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Biomedical subjects

G Veronesi

Publications and source records attributed to G Veronesi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Technique, results and impact of induction chemotherapy in sleeve lobectomy for lung cancer].

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of continuous nonabsorbable (3/0 polypropylene) sutures for sleeve lobectomy, and the influence of induction chemotherapy on postoperative outcome in patients with lung malignancies. METHODS: A review of a prospective database of a single surgeon identified 41 consecutive patients who underwent sleeve lobectomy from May 1998 to July 2003. Bronchial reconstruction was done placing two 3/0 polypropylene sutures at the far side of the cartilaginous wall and subsequently fixed. Afterwards, two running sutures were performed in order to obtain a telescopic anastomosis. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (59%) underwent induction chemotherapy. There were 31 right upper, 3 left lower ''reverse'', and 7 left upper sleeve lobectomies with radical lymph node dissection. Eight patients underwent reconstruction of the pulmonary artery. There were 34 non-small cell lung cancers, 3 limited small cell lung cancers, 1 neuroendocrine large cell carcinoma, and 3 bronchial carcinoid tumors. N2, N1, and N0 diseases were found in 13, 12 and 16 patients, respectively. Post-operative morbidity and mortality were 14.5% (n=6) and 4.8% (n=2) (1 patient, 4%, after induction chemotherapy). The rate of postoperative anastomotic complications was 2.4% (n=1). Late bronchial stenosis developed in 3 cases, but all were successfully medically treated. Twenty-nine patients are still alive, 27 without evidence of disease. The overall 2-year probability of survival (Kaplan-Meier) was 59%. Induction chemotherapy did not influence postoperative morbidity/mortality (chi2 test: P=0.64/P=0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous nonabsorbable suture for sleeve lobectomy is quick and technical easy to perform, with low postoperative morbidity/mortality; induction chemotherapy does not influence postoperative outcome in these patients.

Adult↗

Extended redo sleeve resection for postoperative dehiscence after right upper bronchoplasty.

Complete anastomotic dehiscence after sleeve resection is a dramatic and often fatal event requiring an extremely aggressive and risky treatment; completion pneumonectomy represents the sole effective therapeutic option to rescue the patient, but postoperative mortality after this procedure is high. We report a case successfully treated by extended redo carinal sleeve resection after full bronchial dehiscence. This option should be taken into account in such a complication, mainly in patient with compromised respiratory function.

Bronchi↗

Salvage lung metastasectomy by video-assisted transmanubrial approach.

Surgical treatment of lung metastasis has become common, but extended pulmonary metastasectomy is not accepted worldwide. We report a case of huge apical pulmonary metastasis of renal cancer with involvement of the subclavian vessels associated to two additional lesions of the lower lobe. All lung deposits were successfully removed through a combination of a transmanubrial cervicothoracic approach for the apical lesion and a videothoracoscopic technique for the nodules of the lower lobe.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography improves preoperative staging of resectable lung metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is now a procedure of proven clinical value in the staging of primary lung cancer. This study evaluated the role of PET in the preoperative assessment of resectable lung metastases. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with previously treated malignancy and proven or suspected lung metastases, deemed resectable at computed tomography scan, were investigated with 89 preoperative PET procedures. Primary tumor sites were: gastrointestinal in 32 cases, sarcoma in 13, urologic in 14, breast in 8, head and neck in 7, gynecologic in 5, thymus in 5, other in 5. Seventy lung resections were performed in 68 patients of whom only 54 proved to be lung metastasis, 7 were primary lung tumors, and 9 were benign lesions. RESULTS: In 19 cases (21%) lung surgery was excluded on the basis of PET scan results due to extrapulmonary metastases (11 cases), primary site recurrence (2), mediastinal adenopathy (2), or benign disease (4). All mediastinal node metastases (7 cases) were detected by PET with a sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value for mediastinal staging of 100%, 96%, and 100%, respectively, versus 71%, 92%, and 95% of the computed tomography scan. In the group of patients who underwent lung resection, PET sensitivity for detection of lung metastasis was 87%. CONCLUSIONS: PET scan proved to be a valuable staging procedure in patients with clinically resectable lung metastasis and changed the therapeutic management in a high proportion of cases.

Female↗

Fluoro-deoxi-glucose uptake and angiogenesis are independent biological features in lung metastases.

Neoangiogenesis and enhanced glucose metabolism in neoplasms are likely to be activated by the same biochemical stimulus; hypoxia. A correlation between these two parameters has been postulated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Fluoro-desoxi-glucose uptake at positron emission tomography scan and angiogenesis in lung metastasis. Fluoro-desoxi-glucose activity, expressed as a standard uptake value, and microvessel intratumoural density, were retrospectively calculated in a series of 43 lung metastasis resected in 19 patients. Primary sites were colorectal cancer in 16 metastases, sarcoma in eight, gynaecological in four and other sites in 15. The correlation between the two parameters was tested by logistic regression and multivariate analysis. Positron emission tomography scan was positive in 17 patients (sensitivity 89%). No correlation was observed between standard uptake value and microvessel intratumoural density in this series of lung metastasis. Positron emission tomography negative and positive nodules presented comparable value of microvessel intratumoural density (12.9 vs 11.3). Standard uptake value was significantly correlated with nodules size and was higher in colon cancer metastasis than in sarcoma ones. Microvessel intratumoural density was independent from nodule size but significantly higher in sarcoma than in colon cancer metastasis. The lack of correlation was confirmed by multivariate analysis after adjustment for tumour type and nodules size. The present study demonstrated that positron emission tomography scan is positive in a high proportion of patients regardless of microvessel density. Glucose uptake and angiogenesis appear to be independent biological features in lung metastasis. This observation may have implications for future antiangiogenic therapies.

Adult↗

Low morbidity of bronchoplastic procedures after chemotherapy for lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if induction chemotherapy, with or without irradiation, represents an additional risk factor for early and late morbidity and perioperative mortality in bronchoplastic procedures for lung cancers. METHODS: From January 1998 to January 2001, 27 patients underwent a bronchial sleeve resection after induction treatment at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. They represent 7% of lung cancer resections (387) and 27% of those performed after neoadjuvant treatment (100 cases). Histology was: 17 epidermoid carcinoma, 8 adenocarcinoma and 2 SCLC. Twenty-four patients (89%) received a preoperative cisplatin based polichemotherapy, and three cases (11%) a chemo-radiation therapy. A right sleeve lobectomy or bilobectomy was undertaken in 21 patients (78%) and a left lobectomy in 6 (22%). A resection of tracheal carina was associated in three cases and a vascular resection in 10 (five vena cava and five pulmonary artery). Twelve patients (44%) received adjuvant mediastinal irradiation. Perioperative morbidity of the study group (group 1) was compared with that of patients submitted to sleeve resection without neoadjuvant treatment (group 2), or standard pneumonectomy after induction treatment (group 3). RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths. A major perioperative complication occurred in two patients (7%) of group 1, one patient of group 2 (3.5%), and four in group 3 (17%). Among patients of the study group, no anastomotic dehiscence or pleural empyema were observed. Only one late anastomotic stricture occurred after postoperative radiation treatment. No significant difference in early and late complication rate was found between the three groups of patients. High rate of complete resection was achieved (93%) in patients of the study group and extent of nodal dissection was similar between sleeve resections and pneumonectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemotherapy or combination of chemo-radio therapy is not associated with an additional risk of anastomotic complications in bronco and angioplastic procedures. Parenchyma sparing resection is a valid option for selected patients with locally advanced lung cancer after induction treatment. A longer follow up is necessary to evaluate efficacy of the procedure in term of survival and local control.

Adult↗

Postpneumonectomy-like syndrome after chemoradiation therapy for lymphoma.

Postpneumonectomy syndrome (PPS) is a rare complication of pneumonectomy due to an excessive mediastinal shift producing compression of the main bronchus or a lobe bronchus on the aorta or the spine. We report an exceptional case in which an extreme mediastinal shift was due to fibrosis and complete atelectasis of the left lung, as a complication of chemoradiation treatment for recurrent mediastinal Hodgkin's lymphoma. This condition, associated with a further recurrence of the disease, indicated a postpneumonectomy-like syndrome.

Adult↗

Effect of raloxifene on IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

The effect on the IGF system of 60 mg and 600 mg daily of raloxifene administered for 2 weeks prior to surgery was investigated in 37 postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Raloxifene significantly decreased insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) as compared to placebo (P < 0.05) with no dose-response relationship. No significant change was observed in IGFBP-3, while the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratio was decreased by treatment, with a statistically significant effect only for the higher dose. Given that high plasma levels of IGF-I have been suggested as a risk factor for breast cancer, these findings provide further support for the potential activity of raloxifene in breast cancer prevention.

Aged↗

Cardiac dislocation after extended pneumonectomy with pericardioplasty.

Two cases of cardiac dislocation occurred after intrapericardial right pneumonectomy with extended pericardiectomy and radical nodal dissection in spite of proper reconstruction with a pericardial fat flap in one case and with a Gore-tex prosthesis in the other. In the case of major pericardial excision resulting in extensive mobilisation of the SVC a complete reconstruction of pericardium and mediastinal pleura is recommended in order to prevent cardiac dislocation.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

Life-threatening giant mediastinal goiter: a surgical challenge.

Mediastinal goiter is a well known benign disease, usually resectable through a cervical approach with minimal morbidity and mortality. Only occasionally a median sternotomy or a lateral thoracotomy may be required. The present case is worthy of presentation because of the exceptional dimension of the disease and the surgical challenge that it presented. In a 72-year-old woman a large intrathoracic goiter of the right thorax caused a severe dyspnoea due to an important contralateral mediastinal shift with compression of the lung, superior vena cava system and trachea. At surgical exploration, through a cervico-sternotomic approach, the mediastinal structures dislocation and the strong adherences between the anomalous neovascularized capsula of the mass and the surrounding structures, complicated the surgical dissection. An accidental lesion of the innominate artery required its reimplantation on the ascending aorta. An immense mass, was finally removed and pathological examination revealed a rare case of neovascularized, pseudosarcomatoid capsula among a benign hyperplastic proliferation. In spite of its benign nature, a giant goiter caused a life-threatening compression of the respiratory tract and lung parenchyma in this patient. The dimension of the lesions, the mediastinal anatomy alterations and the severe intraoperative haemorrhage represented major technical difficulties during surgical resection.

Aged↗

Huge malignant localized fibrous tumor of the pleura.

Localized fibrous tumor is an unfrequent mesenchymal neoplasm. The malignant variant of the pleura is exceptional and differential diagnosis with the more frequent benign type or with other neoplasms such as soft tissue sarcoma and mesothelioma is rarely possible in a preoperative setting. The best treatment of this disease is radical surgical resection. No definitive data exist about the role of chemotherapy. We report a case of a giant right intrathoracic mass whose preoperative diagnosis, from an open biopsy, was consistent with sarcoma and, in a second review, with fibrous tumor of the pleura without any indication about malignancy. A right pleuropneumonectomy and pericardial resection was performed through a right hemiclam-shell approach. Histology demonstrated an aggressive behaviour: high mitosis rate, Ki 67 of 34% and diffuse necrosis were present. In consideration of the apparent local radicality we did not perform any adjuvant treatment. Six months after the operation a wide local recurrence was evident and a systemic treatment with Ifosfamide and Adriamicina is still in progress. So far a good response has been documented. Preoperative diagnosis of malignancy has an important role as a therapeutic strategy in management of fibrous tumours of the pleura. When there is suspicion of a malignant form neoadjuvant chemotherapy can represent a further tool to control poorly differentiated and large tumors, and a wide surgical resection of the lesion must be performed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[The evaluation by video capillaroscopy of the efficacy of a Ginkgo biloba extract with L-arginine and magnesium in the treatment of trophic lesions in patients with stage-IV chronic obliterating arteriopathy].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of Ginkgo biloba extract with arginine and magnesium used for the treatment of trophic lesions in the lower limbs caused by both diabetic and non-diabetic microangiopathy. METHODS: A comparative study was carried out in 20 patients who were divided into two groups: 10 were treated with ASA plus Ginkgo biloba extract with arginine and magnesium and 10 with ASA plus conventional hemorheology. The observation time was extended to 6 months, taking into consideration patients with trophic lesions to the lower limbs suffering from diabetic and non-diabetic peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The evaluation was performed by clinical, ultrasonographic and perilesional video capillaroscopy monitoring. Ultrasonographic and video capillaroscopy instrumental methods were used because they provide a full picture of macro and microcirculatory conditions around lesions. RESULTS: The study showed the undoubted efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract with magnesium and arginine in relation to the following points: reduced healing times for the trophic lesion compared to the control group, improved painful symptoms, increased perilesional neoangiogenesis. No significant differences were observed from a Doppler ultrasonographic point of view or with regard to the claudication free interval. CONCLUSIONS: Ginkgo biloba extract with arginine and magnesium can improve the dynamics of cutaneous trophism in lesions caused by diabetic and non-diabetic microangiopathy.

Aged↗

[Transluminal percutaneous angioplasty of stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas; 24-month follow-up].

Stenosis is a common cause of the functional loss of vascular shunts used in chronic hemodialysis and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty represents the elective method to correct these anomalies. A total of 42 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties were performed, with a prospective study and follow-up lasting an average of 18 months, in 32 patients with insufficient blood flow of arteriovenous fistula. In over 90% of cases the procedure restored adequate hemodynamic conditions that remained unchanged during follow-up. The authors therefore conclude that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is an efficacious, easily performed and low-cost method that does not present major complications.

Adult↗

[Fetal surgery: state of the art].

After a major search of the more recent literature, the Authors present a critical examination of guidelines now in use for the surgical treatment in utero of numerous fetal abnormalities. Specifically, they underline not only ethical and deontological but also technical principles relating to this particular surgery. They are also involved in examining the depth all the more common surgical procedures used in different pathologies and in suggesting new lines of future development.

Ethics, Medical↗