Rocco Bilancia

Intrapleural polymeric films containing cisplatin for malignant pleural mesothelioma in a rat tumour model: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVEnThis study aims to investigate the effect of intrapleural polymeric films containing cisplatin on the local recurrence of malignant pleural mesothelioma in a rat tumour model.nnnMETHODSnAn orthotopic rat recurrence model of malignant pleural mesothelioma was used. Five animals per group were evaluated. Polymeric films (4.5 cm diameter) for the local delivery of anticancer drug were constructed: hyaluronate, chitosan and the combined dual-layer polymers were loaded with cisplatin at a concentration of 100 mgm(-2). Animals without any adjuvant therapy were used as control. Mesothelioma cells were injected subpleurally in the anaesthetised rats. Six days later, a pleural tumour of 5.5mm was resected and a left pneumonectomy and pleural abrasion were performed. Thereafter, the cisplatin-loaded and unloaded films or cisplatin solution were intrapleurally applied, according to randomisation. After 6 days, animals were euthanised and organs harvested for morphological and histological evaluations. The primary endpoint was the volume of tumour recurrence. The secondary endpoints were treatment-related toxicity; cisplatin serum concentration evaluated at different time points; and cisplatin concentration in the pleura measured at autopsy. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis. Bonferroni correction was applied for comparison between all groups.nnnRESULTSnTumour volume was significantly reduced in the hyaluronate cisplatin and hyaluronate-chitosan cisplatin groups in comparison to control groups (p=0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Animals treated with hyaluronate-chitosan cisplatin had a tumour recurrence significantly lesser than animals treated with cisplatin solution (p=0.003) and hyaluronate cisplatin (p=0.032). No toxicity related to the different treatments was observed. On postoperative days 1 and 2, cisplatin was detected in the serum at a concentration six- and sevenfold significantly higher in the hyaluronate cisplatin and hyaluronate-chitosan cisplatin groups, in comparison to cisplatin solution, and was maintained over time. Cisplatin levels in the pleura were higher in the hyaluronate-chitosan cisplatin group than in all others.nnnCONCLUSIONSnHyaluronate-chitosan cisplatin was significantly effective in reducing tumour recurrence compared with cisplatin solution. Hyaluronate and hyaluronate-chitosan loaded with cisplatin assured significantly higher and more prolonged plasmatic drug concentrations than cisplatin solution without increasing toxicity.

Cavernous hemangioma of the posterior mediastinum.

71-year-old nonsmoking woman, with no significant past medical history, except for mild osteoporosis urrently treated with calcium and vitamin D, was admited for an incidental radiologic finding of a left paraverebral pulmonary opacity. Magnetic resonance imaging ighlighted a 45 30 mm well-defined, oval-shaped esion, placed in the left costovertebral space in contact ith the ascending aorta (Fig 1; T2-weighted contrastnhanced sections showing marked hyperintensity of the ass; [A] coronal section; [B] sagittal section; [C] transersal section). A minimally invasive resection was proosed. A 7-mm incision was made vertically over the fifth

Extended pleurectomy decortication: the current role

Extended pleurectomy/decortication (EPD) has been formally defined but there remain technical areas of debate between practitioners. This is partly attributable to the relative rarity of this operation which is largely confined to a small number of specialist centres. Nevertheless, there is a widespread acceptance that extended pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) is a realistic and favourable alternative to extrapleural pneumonectomy. There may, however, remain a small number of clinical cases where this more extensive operation may be indicated. Preservation of the lung has widened the selection criteria for this form of radical mesothelioma surgery but there remain important factors to consider when offering extended P/D. In many patients with poorer prognostic factors the less radical operation of video assisted partial pleurectomy may be preferable. However, a randomized trial showed no survival benefit for this operation over simple talc pleurodesis. The future for P/D may also lie in the outcome of the MARS2 randomized controlled trial which will report in the next few years. Meanwhile there is a clinical and ethical dilemma when asked to perform this operation outside of the context of a clinical trial in the face of the lack of high grade evidence. The role of P/D is in one respect expanding but this may be short lived pending the findings of its assessment against non-surgical treatment.

99m Technetium and methylene blue guided pulmonary nodules resections: preliminary British experience

BackgroundnSubcentimetre pulmonary nodules can be challenging to locate either during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or by open techniques. In an era of increasing computed tomography scan availability the number of nodules that are identified that are suspicious for malignancy is rising, and thoracic surgeons require a reliable method to locate these nodules intraoperatively.nnnMethodsnOur aim was to evaluate, for the first time in the UK, resection of pulmonary nodules using radioactive dye labelling. Local research ethics approval was obtained and the study was submitted to the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS). All data were prospectively collected in our dedicated thoracic surgical database and analyzed at the conclusion of the study. This represents a consecutive series of patients, from January 2016 and until April 2017, who underwent this procedure at our institution: James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom. The primary outcome measured was successful resection rate of the target nodules.nnnResultsnTwenty-three patients underwent radiolabeled excision of pulmonary nodules, their average age was 61 years (range, 28-79 years), 13 women and 10 men. The average maximum diameter of the nodule was 8 mm (range, 3-16 mm). All patients underwent successful excision of the target lesion (success rate 100%). One patient (4.3%) sustained pneumothorax following the CT-guided injection of the radio-labelled dye and this required chest drainage prior to general anesthesia.nnnConclusionsnWe conclude that technetium guided pulmonary nodule resection is a very reliable method for localization and resection of subcentimetre nodules which may be otherwise be difficult to identify.

If Background Lung Abnormalities Do Not Affect the Presentation of Spontaneous Pneumothorax, Is Lung Resection Always Justified?

Background: The suggestion that spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) may result from diffuse porosity rather than discrete anatomic abnormality challenges the practice of targeted bullectomy. We assessed whether underlying pulmonary abnormalities are correlated or could be predicted from the mode of presentation, with potential implications for treatment. Methods: We analyzed 192 consecutive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resections for SP (139 primary, 53 secondary) in 171 patients (115 male, age 36, range, 16 to 81). Presentation was categorized as: recurrent never drained (RND), recurrent drained, persistent air leak (PAL). Resected lung pathology was categorized as: no bleb/bulla, ruptured bleb/bulla, unruptured bleb/bulla. Results: No correlation between presentation and resected lung pathology was observed for primary (P=0.608) or secondary SP (P=0.597). A similar proportion of patients in each pathologic group presented with PAL or RND; ruptured bleb/bulla or no bleb/bulla was equally noted in PAL and RND group. Conclusions: There is lack of association between resected lung pathology and mode of presentation. This suggests that discrete anatomic abnormalities may not be responsible for the air leak leading to pneumothorax. In conjunction with favorable reported outcomes from medical thoracoscopy and talc pleurodesis alone, these findings challenge the current practice of routine video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lung resection in these patients.

Pulmonary metastasectomy in uterine malignancy: outcomes and prognostic factors

Metastatic uterine cancer is a form of systemic disease. As for other solid tumours, it is advocated by some authors that in selected patients, lung metastasectomy may play a role in long-term disease control. The practice of lung metastasectomy is however open to criticism as there is lack of convincing evidence, and over-encouraging outcomes may be attributed to intrinsic selection bias. The case of metastatic uterine tumours is reviewed in the light of the available literature, in order to identify common patterns and prognostic factors that may influence and determine an individualised and informed patient decision.

Hybrid bilobectomy for treatment of an early-stage lung cancer in a patient with severe emphysema using the benefits of lung volume reduction.

Patients with resectable lung cancer and concomitant emphysema can fall outside the accepted guidelines for surgery. Lung volume reduction can improve their lung function but involves resecting an emphysematous lobe containing the tumour. Volume reduction can also be achieved by endobronchial one-way valve insertion, causing lobar collapse, but intact fissures are required. A hybrid bilobectomy was performed on a 77-year-old ex-smoker with suspected T2aN0M0 bronchogenic carcinoma and severe pulmonary emphysema. The procedure consisted of endobronchial right lower lobe volume reduction and video-assisted middle lobectomy with stapled completion of the oblique fissure. Complete collapse of the right lower lobe was confirmed intraoperatively and on follow-up chest films. The recovery period was complicated by a prolonged air leak. We believe that concomitant endobronchial volume reduction of an ipsilateral lobe can facilitate video-assisted lobectomy in high-risk patients with severe emphysema. The success of endobronchial valves to achieve a hybrid bilobectomy is increased by stapled completion of fissure to prevent collateral ventilation.

Long-term survival and symptomatic relief in lower lobe lung volume reduction surgery†

OBJECTIVESnLung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been demonstrated to provide symptomatic relief and improve lung function in patients with end-stage emphysema. The National Emphysema Treatment Trial specifically noted functional benefits in patients with predominantly upper lobe emphysema and demonstrated improvement in quality-of-life parameters, in patients with non-upper lobe emphysema and a low-baseline exercise capacity. We aimed to investigate whether physiological and health status benefits correlated with lower lobe LVRS.nnnMETHODSnA retrospective analysis was performed from our prospectively collected patient database. A total of 36 patients with severe, non-upper lobe predominant emphysema underwent lower lobe LVRS in our institution, over a 20-year period. The assessments consisted of measurements of body mass index, pulmonary function tests and health-related quality of life using the Short Form 36-item questionnaires.nnnRESULTSnForced expiratory volume in 1u2009s was seen to improve 3u2009months [coefficient of timeu2009=u20091.55 (0.88, 2.21); Pu2009<u20090.0001] after the procedure, maintained until the first 6u2009months [0.48 (0.12, 0.85); Pu2009=u20090.010], decline over the second half of the first year and gradually return to preoperative levels after 2u2009years, while residual volume to total lung capacity (%) ratio was seen to follow a similar pattern with significant decrease from baseline after 3u2009months [coefficient of timeu2009=u2009-1.76 (-2.75, -0.76); Pu2009=u20090.001] and 6u2009months [-1.05 (-1.51, -0.59); Pu2009<u20090.0001]. Quality-of-life improvements were mainly noted in physical components.nnnCONCLUSIONSnContrary to a widely held misconception following the National Emphysema Treatment Trial that lower lobe lung volume reduction does not offer significant benefits to patients with non-upper lobe predominant emphysema, we feel justified in offering lower lobe LVRS in these patients when they meet the same selection criteria as upper lobe LVRS.

How the surgical treatment of lung cancer in the UK has evolved over the last two decades- An illustrative surgeon's experience

The status of lung cancer surgery in UK has seen many changes over the last 20 years, with innovations in surgical technique and investigatory modalities together with significant organisational changes.