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Translational Lung Cancer Research Aug 2021The current preferred approach for surgical mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma is video-assisted mediastinoscopy. An alternative technique in which...
BACKGROUND
The current preferred approach for surgical mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma is video-assisted mediastinoscopy. An alternative technique in which lymph nodes are resected instead of biopsied is video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) that is suggested to be superior in detecting N2 disease. Yet, evidence is conflicting and furthermore limited by sample size. The objective was to compare mediastinal staging through VAMLA and video-assisted mediastinoscopy.
METHODS
A single-center cohort study was conducted. All consecutive patients that underwent surgical mediastinal staging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma by VAMLA (2011 to 2018) were compared to historic video-assisted mediastinoscopy controls (2007 to 2011). Patients with negative surgical mediastinal staging underwent subsequent anatomical resection with systematic regional lymphadenectomy. Primary outcome was the sensitivity and negative predictive value for detecting N2 disease.
RESULTS
Two-hundred-sixty-nine video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomies and 118 video-assisted mediastinoscopies were performed. The prevalence of N2 disease was 20% and 26% respectively in the VAMLA and video-assisted mediastinoscopy group, while the rate of unforeseen pN2 resulting from lymph node dissection during anatomical resection was 4% and 11%, respectively. Invasive staging using VAMLA demonstrated superior sensitivity of 0.82 and a negative predictive value of 0.96 when compared to video-assisted mediastinoscopy (0.62 and 0.89, respectively), offering a 64% decrease in risk of unforeseen pN2 following anatomical resection. However, VAMLA is also associated with a 75% risk increase on complications (P=0.36).
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that performing invasive mediastinal lymph node assessment for staging of non-small-cell lung carcinoma, VAMLA should be the preferred technique with superior sensitivity and negative predictive value in detecting N2 disease. Though, VAMLA is also associated with an increased risk of complications.
PubMed: 34584863
DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-21-364 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Aug 2022Mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer occasionally causes postoperative accumulation of pleural effusion despite the preservation...
BACKGROUND
Mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer occasionally causes postoperative accumulation of pleural effusion despite the preservation of the mediastinal pleura. Transhiatal chest drainage has been reported to be useful for thoracic esophagectomy; however, its use in mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy remains unelucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transhiatal chest drainage in mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy.
METHODS
This retrospective study included patients who underwent mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer from 2018 to 2021. Transhiatal chest drainage involved the insertion of a 19-Fr Blake® drain from the abdomen to the left thoracic cavity through the hiatus. We assessed its effectiveness and safety by the daily drainage output, accumulation of postoperative pleural effusion, frequency of postoperative thoracentesis, and other complications. The drainage group comprising 24 patients was compared with the non-drainage group comprising 13 patients, in whom a transhiatal chest drainage tube was not placed during mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy.
RESULTS
The median daily output of the transhiatal chest drainage was 230 mL on day 1, 385 mL on day 2, and 313 mL on day 3. The number of patients with postoperative pleural effusion was significantly reduced from 10/13 (76.9%) in the non-drainage group to 4/24 (16.7%) in the drainage group (p = 0.001). The frequency of thoracentesis in the drainage group was significantly lower than that in the non-drainage group (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of other postoperative complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Transhiatal chest drainage could evacuate pleural effusion effectively and safely after mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy.
Topics: Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagectomy; Humans; Laparoscopes; Mediastinoscopes; Pleural Effusion; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36002867
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-022-01953-0 -
Case Reports in Rheumatology 2014A 46-year-old male patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis presented to our polyclinic with complaints of pain, swelling, and limitation in joint mobility in both...
A 46-year-old male patient diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis presented to our polyclinic with complaints of pain, swelling, and limitation in joint mobility in both ankles and erythema nodosum skin lesions in both pretibial sites. The sacroiliac joint graphy and the MRI taken revealed active and chronic sacroiliitis. On the thorax CT, multiple mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathies were reported. Mediastinoscopic excisional lymph node biopsy was taken and noncalcified granulomatous structures, lymphocytes, and histiocytes were determined on histopathological examination. The patients were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, and Löfgren's syndrome. NSAIDs, sulfasalazine, and low dose corticosteroid were started. Significant regression was seen in the patient's subjective and laboratory assessments.
PubMed: 24741443
DOI: 10.1155/2014/747698 -
Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic... Jan 2018Surgical staging of lung and pleural cancers is crucial for planning treatment and assessing prognosis. In some cases, we need to explore both the mediastinum and the...
Surgical staging of lung and pleural cancers is crucial for planning treatment and assessing prognosis. In some cases, we need to explore both the mediastinum and the pleural cavity to confirm or rule out tumor dissemination. The combination of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and thoracoscopy through a single transcervical incision allows the surgeon to widen the range of the exploration and improve the staging for lung and pleural cancers. VAMLA consists of complete removal of the mediastinal fat and lymph nodes of the subcarinal space, the right paratracheal and pretracheal areas, and the left paratracheal space. Once this mediastinal tissue is removed, the right mediastinal pleura can be identified and incised. A 30o thoracoscope is then inserted through the video-mediastinoscope into the pleural cavity to obtain samples of pleural fluid and biopsies of the parietal pleura and lung nodules, if present. In the case of left-sided thoracoscopy the access route to the left pleural cavity is anterior to the aortic arch, as for extended cervical mediastinoscopy. The combination of VAMLA and thoracoscopy is useful for exploring the mediastinum and the pleural space from a single incision and in the same surgical setting as the transcervical approach.
Topics: Biopsy; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes; Mediastinoscopy; Mediastinum; Neoplasm Staging; Pleural Cavity; Pleural Neoplasms; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; Thoracoscopy; Video-Assisted Surgery
PubMed: 29384599
DOI: 10.1510/mmcts.2018.004 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2020Patients with clinical N1 (cN1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on PET-CT imaging are often found to have occult mediastinal nodal involvement (N2-disease) at... (Review)
Review
Patients with clinical N1 (cN1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on PET-CT imaging are often found to have occult mediastinal nodal involvement (N2-disease) at invasive staging or resection although the PET-CT was negative on the mediastinum. Two multicenter prospective studies in patients with PET-negative mediastinum but suspected cN1-disease were performed to measure sensitivity of two invasive mediastinal staging strategies to detect mediastinal nodal disease, one with endosonography and one with video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) or video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA). Consecutive patients with operable and resectable cN1 (suspected) NSCLC underwent endosonography, if negative followed by mediastinoscopy in the first study (n=100). In the second study with identical inclusion criteria, patients (n=105) underwent a VAM or VAMLA [VAM(LA)]. All patients underwent FDG-PET and CT scan prior to invasive mediastinal staging. The primary study outcome was sensitivity to detect N2-disease. Secondary endpoints were the prevalence of N2-disease, negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of the invasive staging procedure. In both studies, 25% of patients with cN1 disease on imaging had eventually pathology-proven N2-disease. Endosonography alone reached a sensitivity (38%) to detect mediastinal nodal disease. Invasive mediastinal staging with VAM(LA) had a sensitivity of 73% to detect N2-disease. The NPV was 92% and accuracy 93%. At endosonography, a mean of 2.1 mediastinal nodal stations were biopsied 3.9 at VAM(LA). VAM(LA) has a satisfactory sensitivity of 73% to detect mediastinal nodal disease in cN1 lung cancer and could be the technique of choice for pre-resection mediastinal lymph node assessment in this patient group with a one in four chance of occult positive mediastinal nodes after negative PET-CT.
PubMed: 35118274
DOI: 10.21037/med.2019.12.01 -
Cancers Sep 2022(1) Background: The number of chest X-rays that are performed in the perioperative window of thoracic surgery varies. Many clinics X-ray patients daily, while others... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: The number of chest X-rays that are performed in the perioperative window of thoracic surgery varies. Many clinics X-ray patients daily, while others only perform X-rays if there are clinical concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the evidence of perioperative X-rays following thoracic surgery and estimate the clinical value with regard to changes in patient care. (2) Methods: A systematic literature research was conducted up until November 2021. Studies reporting X-ray outcomes in adult patients undergoing general thoracic surgery were included. (3) Results: In total, 11 studies (3841 patients/4784 X-rays) were included. The X-ray resulted in changes in patient care in 488 cases (10.74%). In patients undergoing mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy or thoracoscopic sympathectomy, postoperative X-ray never led to changes in patient care. (4) Conclusions: There are no data to recommend an X-ray before surgery or to recommend daily X-rays. X-rays immediately after surgery seem to rarely have any consequences. It is probably reasonable to keep requesting X-rays after drain removal since they serve multiple purposes and alter patient care in 7.30% of the cases.
PubMed: 36139521
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184361 -
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports 2014An eighty year old African-American female was evaluated for cough, chest pain, asymptomatic anemia and 21 pound weight loss over a six month period. Computerized...
CASE
An eighty year old African-American female was evaluated for cough, chest pain, asymptomatic anemia and 21 pound weight loss over a six month period. Computerized tomography (CT) revealed a spiculated 2.8 cm right upper lobe lung nodule, other smaller nodules and lymphadenopathy. Gallium scan revealed abnormal uptake of radiotracer in lacrimal, hilar and mediastinal glands. Broncho-alveolar lavage showed CD4/CD8 ratio of 2:1 with 15% lymphocytes. Biopsy of right upper lobe lesion and mediastinoscopic lymph node biopsy showed numerous matured uniform non-caseating granulomatous inflammation, however stains and culture for Acid fast bacilli (AFB)/fungal organisms were negative. Patient improved on oral steroids. Six months later she returned with worsening dyspnea and chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusions. Thoracocentesis revealed Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) positive adenocarcinoma cells and Video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) procedure revealed numerous pleural, pericardial, diaphragmatic metastasis. Biopsy also was positive for TTF1 adenocarcinoma and positive for Epidermal Growth Factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, however negative for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK). Talc pleurodesis was performed. She was treated with erlotinib while steroid was kept on hold. Initial tumor burden decreased but follow-up PET scan six months later showed progression of tumor with lymphadenopathy. After discussion with patient and family, patient opted for hospice care.
DISCUSSION
Oncocentric theory postulates sarcoidosis as an immunological reaction to dispersal of tumor antigen. Sarcocentric theory postulates that cell-mediated immune abnormalities induced by sarcoidosis in CD4 and CD8 cells is involved in the onset of lung cancer. Thus considerable controversy exists regarding sarcoidosis and malignancy. In our case, TTF1 adenocarcinoma cells from thoracocentesis suggest peripheral nodules in right upper lobe and lingula were likely metastatic, presenting as malignant pleural effusions. However if noncaseating granulomatous inflammation is expected as an immunological reaction to tumor antigen, it is very interesting to observe that initial tissue biopsy of primary right upper lobe mass and mediastinal lymph nodes showed matured uniform non-caseating granulomatous inflammation and no evidence of adenocarcinoma. This being said, it would be highly unlikely for sarcoidosis to progress to lung adenocarcinoma within six months. This adds further controversy to whether granulomatous inflammation is a precursor to future malignancy or whether this elderly African-American female was predisposed to develop granulomatous inflammation in presence of a tumor antigen. One can also speculate whether repeat tissue sampling from right upper lobe mass would have shown granulomatous inflammation or TTF1 adenocarcinoma.
CONCLUSION
While evidence is still lacking regarding association between sarcoidosis and lung adenocarcinoma, it is important for clinicians to exclude metastatic malignancy in patients exhibiting clinical and radiographic findings consistent with sarcoidosis.
PubMed: 26029525
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2013.12.008 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2019Surgical techniques remain the gold standard to diagnose and staging lung and pleural tumours. Non-invasive techniques have become more accurate but actually they are...
Surgical techniques remain the gold standard to diagnose and staging lung and pleural tumours. Non-invasive techniques have become more accurate but actually they are not enough to plan and evaluating prognosis of lung and pleural tumours. In some cases, we need to explore the pleural cavity and the mediastinal lymph node status to confirm or rule out tumour dissemination. The combination of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and thoracoscopy through a single transcervical incision allows the surgeon to widen the range of the exploration and to improve the staging for lung and pleural cancers. VAMLA allows to perform a complete lymphadenectomy of the subcarinal space, the right and pretracheal areas. We consider sampling more safety on the left side to avoid left recurrent nerve injuries. Once this mediastinal tissue is removed, the right mediastinal pleura can be identified and incised. Once mediastinal pleura is opened, a 5 mm 30º thoracoscope is inserted through the video- mediastinoscope into the pleural cavity. It allows to obtain samples of parietal or visceral pleural, pleural fluid or lung nodules if present. In case of left-sided thoracoscopy the access to the left pleural cavity is anterior to the aortic arch as for extended cervical mediastinoscopy. The combination of VAMLA and thoracoscopy is useful to explore the mediastinum and the pleural space from a single incision and in the same surgical setting through the transcervical approach.
PubMed: 35118249
DOI: 10.21037/med.2019.05.02 -
Journal of Medical Economics 2021Dynamic changes in the payer landscape have resulted in increasing out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs). Little is known about OOPC for patients undergoing biopsy for suspicious...
AIMS
Dynamic changes in the payer landscape have resulted in increasing out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs). Little is known about OOPC for patients undergoing biopsy for suspicious pulmonary nodules in the United States. This study seeks to describe the spectrum of OOPC for diagnostic tissue sampling for suspicious pulmonary nodule with an ultimate diagnosis of lung cancer.
METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of adult patients with a primary lung cancer diagnosis and treatment who underwent diagnostic biopsy for suspicious pulmonary nodule utilizing IBM Marketscan Databases (2013-2017). Claims data included both total hospital and physician billed costs, insurer reimbursement and OOPC. OOPCs were further stratified by type of biopsy, whether the patient underwent a single or multiple biopsies, and year of biopsy.
RESULTS
A total of 22,870 patients aged 18-95 who underwent diagnostic lung biopsy were identified. The gender ratio was 49:51 for female:male and 50% of patients were aged 65 or above. 78% of patients had a co-morbidity. The median OOPC for a patient receiving a single biopsy (any type) was $600, two biopsies: $706, three biopsies: $811, and four biopsies: $1,177. By biopsy type, the median OOPC for a patient requiring a single biopsy was $604 for percutaneous biopsy, $316 for surgical biopsy, $674 for bronchoscopic biopsy, and $545 for mediastinoscopic biopsy.
LIMITATIONS
Under-estimation of OOP expenses from costs of transportation, job loss, and loss of productivity. Over-estimation of OOPC from lack of individual claims adjudication.
CONCLUSIONS
The median OOPC for lung cancer patient requiring a single diagnostic lung biopsy is $600. Prior research indicates that almost 50% of the lung cancer patient population undergoes multiple biopsies increasing costs anywhere between 20% and 100% resulting in further patient financial burden for each episodic biopsy attempt. Further cost-effectiveness research is needed to differentiate various diagnostic technologies for lung biopsy.
Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Female; Health Expenditures; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Retrospective Studies; United States
PubMed: 34596001
DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2021.1988282 -
Thoracic Surgical Science Nov 2005Accurate mediastinal lymph node dissection during thoracotomy is mandatory for staging and for adjuvant therapy in lung cancer. Pre-therapeutic staging for neoadjuvant...
Accurate mediastinal lymph node dissection during thoracotomy is mandatory for staging and for adjuvant therapy in lung cancer. Pre-therapeutic staging for neoadjuvant therapy or for video assisted thoracoscopic resection of lung cancer is achieved usually by CT-scan and mediastinoscopy. However, these methods do not reach the accuracy of open nodal dissection. Therefore we developed a technique of radical video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA). This study was designed to show that VAMLA is feasible and that radicality of lymphadenectomy is comparable to the open procedure.In a prospective study all VAMLA procedures were registered and followed up in a database. Specimens of VAMLA were analysed by a single pathologist. Lymph nodes were counted and compared to open lymphadenectomy. The weight of the dissected tissue was documented. In patients receiving tumour resection subsequently to VAMLA, radicality of the previous mediastinoscopic dissection was controlled during thoracotomy.37 patients underwent video-assisted mediastinoscopy from June 1999 to April 2000. Mean duration of anaesthesia was 84.6 (SD 35.8) minutes.In 7 patients radical lymphadenectomy was not intended because of bulky nodal disease or benign disease. The remaining 30 patients underwent complete systematic nodal dissection as VAMLA.18 patients received tumour resection subsequently (12 right- and 6 left-sided thoracotomies). These thoracotomies allowed open re-dissection of 12 paratracheal regions, 10 of which were found free of lymphatic tissue. In two patients, 1 and 2 left over paratracheal nodes were counted respectively. 10/18 re-dissected subcarinal regions were found to be radically dissected by VAMLA. In 6 patients one single node and in the remaining 2 cases 5 and 8 nodes were found, respectively. However these counts also included nodes from the ipsilateral main bronchus. None of these nodes was positive for tumour.Average weight of the tissue that was harvested by VAMLA was 10.1 g (2.2-23.7, SD 6.3). An average number of 20.5 (6-60, SD 12.5) nodes per patient were counted in the specimens. This is comparable to our historical data from open lymphadenectomy.One palsy of the recurrent nerve in a patient with extensive preparation of the nerve and resection of 11 left-sided enlarged nodes was the only severe complication in this series.VAMLA seems to accomplish mediastinal nodal dissection comparable to open lymphadenectomy and supports video assisted surgery for lung cancer. In neoadjuvant setting a correct mediastinal N-staging is achieved.
PubMed: 21289921
DOI: No ID Found