Michele Loizzi

Mesothelin family proteins and diagnosis of mesothelioma: analytical evaluation of an automated immunoassay and preliminary clinical results.

Abstract Background: Studies have suggested that soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) can be used as a serum marker of malignant mesothelioma. Methods: We assessed the analytical performance of the Mesomark (Fujirebio Diagnostic) two-step ELISA on an automated analyser and performed a preliminary clinical evaluation. The precision of the assay and the in vitro effect of interfering substances on SMRP concentrations were investigated. The serum marker was analysed in 109 healthy subjects never exposed to asbestos, 26 healthy subjects exposed to asbestos, 33 patients with asbestosis, 33 with asbestos-related pleural plaques, 10 with non-malignant pleural diseases, 30 with lung cancer and 24 with histological diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. Results: Using the International Mesothelioma Interest Group classification, there were nine stage IV, two stage III, four stage II and nine stage I patients. SMRP concentrations of 4.75, 11.0 and 14 nmol/mL showed a total imprecision of 3.5%, 3.1% and 3.8%. The detection limit was 0.035 nmol/mL; the mean SMRP concentration of 0.63 nmol/mL was associated with a coefficient of variation of 10%. There was no effect (p>0.05) of interfering substances. Serum samples from patients with established pleural mesothelioma had significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations of SMRP than control healthy and patient groups. Conclusions: SMRP measured on automated systems could be useful for the diagnosis of mesothelioma in routine clinical practice. Clin Chem Lab Med 2007;45:634–8.

Surgical treatment of a rare case of tracheal inflammatory pseudotumor in pediatric age

Tracheal inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare solid lesion with an unpredictable biological course. Treatment can vary and surgical resection may sometimes be necessary, even in pediatric age. We report the case of a 12-year-old male patient who presented to our institution with sudden dyspnoea after some months of wheezing and cough, wrongly considered and treated as asthma. Neck-chest CT-scan and fiberbronchoscopy showed an intraluminal tracheal mass, originating from the left antero-lateral wall at the level of the 5th cartilagineous tracheal ring, involving three rings, that was removed by rigid bronchoscopy. Histopathology revealed a tracheal IPT. Due to rapid tendency to recurrence of the lesion, two more endoscopic recanalizations were performed, but a new recurrence appeared, with CT evidence of transmural involvement of the tracheal wall. Resection of the three involved tracheal rings and termino-terminal tracheal anastomosis were successfully performed through cervicotomy and sternal split. CT-scan and fiberbronchoscopy at 17 months from surgery show a stable tracheal lumen without signs of recurrence. A tracheal IPT should be suspected in any pediatric patients with tracheal mass and asthmatic symptoms. After radical removal prognosis is generally excellent and recurrences after tracheal resection are rare.

Acute Intrathoracic Gastric Volvulus from a Diaphragmatic Hernia after Left Splenopancreatectomy: Report of a Case

Intrathoracic gastric volvulus is a rare event. It occurs when the stomach undergoes organoaxial torsion in the chest, caused either by concomitant enlargement of the hiatus or by a diaphragmatic hernia. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in fatal complications such as gastric ischemia, perforation, and hemorrhage. We report a case of intrathoracic localization of an acute and incarcerated organoaxial gastric volvulus caused by a left-sided diaphragmatic hernia resulting from a diaphragmatic injury. The patient had undergone a left splenopancreatectomy 4 years earlier for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. We performed an emergency left thoracotomy with reduction of the acute volvulus, resection of the adhesions, and exeresis of an inflammatory mass from the omentum, with good results. The mechanisms of volvulus and diaphragmatic hernia with the relative diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed after this case report.

Propranolol as first-line treatment of a severe subglottic haemangioma

Subglottic haemangioma (SGH) is a rare, benign tumour in children, which is potentially life-threatening because of airway obstruction. We report the case of a full-term 2-month-old infant girl admitted to our institution with stridor, dyspnoea and oxygen desaturation caused by a SGH and treated with propranolol. Neck-chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a contrast-enhancing, 10-mm, subglottic elliptic lesion, referable to SGH. Pre-treatment fibrobronchoscopy showed a sub-occlusive SGH closing more than 75% of the laryngotracheal airway. In agreement with our neonatologists and ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, we decided to begin oral propranolol therapy, which rapidly and dramatically improved respiratory symptoms. Fibrobronchoscopy six days after treatment confirmed a reduction of subglottic narrowing. Six months later the patient is doing well and without respiratory symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the successful treatment with propranolol of an SGH obstructing more than 75% of the airway. The case is evidence of the effectiveness of oral propranolol as first-line treatment in the management of severely-obstructive paediatric SGH and the importance of CT and fibrobronchoscopy in the diagnosis; it also demonstrates the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation between thoracic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, neonatologists and ENT specialists in the treatment of these patients.

Tracheal Resection With Patient Under Local Anesthesia and Conscious Sedation

The authors describe the case of a woman with a 2-year history of dyspnea and stridor caused by a tracheal hamartoma. The patient underwent tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis under monitored local anesthesia and conscious sedation, which was achieved by boluses of ketamine and midazolam. Local anesthesia was obtained by the use of stepwise local infiltration of 2% lidocaine and 7.5 mg/mL ropivacaine during the operation. The patient remained awake during the entire procedure, thus permitting the movement of the vocal cords to be monitored. Mechanical ventilation was never required. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient did not describe having any discomfort.

Early and late outcome after surgical treatment of acquired non-malignant tracheo-oesophageal fistulae

OBJECTIVES Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a rare, life-threatening condition. We report our results of surgical treatment and evaluation of the outcome of acquired non-malignant TOF. METHODS Twenty-five patients (aged 49 ± 21 years) with TOF were operated on between 2001 and 2011. Tracheo-oesophageal fistula was due to prolonged intubation/tracheostomy (84%), was secondary to other surgery (8%) or trauma (4%) or was idiopathic (4%). The tracheal defect was 2.4 ± 1.3 cm long and was associated with tracheal stenosis in seven (28%) patients. Surgical treatment consisted of direct suturing of the oesophageal defect in two layers (or end-to-end oesophageal resection and anastomosis in one case) associated with tracheal suturing (n = 15; 60%), tracheal resection and anastomosis (n = 8; 32%) or covering of a large tracheal defect by an intercostal muscle flap or by a resorbable patch with muscle apposition (n = 2; 8%). The surgical approach was cervicotomy (n = 14; 56%), cervicotomy plus median sternotomy or split (n = 6; 24%), thoracotomy (n = 4; 16%) or cervicotomy plus sternal spit plus thoracotomy (n = 1; 4%). In 18 (72%) cases a muscular flap was used and in six (24%) a protective tracheostomy was performed. RESULTS No perioperative deaths occurred. Morbidity occurred in eight (32%) patients; none of them required a second surgical look. At median follow-up of 41 months, the outcome was excellent or good for 22 patients (88%), two (8%) are still dependent on jejunostomy and tracheostomy for neurological diseases and one (4%) is under mechanical ventilation for end-stage respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS Surgical treatment of TOF is associated with good results in terms of control of acute symptoms and long-term outcome, particularly concerning oral intake and spontaneous breathing.

Biomarkers in malignant mesothelioma: diagnostic and prognostic role of soluble mesothelin-related peptide.

Soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) is a biomarker that has been proposed for differential diagnosis from pleural metastatic cancer, as well as prognosis and treatment monitoring of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SMRP in clinic management of MM. We assayed the SMRP concentrations in 354 subjects: 109 healthy volunteers with no history of exposure to asbestos, 26 patients with previous occupational asbestos exposure but who were free from pleural or parenchymal disease, 48 patients with asbestosis, 110 patients with pleural plaques, 25 patients with lung cancer, and 36 patients with MM. We also tested SMRP titers in 2 patients with MM at 5 different times of the disease, to evaluate the trend of the biomarker in the course of therapy. Our data confirm previous experiences with the use of SMRP as a diagnostic marker of MM. Low SMRP levels at diagnosis seem to have a positive prognostic significance.

Chest wall stabilization and reconstruction: short and long-term results 5 years after the introduction of a new titanium plates system

BACKGROUND We report short and long-term results with the dedicated Synthes(®) titanium plates system, introduced 5 years ago, for chest wall stabilization and reconstruction. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed (January 2010 to December 2014) 27 consecutive patients (22 males, 5 females; range 16-83 years, median age 60 years), treated with this system: primary [3] and secondary [8] chest wall tumor; flail chest [5]; multiple ribs fractures [5]; sternal dehiscence-diastasis [3]; sternal fracture [1]; sternoclavicular joint dislocation [1]; Poland syndrome [1]. Short-term results were evaluated as: operating time, post-operative morbidity, mortality, hospital stay; long-term results as: survival, plates-related morbidity, spirometric values, chest pain [measured with Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and SF12 standard V1 questionnaire]. RESULTS Each patient received from 1 to 10 (median 2) titanium plates/splints; median operating time was 150 min (range: 115-430 min). Post-operative course: 15 patients (55.6%) uneventful, 10 (37%) minor complications, 2 (7.4%) major complications; no post-operative mortality. Median post-operative hospital stay was 13 days (range: 5-129 days). At a median follow-up of 20 months (range: 1-59 months), 21 patients (78%) were alive, 6 (22%) died. Three patients presented long-term plates-related morbidity: plates rupture [2], pin plate dislodgment [1]; two required a second surgical look. One-year from surgery median spirometric values were: FVC 3.31 L (90%), FEV1 2.46 L (78%), DLCO 20.9 mL/mmHg/min (76%). On 21 alive patients, 7 (33.3%) reported no pain (VRS score 0), 10 (47.6%) mild (score 2), 4 (19.1%) moderate (score 4), no-one severe (score >4); 15 (71.5%) reported none or mild, 6 (28.5%) moderate pain influencing quality of life. CONCLUSIONS An optimal chest wall stabilization and reconstruction was achieved with the Synthes(®) titanium plates system, with minimal morbidity, no post-operative mortality, acceptable operating time and post-operative hospital stay. Long-term restoration of a normal respiratory function was achieved, with minimal plates-related morbidity and chest pain.

Pulmonary Infections of Surgical Interest in Childhood

Thoracic surgeons often treat children with infections: pneumonia with abscess and/or empyema, multiresistant or complicated tuberculosis, or parasitic and fungal infections. The pediatric patient with serious infection presents anatomic and metabolic-functional frailty. Anesthesiologists and surgeons must consider this aspect to reduce surgical impairment and improve outcome. This article reviews the causes, pathophysiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis, and management of pleuropulmonary infections of surgical interest in childhood.

Pulmonary and mediastinal paragangliomas: rare endothoracic malignancies with challenging diagnosis and treatment

Background Pulmonary and mediastinal paragangliomas are rare tumors that may have neuroendocrine activity or be non-functional, incidental, in asymptomatic patients, or causing mass effect symptoms. Although being low-grade tumors, they can display an aggressive behaviour, developing local infiltration and distant metastases. We report our experience with three endothoracic paragangliomas and a Literature review, to point out diagnostic difficulties and problems related to surgical treatment. Methods From 2009 to 2017, we treated 3 patients with histological diagnosis of paraganglioma: 2 pulmonary, 1 mediastinal. No one presented catecholamine-secreting syndromes; pulmonary cases were asymptomatic, while the mediastinal one had aspecific cough and dyspnea. Imaging diagnosis was based on chest computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. No patient had preoperative histological diagnosis. Intraoperative pathological examination was suggestive for malignancy: in pulmonary cases, wedge resection and lobectomy were performed; the middle mediastinal mass was completely removed after challenging dissection, isolation and section of numerous vascular pedicles. Results Postoperative course was uneventful in all cases. No patient received adjuvant treatments. At a median follow-up of 47 months (range, 6-102 months), two patients are alive, without local or distant recurrence; one patient died 6 months after surgery, due to disease progression. Conclusions Endothoracic paragangliomas, rare and often asymptomatic tumors, are of difficult diagnosis and should be considered malignant tumors, due to the potential aggressive behaviour of cases with high mitotic index and the frequent possibility of recurrence and metastases. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice and careful intraoperative manipulation is recommended, due to the high vascularity of these tumors, to prevent complications. After complete excision, long-term prognosis is generally good. However, even after surgical removal, a close, periodical and life-long follow-up is mandatory.