The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) organized a workshop dealing with lymph node staging in non-small cell lung cancer. The objective of this workshop was to develop guidelines for definitions and the surgical procedures of intraoperative lymph node staging, and the pathologic evaluation of resected lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Relevant peer-reviewed publications on the subjects, the experience of the participants, and the opinion of the ESTS members contributing on line, were used to reach a consensus. Systematic nodal dissection is recommended in all cases to ensure complete resection. Lobe-specific systematic nodal dissection is acceptable for peripheral squamous T1 tumors, if hilar and interlobar nodes are negative on frozen section studies; it implies removal of, at least, three hilar and interlobar nodes and three mediastinal nodes from three stations in which the subcarinal is always included. Selected lymph node biopsies and sampling are justified to prove nodal involvement when resection is not possible. Pathologic evaluation includes all lymph nodes resected separately and those remaining in the lung specimen. Sections are done at the site of gross abnormalities. If macroscopic inspection does not detect any abnormal site, 2-mm slices of the nodes in the longitudinal plane are recommended. Routine search for micrometastases or isolated tumor cells in hematoxylin-eosin negative nodes would be desirable. Randomized controlled trials to evaluate adjuvant therapies for patients with these conditions are recommended. The adherence to these guidelines will standardize the intraoperative lymph node staging and pathologic evaluation, and improve pathologic staging, which will help decide on the best adjuvant therapy.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2006

Chylothorax, an unusual mechanical complication after central venous cannulation in children.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗

PubMed2006

Nodal status at repeat mediastinoscopy determines survival in non-small cell lung cancer with mediastinal nodal involvement, treated by induction therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Remediastinoscopy is a valuable tool in restaging non-small cell lung cancer after induction therapy for mediastinal nodal involvement as it provides pathological evidence of response and may select patients for subsequent thoracotomy. However, long-term survival data after remediastinoscopy are scarce. METHODS: From November 1994 to April 2003, a remediastinoscopy was performed in 32 patients (29 men, 3 women) after induction therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Mean age was 67.8 years (range, 47-83). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given in 26 patients and chemoradiotherapy in 6. Follow-up data were completed in January 2005. RESULTS: Remediastinoscopy was technically feasible in all patients. There were five false-negative remediastinoscopies, resulting in a sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 84%. Follow-up was complete in all patients. Median survival time for the whole group was 21 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-33). Median survival time in patients with a positive remediastinoscopy was 7 months (95% CI 5-9), with a negative remediastinoscopy 41 months (95% CI 13-69), and with a false-negative remediastinoscopy 24 months (95% CI 5-43). The difference between positive and negative remediastinoscopies was highly significant (p=0.003). In the combined group of patients with positive and false-negative remediastinoscopies (n=17), median survival time was 8 months (95% CI 3-13). The difference with negative remediastinoscopy remained significant (p=0.012). In a multivariate analysis, including sex, age, histology and nodal status at repeat mediastinoscopy, only nodal status was a significant independent prognostic factor (p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Remediastinoscopy is a valuable restaging procedure after induction therapy. Prognosis is poor in patients with persisting mediastinal nodal involvement, proven at repeat mediastinoscopy.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Prognostic value of smoking status in operated non-small cell lung cancer.

Despite the indisputable link between smoking and the increased risk for lung cancer, the inclusion of this factor in prognostic survival analysis has been scarce. Important clinical questions regarding the smoking status are the basis of this study and are as follow: what is the prognostic benefit of having been a non-smoker or having stopped smoking prior to developing lung cancer and what is the prognostic benefit of smoking cessation at the time of diagnosis of lung cancer? Cigarette smoking status of 311 patients operated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by a single surgeon was determined based on two independent questionnaires taken prospectively prior to lung operation. Of all patients analysed, 169 (54.3%) were current smokers, 25 (8.0%) were non-smokers, 82 (26.4%) were former smokers and 35 (11.3%) were recent quitters. A Cox multiple regression model was used to test the prognostic value of smoking status on survival together with other relevant clinicopathological factors. For overall survival, older age (P = 0.011), presence of lymph node metastases (P < 0.001) and current smoking (P = 0.001) were independent predictors of poor prognosis, while non-smokers (relative risk = 0.447, 95% confidence interval = 0.206-0.970, P = 0.042), former smokers (relative risk = 0.543, 95% confidence interval = 0.350-0.843, P = 0.006) and recent quitters (relative risk = 0.340, 95% confidence interval = 0.164-0.705, P = 0.004) had a significant better prognosis compared to current smokers (referent group). Similar results were obtained for disease-free survival. These results indicate that smoking cessation is beneficial for lung cancer patients at any time point prior to lung operation and current smoking at the time of operation is associated with poor prognosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The prospect of biologic staging of non-small-cell lung cancer.

The reductionistic approach to cancer research has led to an enormous amount of information and publications regarding the molecular biologic processes that take place in cancer tissue. However, the specific influence of this information on clinical practice has been limited. With the advent of new reductionistic tools like the transcriptomic and proteomic technologies, many would argue that further advances in the field of lung cancer research will be dominated by advances on the technical level. However, we anticipate that the most revolutionary advances will be those at a conceptual level. Medical science has always been reductionistic in essence, reducing and analyzing the composing elements of our complex biologic machinery, overlooking the fact that the interrelation among a set of simple determinants creates a new dimension of characteristics and functions. Problems emerging from a reductionistic approach are heterogeneity and variability. This review addresses the current conceptual problems in the field of lung cancer biology and provides a new conceptual model based on recent publications.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

PubMed2004

Posterior tracheal wall laceration after blunt neck trauma in children: a case report and review of the literature.

Adults seem to be more vulnerable than children to tracheal lacerations. Tracheal lacerations have been described particularly after surgical procedures and penetrating trauma, but they may also result from minor blunt trauma. We report the case of a 7-year-old boy who sustained a posterior tracheal wall laceration after a direct frontal fall on a wooden strut. We also review the literature on posterior wall tracheal laceration as an isolated feature after blunt cervical trauma in children, the diagnostic features and management options.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2003

Cardiac complications after noncardiac thoracic surgery: an evidence-based current review.

Despite advances in perioperative management, thoracic surgery remains a high-risk procedure for many patients. A systematic review of cardiac complications after thoracic surgery is presented. Most reviews about noncardiac thoracic surgery discuss postoperative analgesic regimens and pulmonary complications. In the present review, we also discuss atrial fibrillation as the most frequently encountered cardiac side effect. An evidence-based approach to other complications, such as myocardial ischemia, pulmonary edema, embolism, and shunt, is described. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for daily practice.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Malignant pleural mesothelioma with heterologous osteoblastic elements: computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography imaging characteristics of a rare tumor.

The imaging findings of a rare mixed type of malignant mesothelioma of the pleura with heterologous bone stroma in a patient without a previous history of asbestos exposure are reported. Imaging findings of this type of bone-forming pleural mesothelioma are scarcely reported in the literature, with only a few case reports describing findings on conventional radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. To the best of our knowledge, no positron emission tomography imaging characteristics of this type of mesothelioma have been previously reported.

Contrast Media↗