• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 1975

In spite of great advances in surgical treatment during past several decades, surgery of the trachea failed to develop correspondingly, partly because of relative rarity of the tracheal lesions and partly because of difficulties in surgical technique and anesthesia. Surgical diseases of the trachea are largely obstructions due to neoplasm or cicatrical stenosis and tracheal malacia. The present treatment of respiratory failure, using cuffed endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, has produced, apparently with increasing frequency, tracheal stenosis, tracheomalized tracheal erosion. Surgery is presently the only reasonable way to treat stenotic lesions of the tracheobronchial tree. In the case of tumors, the current trend has been that of radical excision. Primary end-to--end reconstruction of the trachea has been generally recognized as the ideal method of repair following resection. However, for decades it was believed that a maximum of four tracheal rings only might be excised and primary healing achieved with safety. A great variety of procedures, developed by numerous investigations and directed at tracheal substitution, have almost invariably met with discouraging results. A meticulous study done by Grillo and associates on autopsy specimens has shown that an average 6.4cm of mediastinal trachea can be safely resected by full mobilization of the right lung and transplantation of the left main bronchus into the bronchus intermedius. Recently, we experienced a case of successful resection of a tumor of the tracheal carina and primary tracheo-left main bronchial anastomosis at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, the National Medical Center in Seoul. The patient, a 29-year-old man, was admitted to the hospital with complaints of dyspnea and cough. On admission, chest film showed hydropneumothorax on the right. After closed thoracostomy, hydropneumothorax disappeared, but hazy densities, developed in the right middle and lower lung fields, resisted to treatment. Bronchoscopy uncovered irregular tumor covering the carina and the right main bronchus, and biopsy indicated well differentiated squamous Cell carcinoma. Operation was performed on July 2, 1975. A right postero-lateral thoracotomy was used. Excision involved the lower trachea, the carina, the left main bronchus and the right lung. This was followed by direct anastomosis between the trachea and the left main bronchus. Bronchography was done on 17th postoperative day revealed good result of operation without stricture at the site ofanastomosis. About one month after the operation symptoms and signs of bronchial irritation with dyspnea developed, and these responded to respiratory care. On 82nd postoperative day, sudden dyspnea developed at night and the patient expired several hours later. Autopsy was not done and the cause of death was uncertain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were preoperatively diagnosed with a negative N2 lymph node, but postoperatively confirmed as a positive N2 node based on a pathological evaluation. Materials and Methods: The hospital records of 248 patients from 1994 to 2009 with resected primary NSCLC who were preoperatively diagnosed with negative N2 lymph node, were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, after surgery, there were 148 (59.7%) patients with pathological N0, 54 (21.8%) with pathological N1 and 46 (18.5%) with pathological N2. Results: The median follow-up period was 24 months (range, 1 to 132 months). The 5-year disease free survival rates were 60% in pN0, 44% in pN1, and 29% in pN2. The 5-year overall survival rates were 63.1% in pN0, 51.9% in pN1, and 33.5% in pN2. There were no statistically significant differences between pN1 and pN2 (p=0.326 and p=0.106, respectively). Thirty-three (71.7%) of the 46 pN2 patients had single-zone metastasis, and 13 patients (28.3%) had multiple-zone metastases over the two nodal zone metastasis. There were no statistical differences in the 5-year disease free survival rate and the 5-year overall survival rates between the two groups. Conclusion: The 5-year disease free survival and the overall survival rate of the patients with unsuspected N2 disease were statistically similar with that of the patients with pathological N1 disease. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients with a single-zone metastasis and a multiple zone metastasis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.315-321
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• 1996

Bronchoplastlc procedures including sleeve lobectomy were initially introduced for patients whose pulmonary function was insufficient to tolerate pneumonectomy In more recent years, sleeve lobectomy has evolved as an alternative to pneumonectomy in carefully selected cases of bronchogenic carcinoma, especially for centrally located lesions. Between 1992 and 1995, bronchoplastic procedures for bronchogenic carcinoma were performed in 15 patients and the majority of operative procedures were sleeve lobectomy (W: 12). All procedures were considered as complete and potentially curative. Mean age was 62.3 years (range 46 to 70 years) and there were 12 males and 3 females. Of 15 patiients, 7 underwent right upper sleeve, 2 underwent right lower sleeve, 5 underwent left upper sleeve, and 1 underwent right sleeve pneumonectomy. Postoperative staging was , stage I in 3, stage ll in 8, stage llla in 3 and stage lII in 1. The postoperative complications included anastomosis site obstruction due to granulation tissue in 1, local recurrence in 3, and wound infection in 1 There were 1 operative death due to sepsis and 2 late deaths. The three-year survival rate was 80%. The significant correlation was observed (r=0.11) between the predicted FEVI (1.851 L) and measured FEVI (1 762L). In conclusion, bronchoplastic procedure will have better prognosis than pneumonectomy in selected lung cancer patients because of preserving good function in remnant lung.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.212-215
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• 1998

Pulmonary mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy is very rare and distinguished from bronchogenic cyst or adenocarcinoma of bronchoalveolar type. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with a right lower lobe mass, found by chest radiographs. The preoperative diagnosis was made as bronchoalveolar cancer by percutaneous needle aspiration of mass. Right lower lobectomy and lymph node dissections were performed. The lobectomy specimen contained variable sized multilocular cystic mucous masses, filled with mucus. Microscopically, the cystic masses are lined with tall columnar mucinous epithelium but some area contains focal cellular atypism and bronchoalveolar cancer like foci. This foci are lack of cellular atypism consistent with bronchoalveolar cancer cell. After lobectomy the patient has remained free from recurrence and distant metastasis for following 12 months period. Pulmonary mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy appears to have a favorable prognosis and should be distinguished from other lung neoplasms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.610-614
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• 2009

Background: Several trials have reported on whether adjuvant chemotherapy for resected stage IB non-small cell lung cancer is needed. The aim of our study was to investigate prognostic factors for recurrence to help identify patients who should receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Material and Method: We reviewed the cases of 48 stage IB non-small cell lung cancer patients between 1997 and 2006. Disease-free survival and overall survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed with the log rank test and multivariate analysis was done using Cox's proportional hazard model. Result: The median follow-up time was 48 months. The overall survival rate was 55.9%, and the disease-free survival rate was 48.6%. Of 8 variables, two factors, visceral pleural invasion and Iymphovascular invasion, were prognostic factors of disease-free survival (univariate analysis). Visceral pleural invasion was a significant prognostic factor in multivariate analysis, and overall survival in com-pared one or more variable such as visceral pleural invasion or, and lymphovascular invasion with the other variables. Conclusion: Visceral pleural invasion was identified as a poor prognostic factor and it may help select which patients will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in addition to more comprehensive follow-up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.192-196
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• 2013

Background: This study focused on the association between preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra 21-1) levels and pathologic parameters in patients with resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: The records of 527 patients who underwent pulmonary resection of NSCLC were reviewed. The association between preoperative serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels and variables that had p-values of less than 0.05 in a t-test or one-way analyses of variance was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The mean serum CEA and Cyfra 21-1 levels prior to surgery were $6.8{\pm}23.1$ mg/dL (range, 0.01 to 390.8 mg/dL) and $5.4{\pm}12.3$ mg/dL (range, 0.65 to 140.2 mg/dL). The serum CEA levels were associated with tumor (T) and lymph node (N) stage and histology. The serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with T stage, tumor size, and histology. Multiple linear regression indicated that serum CEA levels were associated with T (T3/4 vs. T1: ${\beta}$=8.463, p=0.010) and N stage (N2/3 vs. N0: ${\beta}$=9.208, p<0.001) and histology (adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell: ${\beta}$=6.838, p=0.001), and serum Cyfra 21-1 levels were associated with tumor size (${\beta}$=2.579, p<0.001) and histology (squamous cell vs. adenocarcinoma: ${\beta}$=4.420, p=0.020). Conclusion: Serum CEA level was correlated with T and N stage, and Cyfra 21-1 with tumor size. CEA and Cyfra 21-1 showed histologic correlation. CEA is mainly elevated in adenocarcinoma and Cyfra 21-1 in squamous cell carcinoma. These results might be helpful for predicting pathologic status in preoperative NSCLC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.551-555
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• 2005

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare neoplasm that originates from small peri-capillary spindle shaped cells called pericytes. The most common sites of origin are the thigh, the pelvis and the retroperitoneum. A primary pulmonary hemangiopericytoma is particularly unusual. However, more than 50% of hemangiopericytoma cases metastasize to the lungs, the bone, and the liver. A long-term clinical and radiological follow up is recommended due to the high risk of recurrence of a potential malignancy. We report a case of a metastatic hemangiopericytoma in the lung that had initially developed in the thigh of a 53 year-old woman 6 years ago. The authors emphasize the long-term follow-up of this type of rare sarcoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.313-317
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• 2008

Lipoma is a common neoplasm in soft tissues. However, an intrapulmonary lipoma is a rare benign tumor. Patients with a bronchial lipoma might have a malignant potential related to their smoking history due to the case reports of lung cancer accompanied with lipoma. Endobronchial lipoma can cause irreversible parenchymal lung damage if not diagnosed and treated early. Therefore, it should initially be treated by fiberoptic bronchoscopy or surgery depending on the status of distal parenchymal lung damage. Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a pathological syndrome that is defined by the presence of buds of granulation tissue consisting of fibroblasts and collagen within the lumen of the distal air spaces. BOOP is caused by drug intoxication, connective tissue disease, infection, obstructive pneumonia, tumors, or an unknown etiology. We encountered a 58 year-old male patient with endobronchial lipoma, causing the collapse of the right middle and lower lobes, and BOOP due to obstructive pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2012

Background: The survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases is reported to be 3~6 months even with aggressive treatment. Some patients have very short survival after aggressive treatment and reliable prognostic scoring systems for patients with cancer have a strong correlation with outcome, often supporting decision making and treatment recommendations. Methods: A total of one hundred twenty two NSCLC patients with brain metastases who received gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) were analyzed. Survival analysis was calculated in all patients for thirteen available prognostic factors and four prognostic scoring systems: score index for radiosurgery (SIR), recursive partitioning analysis (RPA), graded prognostic assessment (GPA), and basic score for brain metastases (BSBM). Results: Age, Karnofsky performance status, largest brain lesion volume, systemic chemotherapy, primary tumor control, and medication of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor were statistically independent prognostic factors for survival. A multivariate model of SIR and RPA identified significant differences between each group of scores. We found that three-tiered indices such as SIR and RPA are more useful than four-tiered scoring systems (GPA and BSBM). Conclusion: There is little value of RPA class III (most unfavorable group) for the same results of 6-month and 1-year survival rate. Thus, SIR is the most useful index to sort out patients with poorer prognosis. Further prospective trials should be performed to develop a new molecular- and gene-based prognostic index model.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 1998

We evaluated CT findings of bronchial carcinoid and accuracy of preoperative pathological diagnosis according to two subtypes. The subjects were 10 cases(typical;5, atypical;5), confirmed by surgery and tissue pathology. Sputum cytology(n=10), percutaneous aspiration(n=1) and bronchoscopic biopsy (n=8) were performed, preoperatively. The CT findings were analysed according to two subtypes. Typical carcinoid shows central location in all, and bronchial lumens just proximal to tumor were widened in two, whereas atypical carcinoid presented as peripheral leison in two. Among central atypical carcinoid, two cases showed flat meniscus appearance of lumen. Remaining one showed diffuse wall thickening. Intratumoral low density by necrosis was noted in one. Both subtypes show contrast enhancement. For preoperative diagnosis, sputum cytology & percutaneous aspiration were not conclusive at all. As for bronchoscopic biopsy, only 3 cases were accurately diagnosed as typical carcinoid. Typical carcinoid presented as endobronchial mass in all, whereas atypical carcinoid presented in various appearance. In all atypical & some typical carcinoid were misdiagnosed as primary lung cancer, preoperatively. However, in typical carcinoid, conservative surgery was possible. In conclusion, if there is discrepancy between CT findings & preoperative pathological diagnosis, full understanding of CT findings of bronchial carcinoid is imperative to choose appropriate surgical modality.