver transplantation. Our laboratory has continued basic research in this field using rodent lung transplantation model. We have previously shown that type V collagen is associated in chronic rejection as an autoimmune, and that oral administration of type V collagen induces tolerance. The murine chronic rejection model of the minor antigen mismatch was developed, and involvement of the humoral immunity and role of the complement activation were shown. We are now studying the effects of immune checkpoint molecules, which play a central role in the field of cancer therapy, on rejection after lung transplantation. We are also working to verify the effects of anti-complement drugs and molecular targeted drugs in the future treatment on rejection.

Genetic alterations in squamous cell lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are at higher risk of developing lung cancers including squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC), which typically carries a poor prognosis. Although the molecular basis of cancer development subsequent to IPF has not been fully investigated, we recently reported two epigenetic phenotypes characterized by frequent and infrequent DNA hypermethylation in SCC, and an association of the infrequent hypermethylation phenotype with IPF-associated SCCs. Here, we conducted targeted exon sequencing in SCCs with and without IPF using the Human Lung Cancer Panel to investigate the genetic basis of IPF-associated SCC. SCCs with and without IPF displayed comparable numbers of total mutations (137 ± 22 vs 131 ± 27, P = .5), nonsynonymous mutations (72 ± 14 vs 69 ± 16, P = .5), indels (3.0 ± 3.5 vs 3.0 ± 3.9, P = 1) and synonymous mutations (62 ± 9.1 vs 60 ± 12, P = .5). Signature 1 was the predominant signature in SCCs with and without IPF. SETD2 and NFE2L2 mutations were significantly associated with IPF (44% vs 13%, P = .03 for SETD2; 38% vs 10%, P = .04 for NFE2L2). MYC amplification, assessed by copy number variant analysis, was also significantly associated with IPF (18.8% vs 0%, P = .04). Mutations in TP53 and CDKN2A were observed relatively frequently in SCCs with frequent hypermethylation (P = .02 for TP53 and P = .06 for CDKN2A). Survival analysis revealed that the SETD2 mutation was significantly associated with worse prognosis (P = .04). Collectively, we found frequent involvement of SETD2 and NFE2L2 mutations and MYC amplification in SCCs with IPF, and an association of a SETD2 mutation with poorer prognosis.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in patients with previously treated lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The sampling and accurate diagnosis of lymph nodes during the clinical history of lung cancer are essential for selecting the appropriate treatment strategies. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in patients with previously treated lung cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA after treatment for lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We classified the patients into two groups; Group 1 (G1): Indicated to have a recurrence of new lesions after radical surgery or chemo/radiotherapy with a curative intent; and Group 2 (G2): Indicated to have residual tumor cells after undergoing primary treatment for chemo/radiotherapy or re-staging after induction therapy prior to surgery. RESULTS: Seventy previously treated lung cancer cases (G1, n = 52; G2, n = 18) were enrolled. Thirty-two cases (61.5%) had recurrent disease in G1, and 9 cases (50.0%) had nodal metastasis in G2. The diagnostic accuracy was 95.2% in G1 and 88.9% in G2. Twenty-four cases were examined for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, and 9 (37.5%) cases had mutations, including two cases with a T790M mutation. Furthermore, in one case, a re-biopsy revealed that the initial adenocarcinoma had transformed into small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Performing EBUS-TBNA during lung cancer treatment showed a high diagnostic yield. Samples obtained by EBUS-TBNA were helpful in determining when to perform repeat biomarker testing as well as for making pathological re-evaluations.

A low DNA methylation epigenotype in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its association with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and poorer prognosis.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have higher risk of developing lung cancer, for example, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and show poor prognosis, while the molecular basis has not been fully investigated. Here we conducted DNA methylome analysis of lung SCC using 20 SCC samples with/without IPF, and noncancerous lung tissue samples from smokers/nonsmokers, using Infinium HumanMethylation 450K array. SCC was clustered into low- and high-methylation epigenotypes by hierarchical clustering analysis. Genes hypermethylated in SCC significantly included genes targeted by polycomb repressive complex in embryonic stem cells, and genes associated with Gene Ontology terms, for example, "transcription" and "cell adhesion," while genes hypermethylated specifically in high-methylation subgroup significantly included genes associated with "negative regulation of growth." Low-methylation subgroup significantly correlated with IPF (78%, vs. 17% in high-methylation subgroup, p = 0.04), and the correlation was validated by additional Infinium analysis of SCC samples (n = 44 in total), and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 390). The correlation between low-methylation subgroup and IPF was further validated by quantitative methylation analysis of marker genes commonly hypermethylated in SCC (HOXA2, HOXA9 and PCDHGB6), and markers specifically hypermethylated in high-methylation subgroup (DLEC1, CFTR, MT1M, CRIP3 and ALDH7A1) in 77 SCC cases using pyrosequencing (p = 0.003). Furthermore, low-methylation epigenotype significantly correlated with poorer prognosis among all SCC patients, or among patients without IPF. Multivariate analysis showed that low-methylation epigenotype is an independent predictor of poor prognosis. These may suggest that lung SCC could be stratified into molecular subtypes with distinct prognosis, and low-methylation lung SCC that significantly correlates with IPF shows unfavorable outcome.

Successful pulmonary embolectomy with central extra-corporeal membranous oxygenation for acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

The treatment of acute pulmonary thromboembolism with a hemorrhagic condition is quite challenging and it usually presents a clinical dilemma. Pulmonary embolectomy is generally performed with cardiopulmonary bypass; however, cardiopulmonary bypass usually requires full anticoagulation which cannot be used for patients with a hemorrhagic condition. We herein report a successful case of pulmonary embolectomy that was accomplished using central veno-arterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation, instead of cardiopulmonary bypass, for a patient with an acute fatal pulmonary thromboembolism and hemorrhagic cerebral infarction following lung cancer surgery. Our strategy consists of surgical embolectomy under central veno-arterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation with partial anticoagulation and the placement of an inferior vena cava filter to prevent recurrence without the use of anticoagulation therapy.

Keys to successful induction chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for stage III/N2 non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgical intervention after induction chemoradiation is designed as curative treatment for resectable stage III/N2 non-small cell lung cancer. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this approach, possibly because successful treatment requires certain "arts", such as proper patient selection, an appropriate induction regimen, and choice of the best surgical procedure. We review the previous reports and discuss our own experience to explore the appropriate strategy for patients with resectable stage III/N2 disease, and to identify the factors associated with successful surgical intervention. Among the studies reviewed, the complete resection rate among intention-to-treat cases was correlated well with the 5-year survival rate, whereas the pneumonectomy rate was correlated inversely with the 5-year survival rate. The clinical response rate and downstaging after induction treatment were not associated with survival. Based on these findings, we conclude that complete resection with the avoidance of pneumonectomy is important when selecting candidates for multimodal treatment including radical surgery.

Surgical outcomes of pulmonary metastasis from hepatopancreatobiliary carcinomas: a comparison with pulmonary metastasis from colorectal carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical indications for pulmonary metastasis from hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) carcinomas remain controversial. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2015, 25 patients with pulmonary metastasis from HPB carcinomas and 145 with that from colorectal carcinomas underwent metastasectomies in our institution. The primary diseases were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 8 patients, pancreatic carcinoma (PC) in 12 and biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) in 5. All patients had a sufficient pulmonary reserve, controlled primary disease and no evidence of other metastatic disease. Perioperative factors were investigated retrospectively to analyze the overall survival (OS), pulmonary metastasis-free survival (PmFS) after pulmonary metastasectomy and disease-free interval between surgery for primary disease and the development of pulmonary metastasis (DFI). RESULTS: Complete resection was performed in all patients with lobectomy in 3, segmentectomy in 5 and partial resection in 17. The respective 1-, 2- and 5-year OS rates after metastasectomy were 82.6%, 69.8% and 69.8% in HPB patients and 98.3%, 92.4% and 78.0% in colorectal carcinoma patients (p = 0.351). The 2-year PmFS of HPB patients was 80.0%, versus 60.6% for colorectal carcinoma patients (p = 0.265). The DFI was 41.4 months for HPB patients and 34.5 months for colorectal carcinoma patients (p = 0.273). CONCLUSIONS: Metastasectomy for pulmonary metastasis from HPB may be performed in carefully selected patients.

Surgical outcome of pulmonary artery reconstruction using the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch in patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary artery reconstruction is sometimes utilized as an alternative to pneumonectomy in lung cancer surgery. We herein report our experience of pulmonary artery reconstruction using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) patch based on the surgical results and long-term outcome. METHODS: Clinical records of lung cancer patients who underwent patch plasty were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2017, pulmonary artery patch plasty were performed in 21 patients [18 males, 3 females; mean age 65 (range 47-79) years]. Induction chemoradiotherapy was performed in three patients. Bronchoplasty was performed in five patients. The pathologic stages were stage I in 3 patients, stage II in 6 and stage III in 12. Pneumonectomy, lobectomy and segmentectomy were performed in 2, 18 and 1 patient, respectively. The left upper lobe was the most frequent origin of lung cancer (15 patients). There was no reconstruction-related morbidity or mortality. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 64.1% with a mean follow-up of 39.5 months, and the survival rates for N0-1 and N2-3 were 80.8% and 28.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patch angioplasty using the ePTFE sheet is a reliable procedure in radical surgery for lung cancer.

Molecular Nodal Staging Using miRNA Expression in Lung Cancer Patients by Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration.

BACKGROUND: The limited negative predictive value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has often been discussed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify a highly sensitive molecular biomarker for lymph node staging by EBUS-TBNA. METHODS: Five microRNAs (miRNAs) (miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-141, and let-7e) were selected as biomarker candidates for the detection of nodal metastasis in a miRNA expression analysis. After having established a cutoff level of expression for each marker to differentiate malignant from benign lymph nodes among surgically dissected lymph nodes, the cutoff level was applied to snap-frozen EBUS-TBNA samples. Archived formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded (FFPE) samples rebiopsied by EBUS-TBNA after induction chemoradiotherapy were also analyzed. RESULTS: The expression of all candidate miRNAs was significantly higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in benign ones (p < 0.05) among the surgical samples. miR-200c showed the highest diagnostic yield, with a sensitivity of 95.4% and a specificity of 100%. When the cutoff value for miR-200c was applied to the snap-frozen EBUS-TBNA samples, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were 97.4, 81.8, 95.0, 90.0, and 94.0%, respectively. For restaging FFPE EBUS- TBNA samples, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were 100, 60.0, 80.0, 100, and 84.6%, respectively. Among the restaged samples, 4 malignant lymph nodes were false negative by EBUS-TBNA, but they were accurately identified by miR-200c. CONCLUSIONS: miR-200c can be used as a highly sensitive molecular staging biomarker that will enhance nodal staging of lung cancer.

Concordant pattern of radiologic, morphologic, and genomic changes during compensatory lung growth.

BACKGROUND: Although compensatory lung growth (CLG) after lung resection has been reported in various mammalian species, it has generally been thought that the lung cannot regenerate in adult humans. We recently developed a method for evaluating lung weight using a radiologic analysis and demonstrated that the lung was heavier than expected in adult humans after pulmonary resection. In this study, we serially evaluated the morphologic, radiologic, and genomic status during CLG in pneumonectomized mice. METHODS: The serial changes in morphology and gene expression of the remnant right lung after left pneumonectomy were examined in adult male mice. The alveolar density was determined by the mean linear intercept, and the weight was estimated using the Hounsfield value and volumetric data from micro-computed tomography. The parameters were obtained on days 3, 7, and 30 after left pneumonectomy or thoracotomy only (sham control). RESULTS: After left pneumonectomy, the right lung became significantly progressively larger in volume and weight on postoperative days 3, 7, and 30 in comparison to the sham controls (P < 0.01). The estimated weight also significantly increased in association with the real volume on postoperative days 3, 7, and 30 (P < 0.01). The cardiac lobe markedly increased in size. During the observation period, the alveolar density was always lower in the pneumonectomized mice than in controls. A microarray analysis revealed that multiple genes related to proliferation (but not specific alveolar development) were initially upregulated until postoperative day 7 and then returned to normal after 1 mo. The morphologic and genomic changes were more evident in the cardiac lobe than in the upper lobe during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The morphologic, radiologic, and genomic changes during CLG were related to each other in pneumonectomized mice. The present study revealed an association between the radiologically estimated weight and other parameters, indicating a marked CLG reaction of the cardiac lobe.

Mini grasping basket forceps for endobronchial foreign body removal in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate device selection is crucial for endobronchial foreign body removal using a bronchoscope. In pediatric patients, bronchoscopy requires the use of a thin device due to the narrow access to the airway, limiting the range of useful endobronchial devices. We herein review our experience in endobronchial foreign body removal with a focus on the type of bronchoscope and the instruments used in comparison with the literature, and investigate the utility of mini grasping basket forceps (FG-55D, Olympus® ; and Zero Tip™ , Airway Retrieval Basket, Boston Scientific). METHODS: Between April 2008 and April 2016, foreign bodies were removed from the airway of 12 pediatric patients by bronchoscopy. These cases are reviewed in this study. The clinical presentation, location and characteristics of the foreign bodies, and the type of bronchoscope and instruments used were analyzed. RESULTS: A consecutive series of 12 pediatric patients was retrospectively reviewed, and the therapeutic characteristics investigated. Nuts were the most frequently observed foreign body. Seven of the 12 pediatric patients required an ultrathin bronchoscope (diameter, 2.8 mm) for foreign body removal. Only one patient required a rigid scope in addition to flexible bronchoscopy. The most frequently used instrument was a mini grasping basket forceps (n = 7; 58%), which was used with a 1.2 mm instrument channel (n = 4; 33%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a mini grasping basket forceps in combination with an ultrathin flexible bronchoscope was useful for removing smooth, soft materials such as a nuts or beans in pediatric cases.

[The History and Development of Experimental Rodent Models of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction after Lung Transplantation].

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) is a critical impediment to the long-term survival after lung transplantation. A rat orthotopic lung transplantation model was developed in the early 1970s, and using this model, our laboratory has shown that the immunopathogenesis of CLAD involves both allogeneic immunity and autoimmunity. However, further investigation of CLAD is limited by the scarcity of transgenic and knockout strains. The model most widely used to study CLAD, the mouse model of heterotopic tracheal transplantation, has some incomplete pathophysiologic features of CLAD, which limits the utility of this model. Unlike other solid organ transplants, vascularized and aerated murine lung transplantation has only recently been developed. We have also reported that minor, but not major, histocompatibility antigens mismatch induced the development of CLAD in murine orthotopic lung transplants and that CLAD development was interleukin-17-dependent. This mini-review underscores the history and development of rodent models of CLAD after lung transplant, including the findings from our previous studies. In addition, the future direction of rodent models is also discussed.

Perioperative management for patients with bronchial asthma.

To minimize the risks of perioperative respiratory complications in patients with asthma undergoing general anesthesia, the key is detailed preoperative assessment of asthmatic patients. A patient with a history of frequent exacerbations, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, or recent airway infection has a severe risk of perioperative exacerbation. Pre- operative intervention with anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory medication should be considered if asthma is poorly controlled before surgery. Another key is adequate anesthetic plan suppressing or avoiding bronchial constriction, including proper selection of anesthetic and appropriate depth of anesthesia at any time point during surgery. Intraoperative bron- chospasm must be managed promptly using bronchodilators and/or steroid. Thorough perioperative management can lead to an uneventful course in patients with asthma.

Increase of bone morphogenetic protein-7 expressing pulmonary resident cells in pneumonectomized rats.

PURPOSE: Compensatory lung growth (CLG) is recognized in rodents subjected to major pulmonary resection; however, the source of cells constituting regenerated tissues during the CLG is still unknown. We investigated the differentiation of lung resident cells and the participation of bone marrow (BM)-derived cells in the remnant lung of pneumonectomized rats. METHODS: After left pneumonectomy, the right remnant lung of Wistar rats was subjected to morphologic and molecular experiments at several time points. We studied the expression of bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7), an accelerator of epithelial differentiation, based on the gene expression profile data of the remnant lung. Next, we evaluated the presence of GFP-positive cells in the remnant lung of Wistar rats that had received BM transplantation from green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene-transgenic Wistar rats prior to left pneumonectomy. RESULTS: We observed progression of emphysematous change, modulation of gene expression profile, and proliferating cellular nuclear antigen-positive cells in the alveoli of the remnant lungs. BMP-7 protein positive cells were detected in the alveolar septa, which increased significantly over time with the progression of emphysematous change. No bone marrow-derived cells were detected in the right remnant lung of the GFP-BM transferred rats by fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or polymerase chain reaction at any time. CONCLUSION: Lung resident cells appear to contribute to CLG, possibly via a trans-differentiation pathway.

Spirometric and radiological evaluation of the remnant lung long after major pulmonary resection: can compensatory phenomena be recognized in clinical cases?

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the compensatory phenomena after lung resection in clinical cases by evaluating the spirometric and radiological parameters. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing lobectomy for stage IA lung cancer were divided into the following groups: (A) patients with <10 (n = 20) and (B) patients with ≥10 resected subsegments (n = 20). Comparisons were made of the predicted and observed postoperative values of spirometry and radiological parameters, such as lung volumetry and the "estimated lung weight". Predicted values were based on the number of resected subsegments. The postoperative time to re-evaluation was at least 1 year for both groups. RESULTS: The predicted postoperative values of spirometry underestimated the actual values, and the differences were more significant in group B (forced vital capacity, p = 0.006, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, p = 0.011). Focusing on the remnant lungs on the surgical side, group B had significantly larger % postoperative lung volumes (161 ± 6.0 %) and % estimated lung weight (124 ± 5.4 %) than did group A (114 ± 3.8%, p < 0.0001; 89.5 ± 4.4%, p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Major lung resection in clinical cases causes a compensatory restoration of the pulmonary function and tissue.

Can modified frailty index predict postoperative complication after lung cancer surgery?

PURPOSE: The impact of the modified frailty index (mFI) on postoperative complications after lung cancer surgery was investigated. METHODS: Patients who underwent lung cancer surgery in 2017 were included. 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity were evaluated according to their Clavien-Dindo classification. mFI values are presented as the sum of values of 11 included items. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of mFI on postoperative severe complication incidence. RESULTS: Among 190 patients considered, severe postoperative complications (Grade 3 or more) were observed in 30 (16%). No patients died within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of severe complications was 3.6% in patients with mFI of 0, 16.2% in patients with mFI of 1, 23.4% in patients with mFI of 2, and 31.6% in patients with mFI of 3 or more, and was correlated with the grade of mFI. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the high mFI was significantly predictive of postoperative complications. Frail patients of mFI ≥ 2 were at 3.0-fold greater risk of severe complications than non-frail patients of mFI 0 or 1. CONCLUSION: mFI was associated with morbidity after lung cancer surgery. Preoperative frailty assessment and appropriate intervention to frail patients would be required to improve postoperative outcomes.

Postoperative bronchopleural fistula after induction therapy with bevacizumab.

Bronchopleural fistulas are rare complications of bevacizumab treatment. Herein, we report a case of bronchopleural fistula after bevacizumab therapy. The patient was a 65-year-old man with lung cancer who underwent a right lower lobectomy with systemic lymph node dissection after induction chemotherapy with bevacizumab. Pathological examination revealed no residual tumor cells in the resected specimen. The patient presented with severe dyspnea on postoperative day 26. Bronchoscopy revealed a bronchopleural fistula in the membranous portion of the right intermediate bronchus; the bronchial stump remained intact. The bronchopleural fistula was repaired with muscle flaps, and bronchoscopy 9 months after surgery showed satisfactory healing of the fistula. The patient has been alive for 5 years without evidence of recurrence. Careful attention must be paid to postoperative management when bevacizumab is used for induction therapy.

Outcomes of carbon ion radiotherapy compared with segmentectomy for ground glass opacity-dominant early-stage lung cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with ground-grass opacity (GGO)-dominant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) versus segmentectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. The study included 123 cases of clinical stage 0/IA peripheral NSCLC treated with single-fraction CIRT from 2003 to 2012, 14 of which were determined to be GGO-dominant and were assigned to CIRT group. As a control, 48 consecutive patients who underwent segmentectomy for peripheral GGO-dominant clinical stage IA NSCLC were assigned to segmentectomy group. RESULTS: The patients in CIRT group, compared with segmentectomy group, were significantly older (75 ± 7.2 vs. 65 ± 8.2 years, P = 0.000660), more likely to be male (13/14 vs. 22/48, P = 0.00179), and had a lower forced vital capacity (91 ± 19% vs. 110 ± 13%, P = 0.0173). There was a significant difference in the 5-years overall survival rate (86% vs. 96%, P = 0.000860), but not in the 5-years disease-specific survival rate (93% vs. 98%, P = 0.368). DISCUSSION: Compared with segmentectomy, CIRT may be an alternative option for patients with early GGO-dominant NSCLC who are poor candidates for, or who refuse, surgery.