P. Bagan

Value of cancer antigen 125 for diagnosis of pleural endometriosis in females with recurrent pneumothorax

The thorax is the most frequent extrapelvic location of endometriosis. Thoracic endometriosis is probably responsible for the high rate of recurrent pneumothoraces in females. The goal of the present prospective study was to assess the value of cancer antigen (CA)125 measurement in the detection of endometriosis in order to further enable early and adequate treatment of catamenial pneumothorax. Between January 2004 and March 2006, 31 females (mean age 32u2005yrs) underwent pneumothorax surgery. The control group comprised 17 males (mean age 27u2005yrs), who underwent videothoracoscopic pleural abrasion. Serum CA125 was measured around a menstrual period in females and before surgery in males. Videothoracoscopically diagnosed endometriosis occurred in 29% of females. The CA125 concentration was significantly higher in females with endometriosis compared to disease-free females (76.1 versus 16u2005U·mL−1). The mean value in males was similar to that observed in disease-free females. The frequency of thoracic endometriosis-related pneumothorax corresponds to, on average, a third of females presenting with recurrent pneumothorax. Early detection can be achieved with serum cancer antigen 125 measurement and may be helpful in indicating videothoracoscopic surgery.

Treatment of complicated pulmonary aspergillomas with cavernostomy and muscle flap: interest of concomitant limited thoracoplasty.

OBJECTIVEnLung resection for complex aspergilloma (CA) carries high morbidity and mortality and remains controversial in high-risk patients. Cavernostomy followed by muscle-flap plombage has been recommended for patients considered unfit for resection, but subsequent muscle-flap atrophy may be a main cause of failure. We reviewed the place of a limited thoracoplasty in association with that procedure.nnnMETHODSnFive patients complaining of haemoptysis related to CA were denied lung resection because of bilateral lung destruction (n=1), and required completion pneumonectomy (previous lobectomy for cancer followed by adjuvant radiation therapy, n=4). We analysed the data concerning the alternative surgical procedures performed and their immediate and late results.nnnRESULTSnThe surgery consisted in cavernostomy, removal of the fungus ball, cavity obliteration with the most directly available muscle flaps (rhomboid muscle n=2, trapezius and rhomboid n=2, serratus major and subscapular n=1). A limited thoracoplasty ranging from 2 to 5 portions of rib (mean resected rib portions n=3.4) was performed in addition to this procedure. The postoperative course was uneventful. All patients are still alive (mean follow-up 3 years; range: 1-6 years) and faring well without thoracoplasty-related aftereffect, complication related to muscle-flap disuse atrophy nor recurrence of the disease.nnnCONCLUSIONnCavernostomy followed by muscle transposition has been reported to provide encouraging results. Combining a limited thoracoplasty during the same operation is a simple, safe and well-tolerated procedure regularly achieving good results, and thus deserving consideration.

Current indications and results for thoracoplasty and intrathoracic muscle transposition.

OBJECTIVESnThoracoplasty has lost much of its popularity and is being supplanted by space-reduction operations using muscle flaps. Our purpose is to retrospectively study the remaining indications and the evolving modifications of this ancient technique in our current surgical practice.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnFrom 1994 to 2008, 35 patients underwent a thoracoplasty procedure in a single thoracic surgery centre for treatment of infectious complications of previous thoracic surgery. The number and length of ribs excised were dictated by the size and location of the thoracic cavity to obliterate. Muscle flaps were used to buttress bronchial fistulas and to fill out residual spaces. We reviewed the immediate and long-term results concerning infection control and procedure tolerance.nnnRESULTSnThe infectious complications of previous thoracic surgery were related to cancer in 25, tuberculosis in six, oesophageo-pleural fistula in two, ruptured lung abscess and pleural thickening in one each. The thoracoplasty procedure was performed for: (1) post-pneumonectomy empyema, n=20 (bronchial fistula, n=11; open window thoracostomy, n=14; mean number of resected ribs, n=7.5; associated intrathoracic muscle transposition, n=12; postoperative death, n=3); (2) post-lobectomy empyema, n=8 (bronchial fistula n=8; open window thoracostomy n=1; mean number of resected ribs n=3.6; associated intrathoracic muscle transposition n=7; no death); (3) other indications, n=7 (mean number of resected ribs n=4.8; associated intrathoracic muscle transposition n=3; no death). All patients discharged from the hospital except one were cured and did not complain of symptoms of secondary lung function and shoulder impairment.nnnCONCLUSIONnAlthough thoracoplasty is rarely indicated nowadays, this does not imply that the procedure should be avoided. Thoracoplasty may be associated with myoplasty, which permits achieving complete space obliteration by combining resection of a few rib segments and limited intrathoracic muscle transposition.

Intrathoracic Lymph Node Metastases From Extrathoracic Carcinoma: The Place for Surgery

BACKGROUNDnIntrathoracic hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastases (HMLNMs) of extrathoracic carcinomas are infrequent. Their treatment strategy is not established and their prognosis poorly known. We reviewed the place of surgical intervention in their management.nnnMETHODSnAmong 565 patients with mediastinal lymph node enlargement, 37 had a history of extrathoracic carcinoma. The enlargement consisted in HMLNMs in 26 (15 men, 11 women), with a mean age of 57.6 (range 19-78) years. Surgical procedures were reviewed.nnnRESULTSnDiagnostic procedures, comprising mediastinoscopy in 9, anterior mediastinotomy in 2, and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 4, were performed mainly because of unresectability due to diffuse and bilateral HMLNMs. Cancer location was breast in 6, kidney or prostate in 2 each, and bladder, rectum, testis, melanoma, and larynx in 1 each. Median survival was 21 months. Resection was performed in 11 patients, comprising posterolateral thoracotomy in 6, muscle sparing thoracotomy in 2, and VATS in 3. Seventeen involved LN stations were removed; of these, primary were kidney in 3, testis or thyroid in 2 each, and larynx, nasopharynx, and intestinum in 1 each. Five-year survival was 41.6% (median, 45 months).nnnCONCLUSIONSnHMLNMs of extrathoracic carcinoma may be isolated, probably in the context of a particular lymphatic mode of spread. Our experience demonstrates that operation is mainly diagnostic but resection may safely achieve local control of the disease and deserves being advocated in patients with isolated and resectable HMLNMs.

Série : les lymphatiques pleuro-pulmonaires en situation normale et pathologiqueMétastases au réseau lymphatique du médiastin des cancers extrathoraciques et métastases sans primitifMetastatic thoracic lymph node carcinoma from extra-thoracic malignancy or from unknown primary site

Malignant mediastinal lymph nodes without pulmonary disease may be lymphomatous or the metastases from thoracic or extrathoracic malignancy. More rarely, metastatic lymph nodes are without primary site. Surgery is generally diagnostic, restricted to confirming the metastatic process, because of too numerous and disseminated or unresectable lymph nodes. Radical surgery consisting in lymphadenectomy can be effective in case of mediastinal lymph node malignancy without other extra- and intrathoracic disease. We observed in our experience and in several case reports long-term good results in such cases. We suggest that including surgery in the multimodality treatment of mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes may be advisable in selected patients.

Métastases au réseau lymphatique du médiastin des cancers extrathoraciques et métastases sans primitif

Malignant mediastinal lymph nodes without pulmonary disease may be lymphomatous or the metastases from thoracic or extrathoracic malignancy. More rarely, metastatic lymph nodes are without primary site. Surgery is generally diagnostic, restricted to confirming the metastatic process, because of too numerous and disseminated or unresectable lymph nodes. Radical surgery consisting in lymphadenectomy can be effective in case of mediastinal lymph node malignancy without other extra- and intrathoracic disease. We observed in our experience and in several case reports long-term good results in such cases. We suggest that including surgery in the multimodality treatment of mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes may be advisable in selected patients.

Trattamento chirurgico dei tumori del mediastino

La chirurgia occupa un posto essenziale nel trattamento dei tumori del mediastino, o in quanto unica soluzione terapeutica o nel quadro di una gestione multimodale. Essa permette di eradicare i numerosi tumori e pseudotumori di questa regione al prezzo di exeresi, alcune delle quali sono tecnicamente semplici e altre piu complesse, richiedendo buone conoscenze e un buon livello di perizia. La diagnostica per immagini moderna permette di prevedere le difficolta, ma non si puo mai affermare come sara l’intervento. Si devono prevedere i pericoli: e la vicinanza del tumore quella che conta. Alcuni di questi tumori sono accessibili con diverse vie mini-invasive, ma la maggior parte di essi viene ancora aggredita attraverso vie toraciche standard (sternotomie e toracotomie). Il trattamento chirurgico di questi tumori e da prendere in considerazione dal mediastino anteriore fino al mediastino posteriore e dal timo alle docce paravertebrali.