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Translational Lung Cancer Research Jan 2021The staging of mediastinal lymph nodes for lung cancer is crucial for planning treatments or reinterventions. In potentially curable patients the aim of mediastinal... (Review)
Review
The staging of mediastinal lymph nodes for lung cancer is crucial for planning treatments or reinterventions. In potentially curable patients the aim of mediastinal staging is to exclude the presence of malignancy in mediastinal lymph nodes with a high level of accuracy while also considering clinical factors and the balance of the benefits and risks of tissue sampling techniques. Mediastinal staging is based on computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) and can be sufficient when no mediastinal abnormalities are present and the probability of unforeseen N2 disease is low. In the case of bulky lymph nodes with a high probability of malignancy in PET-CT, tissue confirmation is not normally required. If mediastinal sampling is needed it can be achieved by endosonographic techniques, including endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or a combination of the two. Positive results do not need further confirmation. In the case of negative results, surgical techniques still play a role in the selected cases discussed by multidisciplinary lung cancer committees. New mediastinal surgical techniques including video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopy (VACM), video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA), and transcervical extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy (TEMLA) have been shown to be useful in selected patients. Final pathological staging is based on lymph node removal during surgery and can be achieved by taking one of two approaches: lymph node sampling or systematic lymph node sampling. The accuracy of PET-CT and mediastinal endosonography is lower for mediastinal restaging than it is for surgical techniques; their false positive and false negative (FN) rate is high and so, they require histological confirmation. Here we explain and revise the results from the most recent studies and current international guidelines.
PubMed: 33569331
DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2020.03.08 -
The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon Jan 2023The coexistence of pleural and pericardial effusions in frail patients with or without confirmed neoplasia necessitates the use of a minimally invasive technique that...
The coexistence of pleural and pericardial effusions in frail patients with or without confirmed neoplasia necessitates the use of a minimally invasive technique that has a minor impact on the patient's general status and allows for fast fluid evacuation and biopsy sampling if necessary. We present a subxiphoid mediastinoscopic autonomous (simultaneous noncommunicating) double fenestration approach for these patients with both diagnostic and therapeutic advantages in selected cases. Using the mediastinoscope alone through the subxiphoid incision can considerably reduce the duration of operation, allow for fluid evacuation, and significantly alleviate the patient's symptoms. This method enables the sampling of pleural and pericardial fluids and targeted tissue, if necessary.
Topics: Humans; Mediastinoscopes; Treatment Outcome; Pericardial Effusion; Mediastinoscopy; Biopsy
PubMed: 36216329
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757177 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2019Mediastinal lymph node staging is crucial in deciding the treatment strategy for lung carcinoma. The diagnosis rate of computed tomography is not high; however, it is a... (Review)
Review
Mediastinal lymph node staging is crucial in deciding the treatment strategy for lung carcinoma. The diagnosis rate of computed tomography is not high; however, it is a standard examination. Although the contrast computed tomography is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, images from the positron emission tomography are excellent, and these two technologies are independent and complementary. Positron emission tomography has a disadvantage of false positives and false negatives, but it should also be used in cases where lymph node diameters are 1 cm or more. However, image-based diagnostic methods are not an alternative to histological examination. The results of a transbronchial needle biopsy are extremely dependent on the inspection method, the diagnostic ability of the physician, and the staging of the case. The transesophageal ultrasound endoscope is useful for reaching parts inaccessible by a mediastinoscope. Although its employment requires technical training, it is becoming popular as a minimally invasive method of obtaining cell and the tissue samples. A thoracoscopic biopsy is considered as a last resort for mediastinal lymph node diagnosis. Carefully-chosen invasive procedures are necessary to diagnose swollen lymph nodes. Although mediastinoscopy is still considered as the gold standard, most procedures will be replaced by a comparatively minimally invasive method in the future.
PubMed: 35118261
DOI: 10.21037/med.2019.07.04 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2019The staging of mediastinal lymph nodes is essential for planning the most adequate treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For this reason, the... (Review)
Review
The staging of mediastinal lymph nodes is essential for planning the most adequate treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For this reason, the current American and European guidelines recommend obtaining tissue confirmation of any mediastinal abnormality seen on chest computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). This can be done by endoscopic techniques, such as endobronchial ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA), esophageal ultrasonographic FNA (EUS-FNA), or a combination of the two (CUS). Traditionally, surgical methods have been reserved to validate the negative results of minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. However, based on the latest evidence, cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) have demonstrated their superiority over minimally invasive methods in terms of performance for those tumors with normal mediastinum [clinical (c) N0-1 by CT and PET]. Therefore, cervical mediastinoscopy and VAMLA should be considered in the staging algorithms of this particular subset of NSCLC, and in the other well-established indications.
PubMed: 35118259
DOI: 10.21037/med.2019.07.01 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2020Precise preoperative staging and restaging of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is of supreme... (Review)
Review
Precise preoperative staging and restaging of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is of supreme importance. Over the last years, algorithms on preoperative mediastinal staging incorporating imaging, endoscopic and surgical techniques have been widely published, offering more evidence concerning different mediastinal staging techniques. Current guidelines well define when and how to receive tissue confirmation in case of computed tomography (CT)-enlarged or positron emission tomography (PET)-positive mediastinal lymph nodes. Endosonography [(endoscopic bronchial ultrasonography/oesophageal ultrasonography (EBUS/EUS)] with fine needle aspiration still is the first choice (when accessible) since it is minimally invasive and has a high sensitivity to confirm mediastinal nodal disease. If negative, surgical staging with nodal dissection or biopsy is indicated. Video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and transcervical extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy (TEMLA) are preferred over conventional mediastinoscopy if a mediastinal R0-resection can be achieved. The mutual use of endoscopic and surgical staging effects highest accuracy. Straight surgical resection of tumors ≤3 cm (located within the external third of the lung) with systematic nodal dissection is justified as soon as there are no enlarged lymph nodes on CT-scan and once there is no nodal uptake on PET-CT. In case of central tumors and enlarged or FDG avid nodes regardless of cytological result, preoperative invasive mediastinal staging is indicated to rule out mediastinal nodal spread. However, accuracy needed in preoperative nodal staging has been under continuous debate ever since and with the advent of immunotherapy is right now intensely revived. During the last two decades VAMLA has been growing up from being a merely staging tool to an expert-recognized therapeutic tool in the context of minimal invasive lung cancer resection.
PubMed: 35118271
DOI: 10.21037/med.2019.09.06 -
Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery Mar 2020Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been performed increasingly more frequently for the treatment of esophageal cancer, ever since it was first described in 1992.... (Review)
Review
Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been performed increasingly more frequently for the treatment of esophageal cancer, ever since it was first described in 1992. However, the incidence of postoperative complications of MIE has not yet been well-characterized, because (a) there are few reports of studies with a sufficient sample size, (b) a variety of minimally invasive surgical techniques are used, and (c) there are few reports in which an established system for classifying the severity of complications is examined. According to an analysis performed by the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group, the most common complications of MIE are pneumonia, arrhythmia, anastomotic leakage, conduit necrosis, chylothorax, and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Therefore, we decided to focus on these complications. We selected 48 out of 1245 reports of studies (a) that included more than 50 patients each, (b) in which the esophagectomy technique used was clearly described, and (c) in which the complications were adequately described. The overall incidences of the postoperative complications of MIE for esophageal cancer were analyzed according to the MIE technique adopted, that is, McKeown MIE, Ivor Lewis MIE, robotic-assisted McKeown MIE, robotic-assisted Ivor Lewis MIE, or mediastinoscopic transmediastinal esophagectomy. Pneumonia, arrhythmia, anastomotic leakage, and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred at an incidence rate of about 10% each; Ivor Lewis MIE was associated with a relatively low incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. It is important to recognize that the incidences of complications of MIE are influenced by the MIE technique adopted and the extent of lymph node dissection.
PubMed: 32258977
DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12315 -
Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic... Sep 2021Mediastinal staging in potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer is of paramount importance since it impacts the survival of the patient. With increasing nodal...
Mediastinal staging in potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer is of paramount importance since it impacts the survival of the patient. With increasing nodal stage, survival was noted to precipitously decline. Nodal status also determined the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy and other treatment modalities. Various methods of obtaining lymphatic tissue from the mediastinum for staging purposes have been described in the literature, although mediastinoscopic lymph node evaluation remains the gold standard. Endoscopic methods of mediastinal staging, like the endobronchial ultrasound guided and esophageal ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration techniques, although minimally invasive, provide the highest levels of accuracy when used in conjunction with surgical mediastinal staging. Video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) provides clear advantages, as far as ergonomics and training are concerned, over conventional mediastinoscopy. Access to stations 2R, 2L, 4R, 4L, and 7 is feasible with VAMLA. In this video vignette, we present the step-by-step technique of a standard VAMLA, with an overview of relevant anatomical relationships, for the effective and safe clearance of lymph node stations for the purposes of staging and defining appropriate therapy.
Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Mediastinoscopy; Mediastinum; Neoplasm Staging
PubMed: 34672142
DOI: 10.1510/mmcts.2021.055 -
Thoracic Cancer Feb 2021Cervical mediastinoscopy is useful for diagnosing lung and mediastinal disease. Ultrasound is a safe real-time diagnostic tool widely employed in many surgical fields....
BACKGROUND
Cervical mediastinoscopy is useful for diagnosing lung and mediastinal disease. Ultrasound is a safe real-time diagnostic tool widely employed in many surgical fields. Ultrasound was used in cervical mediastinoscopy in our cohort with satisfactory results. This study investigated the safety, feasibility, and availability of video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) combined with ultrasound for mediastinal lymph node biopsy.
METHODS
A total of 87 cases involving cervical mediastinal lymph node biopsy performed from November 2015 to May 2020, with complete clinical and pathological information, were retrospectively analyzed in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. The cohort was divided into two groups: ultrasound-guided biopsy under video-assisted mediastinoscopy (UVAM) (44 cases) and routine VAM (43 cases). Operation time, biopsy number and nodal stations, postoperative complications, pathological conditions, and surgical difficulty were compared between the two nodal stations.
RESULTS
UVAM was significantly shorter and more lymph node specimens were obtained than with VAM. There was one case of fatal bleeding and two cases of right recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in the VAM group, and no postoperative complications in the UVAM group.
CONCLUSIONS
When used with cervical VAM, ultrasound guidance assists physicians assess the space between lymph nodes, surrounding tissues, and large vessels systematically, making biopsy safer and easier, improving lymph node sampling, and decreasing postoperative complications. Furthermore, surgeons can easily learn and master this method.
KEY POINTS
Significant findings of the study: Ultrasound was used in combination with cervical mediastinoscopy and the results showed that ultrasound guidance makes biopsy in patients safer and easier, improves lymph node sampling, and decreases postoperative complications.
WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS
Surgeons can easily learn and master this method.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Image-Guided Biopsy; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Male; Mediastinoscopy; Mediastinum; Middle Aged
PubMed: 33141499
DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.13717 -
ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research... 2021To describe the distribution of diagnostic procedures, rates of complications, and total cost of biopsies for patients with lung cancer.
PURPOSE
To describe the distribution of diagnostic procedures, rates of complications, and total cost of biopsies for patients with lung cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Observational study using data from IBM Marketscan Databases for continuously insured adult patients with a primary lung cancer diagnosis and treatment between July 2013 and June 2017. Costs of lung cancer diagnosis covered 6 months prior to index biopsy through treatment. Costs of chest CT scans, biopsy, and post-procedural complications were estimated from total payments. Costs of biopsies incidental to inpatient admissions were estimated by comparable outpatient biopsies.
RESULTS
The database included 22,870 patients who had a total of 37,160 biopsies, of which 16,009 (43.1%) were percutaneous, 14,997 (40.4%) bronchoscopic, 4072 (11.0%) surgical and 2082 (5.6%) mediastinoscopic. Multiple biopsies were performed on 41.9% of patients. The most common complications among patients receiving only one type of biopsy were pneumothorax (1304 patients, 8.4%), bleeding (744 patients, 4.8%) and intubation (400 patients, 2.6%). However, most complications did not require interventions that would add to costs. Median total costs were highest for inpatient surgical biopsies ($29,988) and lowest for outpatient percutaneous biopsies ($1028). Repeat biopsies of the same type increased costs by 40-80%. Complications account for 13% of total costs.
CONCLUSION
Costs of biopsies to confirm lung cancer diagnosis vary substantially by type of biopsy and setting. Multiple biopsies, inpatient procedures and complications result in higher costs.
PubMed: 33762834
DOI: 10.2147/CEOR.S295494