Li-Han Hsu

Sex-associated differences in non-small cell lung cancer in the new era: is gender an independent prognostic factor?

BACKGROUND Women with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) appear to have better survival. This study aimed to evaluate sex differences in NSCLC in recent years. The true effect of gender on the overall survival was analyzed taking other prognostic factors into account. METHODS A cohort of consecutive NSCLC patients was prospectively enrolled from January 2002 to December 2005, and followed-up until December 2006. They were clinically and pathologically staged and underwent homogenous treatment algorithms. Demographics, histology, and disease stage between sexes were compared. The clinical prognostic factors to be analyzed in addition to gender included stage, age, smoking history and histology. The overall survival of females and males within relevant subgroups defined by smoking history and histology was also compared. RESULTS Of the 738 patients, 695 were analyzed with a definite stage (94.2%; 315 females and 380 males), which was similar in both sexes. Females were younger (median age: 59.5 years vs. 65.0 years; P<0.001) and more likely to have adenocarcinoma (81% vs. 60.5%; P<0.001). Patients with earlier stage, younger patients, never-smokers and females had better overall survival in univariate analyses and no significant survival difference was noted between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Multivariate analyses demonstrated age, smoking history and gender to have a hazard ratio 1.46 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.21-1.76; P<0.001), 1.27 (95% CI 0.97-1.65; P=0.082), and 1.18 (95% CI 0.90-1.55; P=0.226), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed the survival of never-smoker males with adenocarcinoma was similar to that of females. CONCLUSIONS There are sex-related differences in the clinico-pathologic characteristics and survival of NSCLC patients. The survival advantages of females could be attributed to the younger age and lower smoking prevalence. Never-smokers with adenocarcinoma should be given special attention regardless of sex as they imply better survival with different treatment outcomes.

Characteristics of integrated 18F-FDG PET/CT in Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.

Background: Pulmonary cryptococcosis is an uncommon cause of pulmonary nodules found by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scans. It is rarely reported but may mislead interpretation. Purpose: To describe the 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Material and Methods: The 18F-FDG PET/CT images of seven patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were evaluated. Results: The 18F-FDG PET/CT exams showed single or multiple nodular lesions. The standardized uptake values (SUV) in early images varied significantly for the seven patients (ranging from 2.2 to 11.6). Delayed SUVs showed significant increases in four patients. Conclusion: Pulmonary cryptococcosis mimics primary or metastatic lung cancer on 18F-FDG PET/CT scan. Tissue confirmation should be considered for any suspicious pulmonary nodules found on 18F-FDG PET/CT scan with an SUV score higher than 2.5, in order to avoid overdiagnosis or overstaging.

Transbronchial needle aspiration accurately diagnoses subcentimetre mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes detected by integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography

Objective and background:  Integrated PET and CT (PET/CT) is accurate in detecting hilar‐mediastinal metastases. However, it has a moderate positive predictive value, necessitating pathological verification, especially in situations in which the result would make a difference to treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) for hilar‐mediastinal lesions suspicious on PET/CT.

Multimodality Treatment and Long-Term Follow–Up of the Primary Pulmonary Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma

INTRODUCTION Primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a very rare subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer. Most cases are reported in Southeast Asia and are associated with Epstein-Barr virus infections. Because of its rare incidence, the optimal treatment and the results of long-term follow-up are not well understood. This study is an attempt to discover the multimodality treatment results of the primary pulmonary LELC. METHODS This retrospective study enrolled 21 patients with primary pulmonary LELC treated at 2 hospitals with a multimodality approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. RESULTS The median follow-up time is 5.9 years and the median survival is 6.4 years. The median overall survival for patients with stage III and with stage IV disease is 3.4 years. In early-stage primary pulmonary LELC, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy provided good treatment outcome. Advanced primary pulmonary LELC is relatively more chemosensitive and radiosensitive. CONCLUSION Patients with primary pulmonary LELC showed better prognosis than those with other types of non-small-cell lung cancer and achieved longer survival under multimodality treatment. This disease character is similar to that of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Accurate pathologic diagnosis is recommended before the treatment. For advanced diseases, platinum-based doublet chemotherapy can be considered the first-line treatment. Radiation dose should consider tumor location, and 5000 to 7000 cGy is frequently applied for pulmonary LELC.

Safety of interventional bronchoscopy through complication review at a cancer center

There have been rapid advances in the area of interventional bronchoscopy over the past 15 years, but associated complications have been rarely discussed. A longitudinal evaluation of the same operators performance at a cancer center is reported.

Novel use of a disposable curved stent insertion plastic device for silicone stent placement in patients with limited neck extension.

As granulation tissue formation frequently complicates the insertion of metallic tracheobronchial stents in patients with longer life expectancy, the inert silicone tracheobronchial stent remains the treatment of choice for inoperable benign tracheal stenosis. Similarly, the Y silicone stent insertion also plays an important role for refractory malignant stenoses involving the carina and tracheobronchial junction. The classic insertion method of a straight or Y silicone stent requires rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia with a hyperextended neck. This is not an option for patients with limited neck extension. We report a novel method of silicone stent insertion using a disposable curved stent insertion plastic device to solve the problem in 2 patients. The new device may have a role in managing patients with central airway obstruction but limited neck extension. As a valuable alternative to conventional rigid bronchoscope, it also adds to the ease of the silicone stent placement.

Extralobar Bronchopulmonary Sequestration Complicated by Nocardia Asteroides Infection: A Case Report

Bronchopulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital or acquired malformation of the lower respiratory tract. Sequestrations are classified anatomically as intralobar sequestration, located within the normal lobe, and extralobar sequestration, located outside the normal lobe and with its own visceral pleura. Pulmonary infection, mainly bacterial, is the most common complication of bronchopulmonary sequestration. Nocardiosis is characteristically thought as an opportunistic infection in immuno-compromised patients. Sex hormones can influence cell-mediated immunity and predispose to such infection. We report the case of a middle aged woman with a concurrent history of symptomatic endometriosis under long-term treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate, and in whom an extralobar sequestration complicated by Nocardia asteroides infection was diagnosed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.