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World Journal of Surgical Oncology Sep 2020Ganglioneuromas (GNs) are extremely rare, slowly growing, benign tumors that can arise from Schwann cells, ganglion cells, and neuronal or fibrous tissues. Due to their...
BACKGROUND
Ganglioneuromas (GNs) are extremely rare, slowly growing, benign tumors that can arise from Schwann cells, ganglion cells, and neuronal or fibrous tissues. Due to their origin from the sympathetic neural crest, they show neuroendocrine potential; however, most are reported to be hormonally inactive. Nevertheless, complete surgical removal is recommended for symptom control or for the prevention of potential malignant degeneration.
CASE REPORT
A 30-year-old female was referred to our oncologic center due to a giant retroperitoneal and mediastinal mass detected in computed tomography (CT) scans. The initial symptoms were transient nausea, diarrhea, and crampy abdominal pain. There was a positive family history including 5 first- and second-degree relatives. Presurgical biopsy revealed a benign ganglioneuroma. Total resection (TR) of a 35 × 25 × 25 cm, 2550-g tumor was obtained successfully via laparotomy combined with thoracotomy and partial incision of the diaphragm. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis. Surgically challenging aspects were the bilateral tumor invasion from the retroperitoneum into the mediastinum through the aortic hiatus with the need of a bilateral 2-cavity procedure, as well as the tumor-related displacement of the abdominal aorta, the mesenteric vessels, and the inferior vena cava. Due to their anatomic course through the tumor mass, the lumbar aortic vessels needed to be partially resected. Postoperative functioning was excellent without any sign of neurologic deficit.
CONCLUSION
Here, we present the largest case of a TR of a GN with retroperitoneal and mediastinal expansion. On review of the literature, this is the largest reported GN resected and was performed safely. Additionally, we present the first systematic literature review for large GN (> 10 cm) as well as for resected tumors growing from the abdominal cavity into the thoracic cavity.
Topics: Adult; Female; Ganglioneuroma; Humans; Mediastinal Neoplasms; Prognosis; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms; Retroperitoneal Space; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 32948207
DOI: 10.1186/s12957-020-02016-1 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Aug 2021The prevalence of patients with concomitant heart and lung lesions requiring surgical intervention is increasing. Simultaneous cardiac surgery and pulmonary resection... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of patients with concomitant heart and lung lesions requiring surgical intervention is increasing. Simultaneous cardiac surgery and pulmonary resection avoids the need for a second operation. However, there are concerns regarding the potentially increased mortality and complication rates of simultaneous surgery and the adequacy of lung exposure during heart surgery. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the perioperative mortality and complication rates of combined heart surgery and lung tumor resection.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was performed in July 2020. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify studies that reported the perioperative outcomes of combined heart surgery and lung tumor resection. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Pooled proportions and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by R version 3.6.1 using the meta package.
RESULTS
A total of 536 patients from 29 studies were included. Overall, the pooled proportion of operative mortality was 0.01 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.03) and the pooled proportion of postoperative complications was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.57) for patients who underwent combined cardiothoracic surgery. Subgroup analysis by lung pathology revealed that, for patients with lung cancer, the pooled proportion of anatomical lung resection was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.00) and the pooled proportion of systematic lymph node dissection or sampling was 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.00). Subgroup analysis by heart surgery procedure found that the pooled proportion of postoperative complications of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients using the off-pump method was 0.17 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.43), while the pooled proportion of complications after CABG using the on-pump method was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.82).
CONCLUSION
Combined heart surgery and lung tumor resection had a low mortality rate and an acceptable complication rate. Subgroup analyses revealed that most patients with lung cancer underwent uncompromised anatomical resection and mediastinal lymph node sampling or dissection during combined cardiothoracic surgery, and showed off-pump CABG may reduce the complication rate compared with on-pump CABG. Further researches are still needed to verify these findings.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pneumonectomy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34372896
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-021-01607-7 -
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology Sep 2013The objective of our study was to systematically review the evidence on incidental extracardiac findings on cardiac CT with a focus on previously unknown malignancies. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to systematically review the evidence on incidental extracardiac findings on cardiac CT with a focus on previously unknown malignancies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search was performed (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases) for studies reporting incidental extracardiac findings on cardiac CT. Among 1099 articles initially found, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The references of those articles were hand-searched and 14 additional studies were identified. After review of the full text, 10 articles were excluded. Nineteen studies including 15,877 patients (64% male) were analyzed. A three-level analysis was performed to determine the prevalence of patients with incidental extracardiac findings, the prevalence of patients with major incidental extracardiac findings, and the prevalence of patients with a proven cancer. Heterogeneity was explored for multiple variables. Pooled prevalence and 95% CI were calculated.
RESULTS
The prevalence of both incidental extracardiac findings and major incidental extracardiac findings showed a high heterogeneity (I2>95%): The pooled prevalence was 44% (95% CI, 35-54%) and 16% (95% CI, 14-20%), respectively. No significant explanatory variables were found for using or not using contrast material, the size of the FOV, and study design (I2>85%). The pooled cancer prevalence for 10 studies including 5082 patients was 0.7% (95% CI, 0.5-1.0%), with an almost perfect homogeneity (I2<0.1%). Of 29 reported malignancies, 21 (72%) were lung cancers; three, thyroid cancers; two, breast cancers; two, liver cancers; and one, mediastinal lymphoma.
CONCLUSION
Although the prevalence of reported incidental extracardiac finding at cardiac CT was highly variable, a homogeneous prevalence of previously unknown malignancies was reported across the studies, for a pooled estimate of 0.7%; more than 70% of these previously unknown malignancies were lung cancers. Extracardiac findings on cardiac CT require careful evaluation and reporting.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Incidental Findings; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Mediastinal Neoplasms; Thyroid Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 23971446
DOI: 10.2214/AJR.12.10306 -
European Journal of Cardio-thoracic... Jun 2017To re-examine the evidence for recommendations for complete dissection versus sampling of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes during lobectomy for cancer. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Systematic lymphadenectomy versus sampling of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph-nodes during lobectomy for non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review of randomized trials and a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVES
To re-examine the evidence for recommendations for complete dissection versus sampling of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes during lobectomy for cancer.
METHODS
We searched for randomized trials of systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy versus mediastinal sampling. We performed a textual analysis of the authors' own starting assumptions and conclusion. We analysed the trial designs and risk of bias. We extracted data on early mortality, perioperative complications, overall survival, local recurrence and distant recurrence for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
We found five randomized controlled trials recruiting 1980 patients spanning 1989-2007. The expressed starting position in 3/5 studies was a conviction that systematic dissection was effective. Long-term survival was better with lymphadenectomy compared with sampling (Hazard Ratio 0.78; 95% CI 0.69-0.89) as was perioperative survival (Odds Ratio 0.59; 95% CI 0.25-1.36, non-significant). But there was an overall high risk of bias and a lack of intention to treat analysis. There were higher rates (non-significant) of perioperative complications including bleeding, chylothorax and recurrent nerve palsy with lymphadenectomy.
CONCLUSIONS
The high risk of bias in these trials makes the overall conclusion insecure. The finding of clinically important surgically related morbidities but lower perioperative mortality with lymphadenectomy seems inconsistent. The multiple variables in patients, cancers and available treatments suggest that large pragmatic multicentre trials, testing currently available strategies, are the best way to find out which are more effective. The number of patients affected with lung cancer makes trials feasible.
Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Mediastinum; Neoplasm Staging; Pneumonectomy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 28158453
DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezw439 -
Chest Jul 2018The optimal modality for restaging the mediastinum following neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer remains unclear. Surgical methods are currently considered the reference... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The optimal modality for restaging the mediastinum following neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer remains unclear. Surgical methods are currently considered the reference standard. The present study evaluates the role of endosonographic techniques for mediastinal restaging in lung cancer.
METHODS
A systematic review of PubMed and Embase databases was performed to identify studies using endoscopic ultrasound, endobronchial ultrasound, or a combination of the two for mediastinal restaging following induction therapy for stage III lung cancer. The quality of the included studies was assessed by using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. The accuracy of endosonography was analyzed by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and diagnostic OR for each study and pooling the results by using a bivariate model. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Potential causes of heterogeneity were explored by using sensitivity analysis and meta-regression.
RESULTS
Ten studies (N = 574) were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic OR, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 67% (95% CI, 56-77), 99% (95% CI, 89-100), 157, 52.0, and 0.33, respectively. No complications were reported. Significant heterogeneity was observed for the outcome of sensitivity. Sensitivity analysis identified several factors accounting for heterogeneity, including study design and risk of bias. The sensitivity of the endosonographic procedure was also linked to the prevalence of N2 disease on meta-regression. Funnel plot showed publication bias, but this finding was not evident on statistical tests.
CONCLUSIONS
Endosonographic procedures are safe and highly specific in mediastinal restaging of lung cancer.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Endosonography; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mediastinoscopy; Mediastinum; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging
PubMed: 29684314
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2018.04.014 -
Chinese Medical Journal 2013To review the presentation, diagnosis, staging and treatment of thymoma. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review the presentation, diagnosis, staging and treatment of thymoma.
DATA SOURCES
Data were obtained from papers on thymoma published in English within the last 30 years. No formal systematic review was conducted, but an effort was made to be comprehensive.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies were selected if they contained data relevant to the topic addressed in the particular section. In particular, standards adopted by the International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group through a formal process of achieving worldwide consensus are featured. Because of the limited length of this article, we have frequently referenced recent reviews that contain a comprehensive amalgamation of literature rather than the actual source papers.
RESULTS
Thymomas are rare malignant tumors. They account for about half (47%) of anterior mediastinal tumors. About one third of these are associated with myasthenia gravis. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast is the standard diagnostic modality. Thymomas appear as round or oval masses in early stages but irregular shapes with calcifications occurring in later stages. They can invade surrounding structures including mediastinal fat, pleura, major blood vessels and nerves. Fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy or open biopsy is used to obtain tissue diagnosis. Masaoka-Koga classification is currently used to stage thymomas. All thymomas should be considered for resection due to their malignant potential. A complete resection is a major prognostic factor and every effort should be made to achieve this even if this means resection and reconstruction of a major thoracic structure. Median sternotomy is the standard approach for thymoma resection. A number of minimally invasive techniques are used in selective centers. While stage I and II tumors undergo primary surgery, preoperative chemotherapy appears to increase the chances of complete resection for stage III and IVa tumors. Postoperative radiation could be considered for patients with residual disease. Excellent 5 and 10-year survival rates are noted for completely resected early stage thymomas.
CONCLUSIONS
Thymic malignancies are rare tumors. Standards have recently been achieved to allow better communication and promote collaborative research. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, but a multimodality approach is useful for many patients.
Topics: Humans; Incidence; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Thymoma; Thymus Neoplasms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 23769581
DOI: No ID Found -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... May 2013This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the combined endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STUDY OBJECTIVES
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the combined endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) techniques and clarify its current role for the mediastinal lymph node staging of lung cancer.
METHODS
Medline, Web of Science, Elsevier and Ovid were searched to identify suitable studies up to 15th July 2012. Two investigators independently reviewed articles and extracted data. All EBUS-TBNA plus EUS-FNA studies for the mediastinal node staging of lung cancer were systematically reviewed. Sensitivity, specificity and other accuracy measures were pooled using random-effect models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarise overall test performance.
RESULTS
Eight studies met our inclusion criteria. The estimated summary measures for quantitative analysis of EBUS-TBNA plus EUS-FNA for mediastinal nodal staging of lung cancer were sensitivity, 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.90); specificity, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00); positive likelihood ratio, 51.77 (95% CI, 22.53-118.94); negative likelihood ratio, 0.15 (95% CI, 0.09-0.25); diagnostic odds ratio, 416.83 (95% CI, 140.08-1240.31); and area under the curve (AUC), 0.99.
CONCLUSIONS
The current evidence suggests that the combined technique is more sensitive than EBUS-TBNA or EUS-FNA alone. The diagnostic power of this combined technique is accurate. As an almost completely minimally-invasive examination, EUS-FNA plus EBUS-TBNA may replace more invasive methods for evaluating mediastinal node staging of lung cancer.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration; Endosonography; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Nodes; Mediastinum; Neoplasm Staging; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 23481511
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.02.008 -
European Journal of Cardio-thoracic... Oct 2016The benefits of different methods of lymphadenectomy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain controversial. Herein, we performed a systematic review... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The benefits of different methods of lymphadenectomy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain controversial. Herein, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing survival benefits of systematic nodal dissection (SND) with those of lymph nodal sampling (LNS) and lobe-specific nodal dissection (L-SND). PubMed, OVID, EBSCO and Springer were searched up to August 2015 for English language studies. Data of selected studies were extracted. Study quality, publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed. Analysis was performed using a random-effects model. A total of 12 studies were identified [4 randomized prospective clinical trials (RCTs) and 8 observational trials] that reported surgical outcomes of 3955 patients with resectable clinical N2 negative NSCLC: 2142 underwent SND and 1813 underwent LNS/L-SND. In the cohort studies, the SND group had a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) [hazard ratios (HRs), 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.5] and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates (HR, 1.27; 95% CI 1.03-1.58). The pooled HR from RCTs showed a consistent tendency in terms of OS (HR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.94-1.35) and RFS (HR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.82-1.19), in spite of a non-significant difference. In subgroup analyses, the SND group had a statistically significant improvement in OS (HR, 1.40; 95% CI 1.12-1.76) and RFS (HR, 1.5; 95% CI 1.09-2.08) in cohort studies, and a consistent tendency of OS in RCTs (HR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.93-1.35) with non-significant difference. However, there was no significant difference in OS (HR, 1.02; 95% CI 0.66-1.57) and RFS (HR, 1.11; 95% CI 0.87-1.42) between the SND and L-SND group. In early-stage NSCLC patients, LNS was associated with inferior survival rates, while L-SND seemed to provide equal survival benefits compared with SND, and the indications need to be identified.
Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Node Excision; Neoplasm Staging; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 27107044
DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezw083 -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Aug 2022Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the thymus is a rare disease. The present meta-analysis aims at accumulating current evidence to explore the...
BACKGROUND
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the thymus is a rare disease. The present meta-analysis aims at accumulating current evidence to explore the clinical characteristics, treatments, and prognoses of thymic MALT lymphoma.
METHODS
We searched seven databases for studies published between the start date of database establishment and September 15, 2021. We included studies of patients with histological diagnoses and excluded those without data specifically on thymic MALT lymphoma. The quality was analyzed using an assessment tool. All data were tabulated. Pooled proportion was obtained using random-effects model. Statistical analysis was performed on R statistic software.
RESULTS
Overall, 52 case reports and 13 case series were eligible. The quality of case reports was inferior to that of case series in terms of selection (P<0.001). Based on the analysis of patients in the case reports, age, gender, concurrent diseases, and tumor size did not differ between limited-stage and advanced-stage cases. Surgery is the mainstay to treat thymic MALT lymphoma. The surgical approach and extent did not influence the occurrence of events. Patients at Ann Arbor stage I were prone to not receiving postoperative therapy (P=0.011), though it may not reduce the occurrence of events (P=0.637). The five-year overall survival (OS) rate and five-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate were 97.2% and 88.4%, respectively. Patients with advanced-stage disease were more likely to suffer events (P=0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Thymic MALT lymphoma is an extremely rare disease with a favorable prognosis. Currently available evidence is insufficient to draw solid judgments about treatment and prognosis. However, patients may benefit if thymectomy is chosen as the primary treatment. In some patients, lymph node sampling or dissection should be considered. In addition, if the patient is at an advanced-stage, postoperative therapy should be considered.
PubMed: 36071772
DOI: 10.21037/jtd-22-81 -
Surgical Oncology Sep 2015The uptake of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has increased vastly over the last decade, with proven short-term benefits over an open approach. The aim of this... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
The uptake of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has increased vastly over the last decade, with proven short-term benefits over an open approach. The aim of this pooled analysis was to compare clinical outcomes of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) performed in the prone and lateral decubitus positions. A systematic literature search (2000-2015) was undertaken for publications that compared patients who underwent MIE in the lateral decubitus (LD) or prone (PR) positions. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for the effect size of LD positioning on continuous variables and Pooled odds ratios (POR) for discrete variables. Ten relevant publications comprising 723 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy were included; 387 in the LD group and 336 in the PR group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of in-hospital mortality, total morbidity, anastomotic leak, chylothorax, laryngeal nerve palsy, average operative time, and length hospital stay. LD MIE was associated with a non-significant increase in pulmonary complications (POR = 1.65; 95% C.I. 0.93 to 2.92; P = 0.09), and significant increases in estimated blood loss (WMD = 36.03; 95% 14.37 to 57.69; P = 0.001) and a reduced average mediastinal lymph node harvest (WMD = -2.17; 95% C.I. -3.82 to -0.52; P = 0.01) when compared to prone MIE. Pooled analysis suggests that prone MIE is superior to lateral decubitus MIE with reduced pulmonary complications, estimated blood loss and increased mediastinal lymph node harvest. Further studies are needed to explain performance-shaping factors and their influence on oncological clearance and short-term outcomes.
Topics: Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Humans; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Patient Positioning; Prognosis; Survival Rate
PubMed: 26096374
DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2015.06.001