Y.M. Shim

Outcomes after repeated resection for recurrent pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND It remains controversial whether metastasectomy is still feasible in patients with pulmonary recurrence from colorectal cancer, after initial metastasectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of repeated metastasectomy in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1995 to 2007, 202 patients had received a pulmonary metastasectomy from colorectal cancer at our institution. Over a median follow-up of 28.9 months, 48 patients received second metastasectomy (29 wedge resections, 5 segmentectomies, 13 lobectomies, and 1 completion pneumonectomy). The median disease-free interval was 9.6 months. Among these 48 patients, 28 showed pulmonary recurrence again and of those, 10 patients received third metastasectomy (two wedge resections, two segmentectomies, four lobectomies, and two completion pneumonectomies). RESULTS There was no postoperative mortality. Of the 48 patients who underwent second metastasectomy, overall and disease-free 5-year survivals were 79% and 49%, respectively, after second operation. Of the 10 patients who received third metastasectomy, overall survival was 78% at 5 years after last operation. CONCLUSIONS Repeated resection after initial metastasectomy can be carried out safely and provides long-term survival in patients with recurrent pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer. Our findings indicate that close follow-up for the early detection of recurrence and parenchyma-saving resection can improve the results after repeated resection.

Role of CT and PET Imaging in Predicting Tumor Recurrence and Survival in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma : A Comparison with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Recently, a new lung adenocarcinoma classification scheme was published. The prognostic value of this new classification has not been elaborated together with the value of imaging biomarkers including computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: We reviewed pathologic specimens and imaging characteristics of primary tumors from 723 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for lung adenocarcinoma. On pathology, the predominant histologic subtype and pattern group were quantified. Tumor-shadow disappearance ratio (TDR) on CT and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on PET were assessed. The relationships between those variables and survival (overall survival [OS] and disease-free survival) were analyzed by using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analyses. Results: The median follow-up period was 3.8 years. There were 137 patients (19%) with recurrence and 167 patients (23%) with metastasis after surgical resection. Among 723 patients, 35 patients (4.8%) had adenocarcinoma in situ, 34 patients (4.7%) had minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, 125 patients (17.3%) had lepidic predominant, 314 patients (43.4%) had acinar predominant, 65 patients (9.0%) had papillary predominant, 23 patients (3.2%) had micropapillary predominant, 113 patients (15.6%) had solid predominant, and 14 patients (1.9%) had variant adenocarcinomas. OS and disease-free survival rates were significantly different according to TDR on CT and SUVmax on PET, predominant subtypes, and pattern groups. On multivariate analysis, the SUVmax (p < 0.001), TDR (p = 0.038), and pattern group (p = 0.015) were independent predictors of OS. Conclusions: TDR on CT, SUVmax on PET, and the new histologic classification schemes appear to be promising parameters for the prognostic stratification of patients with lung adenocarcinomas, allowing for the triage of patients who necessitate further staging workup and adjuvant therapy.

Needs regarding care and factors associated with unmet needs in disease-free survivors of surgically treated lung cancer

BACKGROUND To evaluate the long-term needs of lung cancer survivors and to explore factors associated with unmet need. PATIENTS AND METHODS We recruited lung patients treated with curative surgery from 2001 through 2006 at two centers in Korea. Needs in the domains of information, supportive care, education and counseling, and socioeconomic support were measured. We selected the four most frequently reported items of unmet need among 19 items in four domains. RESULTS The most frequently reported unmet needs were Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and folk remedies (59.8%) in the Information domain, Counseling and treatment of depression and anxiety (63.5%) in the Supportive care domain, diet, exercise and weight control (55.1%) in the Education and counseling domain and Financial support (90.4%) in the socioeconomic support domain. Unmet needs for psychological treatment was significantly greater in participants who were employed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.25; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.12 to 4.53). Unmet needs for diet, exercise and weight control were significantly greater in participants who had not received chemotherapy (aOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.85). Unmet need for financial support was greater in participants who were married (aOR, 4.14, 95%CI, 1.12 to 15.22) and those who had not received chemotherapy (aOR, 5.91, 95%CI, 1.91 to 18.31). CONCLUSION There were substantial unmet needs for information regarding psychological support, education for diet and exercise, and financial support among lung cancer survivors.

Bronchial Schwannomas: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 7 Cases

Background It has long been recognized that bronchial schwannomas are extremely rare. As such, diagnosing tumors in this extraordinary location can sometimes be problematic. Methods We reviewed seven cases of bronchoscopically or surgically resected endobronchial schwannomas and evaluated their clinical and pathologic features. Results The present study included five female and two male patients, with ages ranging from 16 to 81 years (mean age, 44.9 years). The clinical presentation varied according to tumor size and location. Patients with more centrally (trachea or main bronchus) located tumors experienced respiratory symptoms (80%) more often than patients with more peripherally (lobar or segmental bronchus) located tumors (0%). Histologically, the tumors were composed of spindle cells that stained with S100 protein. Some of the tumors showed typical Antoni A areas with Verocay body formation. Five of six patients (83.3%) underwent complete tumor removal by rigid bronchoscopy. Conclusions Pathologists should consider endobronchial schwannoma in the differential diagnosis of a spindle cell tumor involving the bronchus. Additionally, our results showed that rigid bronchoscopy is an effective tool for tumor removal in endobronchial schwannoma patients.

Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer

Thirty-one patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were treated with preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by surgery. The treatment protocol could not be completed in eight patients. The acute hematologic toxicities of grade III or IV occurred in 48.4%, (15/31) after the first chemotherapy cycle, and in 39.1% (9/23) after the second cycle. The most common non-hematologic toxicity was radiation esophagitis. Surgery was attempted in 23 patients and successful in 22 patients (resection rate = 71.0%. Pathologic complete response and down-staging were achieved in 13.6% (3/22) and 68.2% (15/22). The median survival period, 2-year overall survival, local control and disease-free survival rates of all 31 patients and of 22 patients who underwent surgery were 19 months, 37.2%, 49.1%, 35.5%, and 19 months, 43.2%, 51.8%, 25.6%, respectively. On the basis of our observations, preoperative CCRT followed by surgery for stage IIIA NSCLC has resulted in outcomes comparable with those in previous reports.