Mirko Barone

Standardized uptake value and radiological density attenuation as predictive and prognostic factors in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules: our experience on 1,592 patients

BACKGROUND Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) increased detection of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs), changing the management based on radiological and clinical factors. When 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) was considered for the evaluation of nodules, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) more than 2.5 is used frequently as a cut off for malignancy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate SUVmax PET/CT and pulmonary attenuation patterns at MSCT in patients with SPN according to morphological and pathological characteristics of the lesion. METHODS A retrospective study on 1,592 SPN patients was carried out following approval by the Italian Registry of VATS Lobectomies. RESULTS All patients underwent VATS lobectomy. On histologic examination, 98.1% had primary or second metachronous primary lung cancers. In addition, 10.7% presented occult lymph node metastases (pN1 or pN2) on histological examination. Nodule attenuation on CT was associated with the histology of the lesion (p= 0.030); in particular, pure ground glass opacities (pGGOs) and partially solid nodules were related to adenocarcinomatous histotypes. Conversely, a significant relationship between SUVmax and age, nodule size, pathological node status (pN) was found (P=0.007, P=0.000 and P=0.002 respectively). CONCLUSIONS Nodule attenuation can predict the histology of the lesion whereas SUVmax may relate to the propensity to lymph node metastases.

Immune response after video-assisted thoracic surgery in non- small cell lung cancer patients

The effects of immunomodulation processes in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy are still debated; although, the reduced surgical stress of minimally invasive surgery is evident. The immunological repercussions could also influence the evolution of the disease and the prognosis of patients. The article aims to raise some points of reflection by considering available evidences and reiterating, once again, the prognostic utility of a minimally invasive procedure rather than classical approach.

Current role of standardized uptake value max -derived ratios in N2 fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography non-small cell lung cancer

Mediastinal staging is a crucial moment in management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In integrated pathways, 18-fluorine fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) is an indispensable imaging resource with its peculiarities and its limitations. A critical review of work up protocols would certainly help to standardize procedures with important reflections also on the diagnostic value of this examination. In this regard, new semi-quantitative and semi-qualitative indexes have been proposed with the aim of increasing the accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in mediastinal lymph node staging. These latter, such as SUVn/t and SUV indexes, seem to overcome the problem of spatial resolution and discrimination of malignancy by endorsing a new predictive and prognostic role.

National adoption of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy: the Italian VATS register evaluation

Background The expertise curve of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomies still stirs debate and controversy both because of the number of procedures to carry out and of the evaluation of the learning threshold. The purpose of our study was the examination of the variables related to the learning curve of the video-assisted approach, to establish what may be an expression of the technical maturity of the surgeon. Methods The National Register for VATS lobectomy built in 2013 was used to collect data from 65 Thoracic Surgery Units. Out of more than 3,700 patients enrolled, only information from Units with ≥100 VATS lobectomies were retrospectively analysed. Unpaired Students t-tests, Fishers exact tests, Pearsons χ2 were applied as needed. Cumulative summative analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to identify the expertise curve of VATS lobectomy. Results Ten institutions contributed a total of 1,679 patients, who were divided into three uniform groups according to the chronological sequence of surgery. The length of utility incision, the number of dissected lymph nodes and the operative time were not statistically significant (P=0.999, P=0.972 and P=0.307, respectively) among groups. Conversion to thoracotomy and postoperative air leaks occurred in 125 (7.44%) and 109 (6.49%) patients, gradually declined in Group 3 with statistical significance (P=0.048 and P=0.00086). Conclusions The conversion rate and the percentage of air leaks seem to define the expertise of VATS lobectomy, being linked to the ability to manage more complicated surgical cases or intraoperative adverse events.

Diagnostic performance of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the management of solitary pulmonary nodule: a meta-analysis

Background In the setting of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs), fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) is considered a useful non-invasive diagnostic tool though false positive (FP) and false negative (FN) results affects accuracy due to different conditions, such as inflammatory diseases or low-uptake neoplasms. Aim of this study is to evaluate overall diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for malignant pulmonary nodules. Methods A computerized research, including published articles from 2012 and 2017, was carried out. 18F-FDG-PET/CT overall sensitivity (Se), specificity (Spe), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic index and odds ratio were pooled. No selection-bias were found according to asymmetry test. Results A total of twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled Se, Spe, PLR, NLR, PPV, NPV and accuracy index (AI) with relative 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 0.819 (95% CI: 0.794-0.843), 0.624 (95% CI: 0.582-0.665), 2.190 (95% CI: 1.950-2.440), 0.290 (95% CI: 0.250-0.330), 0.802 (95% CI: 0.783-0.819), 0.652 (95% CI: 0.618-0.684) and 0.649 (95% CI: 0.625-0.673), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 7.049 with a relative 95% CI between 5.550 and 8.944. Conclusions The results suggest 18F-FDG-PET/CT has good diagnostic accuracy in SPNs evaluation; but, it should not be considered as a discriminatory test rather than a method to be included in a clinical and diagnostic pathway.

VATS anatomic resections for lung cancer: insights from the Italian VATS Group

Background: The VATS Group and the National Register for VATS Lobectomy were set up in 2013. Both quality and quantity of collected data within the database are two fundamental tools for scientific and statistical purposes, similar to other important databases, such as the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) Database, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database (STS GTSD) and the Danish Lung Cancer Registry (DLCR). Methods: Four thousand seven hundred and four VATS lobectomy patients have recruited to date. Several parameters were recorded, such as preoperative clinical condition, surgical treatment as far as technical details, postoperative course and follow-up. Results: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was 0.27. Uni-portal approach was used in 332 patients, three-portal approach in 3,825 and bi-portal approach in 547. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 4,704 patients: a sampling nodal dissection in 1,180 patients and a radical nodal dissection in 3,524 cases. Conversion rate was in 9.99% of cases. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic type (53.34%), followed by squamous carcinoma (15.53%). Conclusions: The structure of the Italian Registry of VATS Lobectomy makes it a valid source to draw on for statistical studies for scientific purposes.

Management of Bronchopleural Fistula Complicated by Skin Wound Necrosis after Thoracomyoplasty

Summary: Skin necrosis is a rare complication after thoracomyoplasty and usually needs conservative treatment. We described positive findings with surgical approach. A 54-year-old man showed bronchopleural fistula after undergoing right pneumonectomy for lung cancer, treated with thoracomyoplasty. On the 20th postoperative day, a skin wound lesion was noted, whose deterioration required a skin flap transposition. Patient was discharged from hospital on the 7th postoperative day and did not show relapse at the 7th year follow-up. Surgery can be the most viable alternative to medical treatments in the management of a chest wall cutaneous complication even in high-risk patients.

About idiopathic chylopericardium: a case report

Idiopathic chylopericardium is a rare clinical entity, whose precise etiology is still unclear and few cases are reported till this date. This case report describes the history, physical examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a 45-years-old male patient with primary idiopathic chylopericardium. Radiological findings and biochemical analysis of the pericardial fluid following pericardiocentesis sustained this diagnosis. Correspondence to: Mirko Barone, Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital “SS Annunziata”. University “G.d’Annunzio”. Via dei Vestini n.1, 66100 Chieti , Italy, Tel: +39 0871/358289; Fax: +39 0871/358220; E-mail: mir87mb@libero.it

Three-dimensional video-assisted thoracic surgery for pulmonary resections: an update

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) allows to treat pulmonary and mediastinal diseases although two-dimensional (2D) imaging can make difficult to estimate the morphological and topographical characteristics of a lesion. Some technical aspects have certainly been corrected with the introduction of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS), although not widespread in less economically developed countries. As an emerging imaging system and technique, 3D VATS is an interesting resource for thoracic surgeons and it may be a proper and valid aid in minimally-invasive surgery, but not an alternative or a compromise to the most expensive robotic technology. The purpose of the study was to carefully analyze the different experiences reported in literature in order to evaluate the state of art of 3D VATS method in lung excision.

Surgical management of cardiac tamponade: Is left anterior minithoracotomy really safe and effective?

Objective: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening clinical entity that requires an emergency treatment. Cardiac tamponade can be caused both by benign and malignant diseases. A variety of methods have been described for the treatment of these cases from needle-guided pericardiocentesis, balloon-based techniques to surgical pericardiotomy. The Authors report their experience in surgical management of cardiac tamponade and an exhaustive review of literature. Methods: This study involved 61 patients (37 males and 24 females) with an average age of 61.80 ± 16.32 years. All patients underwent emergency surgery due to the presence of cardiac tamponade. Results: Cardiac tamponade was caused by a benign disease in 57.40% of patients. In cancer patients group, lung cancer, breast cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma were the most common neoplasms (17-27, 87%). The average preoperative size of pericardial effusion at M-2D echocardiography was 30.15 ± 5.87 mm. Postoperative complications were observed in 11 patients (18%). The reoperation rate was 3.3% (2 patients) due to relapsed cardiac tamponade. 30-day mortality rate was 3.3%. Overall cumulative survival was 29.9 ± 20.1 months. Twenty-nine patients (47.5%) died during the follow up period. By dividing the population into two groups, group B (benign) and group M (malignant), there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in terms of survival. Conclusion: In conclusions, anterior minithoracotomy for surgical treatment of cardiac tamponade has to be held into account in patients both with benign diseases and malignancies.