Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph node sampling: Useful for mediastinal lymph node stations inaccessible by cervical mediastinoscopy

[Thoracic disc herniation]

Contrary to traditional opinion thoracic herniation is more frequent than expected. The disease poses two main challenges: (1) surgical removal and (2) early and correct diagnosis. It is without a doubt that herniated thoracic discs can be difficult to remove. Often enough, it is equally challenging to attribute the correct symptoms to the disease to reach the diagnosis, because there is a great variability and supposedly low specificity of the clinical symptoms, especially concerning pain related symptoms, which are often attributed to muscular or joint related causes. However, radicular complaints and myelopathic deficits usually predominate, but also algetic symptoms exist in patients harboring this disease. The surgical approach should be a ventral one. The postoperative prognosis is mostly good after adequate decompression.

Revision surgery in thoracic disc herniation

PURPOSE

Surgical treatment failures or strategies for the reoperation of residual thoracic disc herniations are sparsely discussed. We investigated factors that led to incomplete disc removal and recommend reoperation strategies.

METHODS

As a referral centre for thoracic disc disease, we reviewed retrospectively the clinical records and imaging studies before and after the treatment of patients who were sent to us for revision surgery for thoracic disc herniation from 2013 to 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 456 patients were treated from 2013 to 2018 at our institution. Twenty-one patients had undergone previously thoracic discectomy at an outside facility and harboured residual, incompletely excised and symptomatic herniated thoracic discs. In 12 patients (57%), the initial symptoms that led to their primary operation were improved after the first surgery, but recurred after a mean of 2.8 years. In seven patients (33%) they remained stable, and in two cases they were worse. All patients were treated via all dorsal approaches. In all 21 cases, the initial excision was incomplete regarding medullar decompression. All of the discs were removed completely in a single revision procedure. After mean follow-up of 24 months (range 12-57 months), clinical neurological improvement was demonstrated in seven patients, while three patients suffered a worsening and 11 patients remained stable.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that pure dorsal decompression provides a short relief of the symptoms caused by spinal cord compression. Progressive myelopathy (probably due to mechanical and vascular deficits) and scar formation may cause worsening of symptoms. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Correctly staging lung cancer is important because the treatment options and prognosis differ significantly by stage. Several noninvasive imaging studies and invasive tests are available. Understanding the accuracy, advantages, and disadvantages of the available methods for staging non-small cell lung cancer is critical to decision-making.

METHODS

Test accuracies for the available staging studies were updated from the second iteration of the American College of Chest Physicians Lung Cancer Guidelines. Systematic searches of the MEDLINE database were performed up to June 2012 with the inclusion of selected meta-analyses, practice guidelines, and reviews. Study designs and results are summarized in evidence tables.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of CT scanning for identifying mediastinal lymph node metastasis were approximately 55% and 81%, respectively, confirming that CT scanning has limited ability either to rule in or exclude mediastinal metastasis. For PET scanning, estimates of sensitivity and specificity for identifying mediastinal metastasis were approximately 77% and 86%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that PET scanning is more accurate than CT scanning, but tissue biopsy is still required to confirm PET scan findings. The needle techniques endobronchial ultrasound-needle aspiration, endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration, and combined endobronchial ultrasound/endoscopic ultrasound-needle aspiration have sensitivities of approximately 89%, 89%, and 91%, respectively. In direct comparison with surgical staging, needle techniques have emerged as the best first diagnostic tools to obtain tissue. Based on randomized controlled trials, PET or PET-CT scanning is recommended for staging and to detect unsuspected metastatic disease and avoid noncurative resections.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the last iteration of the staging guidelines, PET scanning has assumed a more prominent role both in its use prior to surgery and when evaluating for metastatic disease. Minimally invasive needle techniques to stage the mediastinum have become increasingly accepted and are the tests of first choice to confirm mediastinal disease in accessible lymph node stations. If negative, these needle techniques should be followed by surgical biopsy. All abnormal scans should be confirmed by tissue biopsy (by whatever method is available) to ensure accurate staging. Evidence suggests that more complete staging improves patient outcomes.

[Role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy]

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be detected by CT-scan or positron emission tomography. Malignant (e.g, lung cancer, metastatic cancer, lymphoma), infectious (e.g, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis), and systemic processes (e.g, sarcoidosis) can cause mediastinal adenopathy. In the posterior and inferior mediastinum, endoscopic ultrasound visualizes and directs transesophageal fine needle aspiration of adenopathy. In the anterior mediastinum, endobronchial ultrasound visualizes and directs transbronchial fine needle aspiration of adenopathy. We discuss the role of EUS and EBUS in the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy according to their anatomical localization.

[Mediastinal tumors: introduction]

Mediastinal tumors are relatively uncommon, usually incidentally discovered on a chest X-ray in asymptomatic patients. Young adults are particularly concerned. Mediastinal masses represent a group of heterogeneous histological type cell. A definite diagnosis is essential leading to an adequate prompt therapeutic strategy when either benign disease or aggressive malignant tumor is conceivable. Indeed the therapeutic management of such tumors could be strictly medical, requiring exclusive surgical approach or includes a multimodal treatment. Clinical examination and imaging are important tools in the diagnostic approach. However the specific diagnosis could be complex and requires histological confirmation by an experienced pathologist after examination of large biopsies of the tumor. Several investigations, including surgical invasive exploration, should be quickly requested in order to achieve a final diagnosis and refer patients in an adequate therapeutic scheme without delay. The aim of this article is to point out the available diagnostic tools in mediastinal masses, including surgical approach, and to identify the role of surgical resection in specific subtypes.

Joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of the joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the sampling of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and candidates for pulmonary resection.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients diagnosed with NSCLC were submitted to cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy. The samples obtained (from paratracheal chains, anterior and posterior subcarinal chains, paraesophageal chains and pulmonary ligament) were submitted to frozen section analysis. The following variables were also evaluated: age; gender; weight loss; diagnostic method; tomographic findings; histological type; staging; and location and size of the primary tumor.

RESULTS

In 11 patients, mediastinoscopy showed no involvement of the subcarinal chain, whereas such involvement was identified when video-assisted thoracoscopy was used: positive predictive value = 88.89% (95% CI: 51.75-99.72); negative predictive value = 94.34% (95% CI: 84.34-98.82); prevalence = 17.74% (95% CI: 9.2-29.53); sensitivity = 72.73% (95% CI: 39.03-93.98); and specificity = 98.77% (95% CI: 93.31-99.97). In 60% of the patients with involvement of the posterior subcarinal chain, the primary tumor was in the right inferior lobe. (p = 0.029)

CONCLUSIONS

The joint use of cervical mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for the evaluation of posterior mediastinal lymph nodes proved to be an efficacious method. When there is no access to posterior chains by means of ultrasound with transbronchial or transesophageal biopsy, which dispenses with general anesthesia, this should be the method of choice for the correct evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC.

Video-assisted surgery for lung cancer. State of the art and personal experience

This paper reviews the role of videothoracoscopy in lung cancer, highlighting its utility in definitive staging, diagnosis, and treatment. We show exploratory videothoracoscopy to be the perfect technique for last-minute staging, looking for tumor invasion, especially parietal T3 and vascular T4 (due to videopericardioscopy), management of solitary pulmonary nodules, and the possibility of radical treatment with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. We perform an overview of the literature and analyze our experience of 1,381 patients with lung cancer. In 1,277 of them, the final decision on resectability was made by exploratory videothoracoscopy, including 91 by videopericardioscopy (only 30 were considered non-resectable on videopericardioscopy). Solitary pulmonary nodules were diagnosed in 382 cases (190 were cancer), and we performed 260 major lung resections by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (22 pneumonectomies, 238 lobectomies/bilobectomies).

Minimally invasive staging of N2 disease: endobronchial ultrasound/transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound, mediastinoscopy, and thoracoscopy

In 2005 the American College of Surgeons conducted a survey examining lung cancer practice patterns at 729 hospitals in the United States. In 11,668 surgically treated patients, 92% received a preoperative chest CT. Only 27% of these patients underwent mediastinoscopy, and lymph node material was sampled in less than half of these patients. At the time of surgical resection, additional mediastinal lymph nodes were sampled in only 58% of patients. In the remaining 42% only the lymph node material attached to the surgical specimen (N1 nodes) was sampled. Although this article discusses the finer points of the minimally invasive evaluation of the N2 lymph nodes, any procedure to evaluate these nodes is better than simply ignoring them.

Endoscopic ultrasound: it's accuracy in evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy? A meta-analysis and systematic review

AIM

To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA) in evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

METHODS

Only EUS and EUS-FNA studies confirmed by surgery or with appropriate follow-up were selected. Articles were searched in Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane control trial registry. Only studies from which a 2 multiply 2 table could be constructed for true positive, false negative, false positive and true negative values were included. Two reviewers independently searched and extracted data. The differences were resolved by mutual agreement. Meta-analysis for the accuracy of EUS was analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios. Pooling was conducted by both Mantel-Haenszel method (fixed effects model) and DerSimonian Laird method (random effects model). The heterogeneity of studies was tested using Cochran's Q test based upon inverse variance weights.

RESULTS

Data was extracted from 76 studies (n = 9310) which met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 44 studies used EUS alone and 32 studies used EUS-FNA. FNA improved the sensitivity of EUS from 84.7% (95% CI: 82.9-86.4) to 88.0% (95% CI: 85.8-90.0). With FNA, the specificity of EUS improved from 84.6% (95% CI: 83.2-85.9) to 96.4% (95% CI: 95.3-97.4). The P for chi-squared heterogeneity for all the pooled accuracy estimates was > 0.10.

CONCLUSION

EUS is highly sensitive and specific for the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and FNA substantially improves this. EUS with FNA should be the diagnostic test of choice for evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Invasive mediastinal staging of lung cancer: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (2nd edition)

BACKGROUND

The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is determined by accurate definition of the stage. If there are no distant metastases, the status of the mediastinal lymph nodes is critical. Although imaging studies can provide some guidance, in many situations invasive staging is necessary. Many different complementary techniques are available.

METHODS

The current guidelines and medical literature that are applicable to this issue were identified by computerized search and were evaluated using standardized methods. Recommendations were framed using the approach described by the Health and Science Policy Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians.

RESULTS

Performance characteristics of invasive staging interventions are defined. However, a direct comparison of these results is not warranted because the patients selected for these procedures have been different. It is crucial to define patient groups, and to define the need for an invasive test and selection of the best test based on this.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with extensive mediastinal infiltration, invasive staging is not needed. In patients with discrete node enlargement, staging by CT or positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is not sufficiently accurate. The sensitivity of various techniques is similar in this setting, although the false-negative (FN) rate of needle techniques is higher than that for mediastinoscopy. In patients with a stage II or a central tumor, invasive staging of the mediastinal nodes is necessary. Mediastinoscopy is generally preferable because of the higher FN rates of needle techniques in the setting of normal-sized lymph nodes. Patients with a peripheral clinical stage I NSCLC do not usually need invasive confirmation of mediastinal nodes unless a PET scan finding is positive in the nodes. The staging of patients with left upper lobe tumors should include an assessment of the aortopulmonary window lymph nodes.

The Future in Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer

Surgical techniques remain central to the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Clinical situations which invoke the role of surgery include the diagnosis of solitary pulmonary masses, staging of the mediastinum, restaging of the mediastinum and the assessment of resectability. The techniques available include cervical mediastinoscopy, anterior mediastinotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopy and different procedures for intra-operative mediastinal lymph node assessment including systematic nodal dissection, lobe-specific nodal dissection and sentinel node mapping. The staging of lung cancer is continuously evolving as technological advances combine with clinical advances to better stratify patients into treatment and prognostic categories and alter pre-operative investigation algorithms. Although most of the surgical techniques have been around for many years, it is their application in future which is likely to change. The increasing use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography fusion imaging is raising the proportion of patients being shown to have additional lesions that could contraindicate surgical treatment but which require tissue confirmation to exclude a false-positive examination. Many such lesions are amenable to the expanding techniques available to the interventional endoscopist. The relationship between the surgeon and the endoscopist must become closer to ensure that the appropriate technique is used at each point in the patient's pathway. The future of surgical techniques will be driven by: (1) developments in screening and imaging, with a likelihood that more early stage cancers will present and may be amenable to minimally invasive surgical approaches with the possibility of a role for robotics and nanotechnology; (2) improvements in neoadjuvant therapies which will demand flawless mediastinal staging and restaging; (3) advances in molecular biology which, whilst currently requiring that surgery provide samples of tumour and lymph node tissue to fully characterize the disease, do hold the promise that ever smaller amounts of tissue will be required and that eventually the genetic fingerprint will provide a biological ultrastaging to perhaps supersede anatomical staging.

Combined Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopy and Thoracoscopy in the Management of Lung Cancer: A Five-Year Experience

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of combined video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VM) and video-assisted thoracoscopy (VT) in the management of patients with lung cancer.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed over a 5-year period. Indications for combined VM and VT included inconclusive findings from imaging techniques concerning locoregional extension and resectability; possible involvement of different structures not accessible to a single procedure; and failure to obtain a histologic diagnosis with a single technique.

RESULTS

An indication for combined exploration was established in 30 patients, representing 2.6% of all the patients referred to us for diagnosis, staging, and/or resection of lung cancer. Combined VM and VT was completed in 28 patients, as pleural carcinosis was found at VT in 2 cases. There was no mortality or morbidity in our series. Histologic diagnosis was obtained in 12/13 patients without preoperative histologic typing. In all the evaluated patients, combined VM and VT was useful in clinical decision-making, leading to immediate surgery (n=10), induction treatments (n=8), or nonsurgical therapy (n=12). Among the patients who underwent immediate surgery, combined VM and VT never failed to assess the T factor. The N factor was correctly evaluated in 8/10 patients, and in 2 patients it failed to recognize a minimal N2 disease.

CONCLUSION

Combined VM and VT is a safe and useful tool in the management of selected patients with lung neoplasms. Both the extent of primary tumor and the possible intrathoracic spread can be thoroughly evaluated.

Mediastinal Staging 2005: Pictures, Scopes, and Scalpels

Staging of the mediastinum for lung cancer has matured dramatically with the advent of newer technologies in imaging and endoscopic surveillance. Some of these technologies such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanning are becoming mainstream in the evaluation of patients with clinically suspicious mediastinal disease as seen on computed tomography (CT), while others such as endobronchial ultrasound are reserved for specialty expertise and await validation. While much improvement has been made in the accurate preoperative staging of patients having surgery as the primary modality in lung cancer, controversy exists regarding the restaging of locally advanced cases after induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. A major concentration on these restaging issues is warranted since it is now generally agreed that sterilization of the mediastinum after induction therapy has an impact on the prognosis of patients with stage IIIA disease, and accurate staging after therapy may rationally guide diverse therapeutic interventions in these patients.

The impact of residual multi-level N2 disease after induction therapy for non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The presence of residual N2 disease following induction therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been proposed as a contraindication to surgery. However, single level N2 metastases found in the operative specimens of patients with clinical N0 NSCLC who did not receive induction therapy is associated with prolonged survival. In order to investigate whether residual single level N2 disease following induction therapy was similarly associated with prolonged survival, we conducted a retrospective review of patients with stages IIIa and IIIb NSCLC who had undergone induction therapy followed by surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of the hospital records of patients with stages IIIa and IIIb NSCLC who had undergone induction therapy consisting of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy followed by tumor resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection at 11 Japanese national referral hospitals. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were determined by the log-rank and Cox regression methods.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-one patients underwent induction therapy of NSCLC stages IIIa (n=95) and IIIb (n=36) followed by complete tumor resection during a 12-year interval. Clinical N2 disease was present in 114 (87%) patients and N3 disease in 17 (13%) patients. Median follow up was 48 months. Eighteen patients had residual single level N2 disease and 25 patients had multiple residual N2 level metastases. The 5-year survival was 54% for patients with pathologic single level N2 disease and 11% for patients with multiple N2 level disease (P<0.01). In a multivariate analysis, only the pathologic N status significantly influenced survival.

CONCLUSION

Patents who have multiple levels of N2 disease have a much worse prognosis than patients who have single level of N2.

Initial surgical staging of lung cancer

Many patients with early stage lung cancer (stage I and II) are curable by surgical resection. In patients with locally advanced disease surgery plays an important role in order to provide local tumor control. Therefore, the aim of all staging efforts in NSCLC must be to identify all patients, who might be potential candidates for a surgical approach. Current staging tools include imaging techniques like CT- and PET-scan, transthoracic, transbronchial or transeosophageal needle biopsies and finally surgical staging methods including mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). With respect to mediastinal lymph node staging, cervical mediastinoscopy is reported to have a sensitivity between 81 and 89%. This mainly due to the fact, that some lymph node levels (# 8, 9, 5, 6) are not accessible by the standard cervical approach. The morbidity and mortality of cervical mediastinoscopy is in experienced centers only minimal. In series with more than 1000 patients, the mortality was almost 0% and morbidity varied between 0.5 and 1%. Cervical mediastinoscopy can be performed also as an outpatient procedure. In addition to 'simple' lymph node staging, mediastinoscopy clarifies the local resectability of central tumors (T-factor). Currently, cervical mediastinoscopy is recommended by almost all scientific societies in patients with apparently resectable NSCLC who present with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes of >1 cm in short axis diameter. Video-mediastinoscopy allows that the procedure gets even more standardized and preliminary data suggest that the sensitivity might be improved in comparison to conventional mediastinoscopy. Since VATS is widely accepted by the community of thoracic surgeons, it has become an important staging tool in many situations. VATS can be used to rule out or confirm a suspected contralateral lung metastasis. Furthermore, VATS is extremely useful to exclude malignant pleural effusions in otherwise operable patients. This examination can be done in the operating room immediately prior to formal thoracotomy. Additionally, VATS is effective to explore the local resectability in patients with suspected mediastinal infiltration or a lymphangiosis carcinomatosa within the mediastinum. VATS allows an accurate staging of more than 90% of the patients with suspected stage IIIB NSCLC. With respect to lymph node staging, VATS is complimentary to cervical mediastinoscopy because it helps to stage the lymph nodes in the A-P. window (#5, 6), as well as the lymph nodes paraesophageal (#8) and in the pulmonary ligament (#9). In conclusion, surgical staging methods provide a 100% specificity in combination with a high sensitivity and only a minimal morbidity. Currently, surgical staging is recommended by the majority of scientific societies for the staging of patients with apparently resectable NCSLC.

Prognostic significance of persistent mediastinal metastasis following induction therapy in large (> or = 2 cm) N2 or N3 non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

It is controversial whether or not surgery is beneficial for patients with non-small cell lung cancer accompanied by persistent lymph node metastasis in the mediastinum following induction therapy. We have therefore conducted a retrospective study to assess this issue.

METHODS

Eligibility criteria were defined as follows: 1) the period of treatment was between January 1991 and April 1998, 2) the clinical stages were IIIA (N2) or IIB (N3) with large lymph nodes (> or = 2 cm), 3) induction therapy had been administered, 4) tumor was resected completely, 5) at least one mediastinal lymph node had necrosis or scar if the pathological N status was p-N0 or p-N1 and 6) the p-stage was not IV. Dichotomous variables included the radiographic response of the tumor, the T status, and the N status.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients were eligible. There were 29 males and 10 females aged from 27 to 74 years, and involved 20 cases of adenocarcinoma. The pathological N status was as follows: p-N0 in 18 patients, p-N1 in 3, p-N2 in 16, and p-N3 in the other 2. In overall survival, the median survival time (MST) was 34 months and the actuarial 5-year-survival rate (5-YSR) was 28%. The group of patients with either N0 or N1 (n = 21) had a 71-month MST and a 54% 5-YSR, and the group of patients with either N2 or N3 (n = 18) had a 13-month MST and a 5-YSR of 0% (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the pathological N factor was confirmed as an independently significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our retrospective study found that the survival rate of patients with persistent mediastinal nodal metastasis was very poor. A prospective study is needed to investigate whether or not surgery is beneficial for these patients.

Lung cancer. Invasive staging: the guidelines

A variety of invasive staging tests are available, including mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery), transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA), and endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-NA). Each of these tests requires specific skills, has particular risks, and has technical considerations making it more or less suitable for masses in particular locations. Therefore, direct comparisons among the tests are not possible, and the issue is to define which procedure is most useful for a particular situation. Invasive staging procedures are sometimes used to confirm the stage of a lung cancer, ie, when radiographic staging is not reliable. However, invasive staging procedures are also often used to confirm the diagnosis (ie, when the radiographic stage is reliable). The first situation requires a test with a low false-negative rate; the latter requires a test with high sensitivity. Clinicians must be clear about the question at hand and how to assess the value of a test when selecting an invasive staging procedure. When confirmation of the diagnosis is the primary issue, TBNA (or EUS-NA, if available) are good choices because of high sensitivity and low morbidity. When the primary issue is to confirm that there is no involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes, mediastinoscopy appears to be best suited to most situations. When the primary goal is to confirm malignant involvement of mediastinal nodes, mediastinoscopy also appears to be best in general, although TBNA, TTNA, and EUS-NA may be reasonable alternatives in certain situations. However, selection of a test will also depend on the local availability of expertise, and patient-specific anatomic and physiologic considerations. Selection of the optimal approach is best achieved through a multidisciplinary discussion so that all aspects can be weighed appropriately.

[Mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of mediastinal disease. An analysis of 181 explorations]

To validate our experience with standard cervical mediastinoscopy (SCM) and extended cervical mediastinoscopy (ECM) to diagnose mediastinal nodes and masses, we studied 181 patients between January 1992 and February 2001. SCM and ECM were indicated for diagnostic staging of nodes related to bronchogenic carcinoma (Group I) or of mediastinal masses (Group II). An SCM was performed in all cases to explore the paratracheal region (2R, 2L, 4R, 4L, 7, 10R and 10L); in 21 additional cases, an ECM was performed to explore the aortopulmonary window or the subaortic region (area 5) and the para-aortic region (area 6). In Group I, the sensitivity of SCM was 93.6% and specificity was 100%; the positive predictive value (PPV) was 100%, the negative predictive value (NPV) was 82.8%, and the diagnostic yield was 95.1%. The sensitivity of ECM was 91% and specificity was 100%; PPV was 100%, NPV 93.3% and yield was 96%. In Group II, the sensitivity was 93.3%, specificity 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 81.2% and diagnostic yield 94.8%. The sensitivity of ECM in this group was 80%, specificity was 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 66.7% and yield 85.7%. A 2.7% complication rate was observed, with one case of bleeding after injury to the superior vena cava, one tracheal lesion, one recurring paralysis and two cases of surgical wound infection. The mean postoperative stay was 36 hours and mortality was zero. We conclude that SCM is highly specific for the evaluation of mediastinal node involvement in bronchogenic carcinoma and it is the approach of choice when a diagnosis of lesions located in the mid-mediastinal region has not been reached. ECM is a valid, safe alternative to anterior mediastinotomy for staging nodes and masses occupying para-aortic zones or the aortopulmonary window, with good diagnostic yield, low morbidity and absence of mortality.

Diagnosis and management of early lung cancer

Bronchogenic carcinoma remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Approximately 80% of newly diagnosed cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); 80% of these present with disseminated or locally advanced disease. Unfortunately, only 10% are potentially surgically curable patients with early-stage disease (T1N0/T2N0). Most patients with early-stage disease are asymptomatic, with their lung cancer detected as a result of non-cancer related procedures. Studies have shown that chest radiography as a screening modality resulted in a higher discovery of early disease, but did not translate to a significant reduction in lung cancer mortality. Recent work on low-dose helical CT, however, has renewed interest in the challenge of detecting early-stage lung cancer.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection for lung cancer

VATS is a relatively new technology that has become the standard of care for basic procedures such as drainage of pleural effusion and blebectomy. VATS anatomic lung resection is more controversial. Published studies demonstrate several advantages of VATS over a standard posterolateral thoracotomy. A minimally invasive approach causes less inflammatory reaction. Acute and chronic pain are diminished. As a result, the length of hospitalization is shorter. Early and late shoulder dysfunction is less and return to work time is shorter. Taken together, these factors suggest a better overall outcome using a VATS approach. From an oncologic standpoint, lymph node dissection can be accomplished and locoregional recurrence is low. The validity of VATS for lung cancer will be determined by long-term data. A phase III national (intergroup) protocol is being drafted and will help to answer these questions.

Extended cervical mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses

BACKGROUND

Although transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) has been the preferred method for the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses, it has inherent limitations in accuracy. In particular, lymphoma and thymoma are diagnosed less reliably using needle biopsy. Videothoracoscopy has been advocated as an alternative method for diagnosis. Our goal was to assess the usefulness of extended cervical mediastinoscopy (ECM) in the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses.

METHODS

The ECM technique was performed in 9 patients in whom TNB and Tru-cut biopsies had been inefficient for histologic diagnosis. All lesions were in the anterior mediastinum. Extended cervical mediastinoscopy was carried out using the same incision as in a standard cervical mediastinoscopy and dissection was performed behind the sternum as previously published. Mean operative time was 50 minutes (range 40 to 70 minutes) and mean hospital stay was 8 hours (range 5 to 36 hours).

RESULTS

Diagnosis of lymphoma in 4 cases, thymoma in 3 cases, and thymic hyperplasia in 2 cases were obtained by ECM. In 1 of 2 patients with suspected thymoma who underwent resectional surgical procedures, final histologic diagnosis was non-small cell lung carcinoma. There was no surgical mortality or intraoperative complication. One patient had minimal pneumothorax requiring no intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that ECM in the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses is technically feasible and provides an alternative to the conventional approaches in patients with paraaortic or aortopulmonary masses.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery for diseases within the mediastinum

VATS and concepts of minimal access thoracic surgery have revitalized many aspects of general thoracic surgery, including the surgical approach to diseases and conditions of the mediastinum. Proven surgical options that have been shunned by patients and referring physicians because of the perceived morbidity of thoracotomy have been reconsidered with the emergence of these minimal access surgical options. Continued critical review of the accumulating experience in VATS techniques will refine the surgical indications for VATS and open thoracotomy.

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with or without previous malignancy: EUS-FNA-based differential cytodiagnosis in 153 patients

OBJECTIVE

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy (ML) is a cause for concern, especially in patients with previous malignancy. The investigation of choice is thoracic CT with a variable sensitivity and specificity requiring tissue diagnosis. We used endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for cytodiagnosis of ML in patients with and without previous malignancy. The cause, distribution of lesions, and incidence of second cancers were investigated.

METHODS

Linear echoendoscopes and 22-gauge needles for cytology were used for EUS-FNA. A cytological diagnosis of malignancy was accepted, and histology or consistent follow-up of at least 9 months confirmed benign results.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-three patients underwent EUS-FNA between November 1997 and November 1999 (mean age, 60 yr; range, 13-82 yr; 105 men). Cytology was adequate in 150 patients. Final diagnosis was malignancy in 84 and benign in 66 patients (sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy: 92%, 100%, 95%, respectively). In 101 patients without previous cancer cytology identified 48 malignant (lung, 41; extrathoracic, 7) and 51 benign lesions (inflammation, 35; various, 9; sarcoidosis, 7) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy: 88%, 100%, 94%). Fifty-two patients had prior malignancy, mostly in extrathoracic sites. Cytology revealed recurrences in 21 patients, second cancer in 9 and benign lesions in 21 patients (inflammatory, 11; sarcoidosis, 8; tuberculosis, 1; abscess, 1) (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy: 97%, 100%, 98%).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients without previous cancer malignant ML originates from the lung >80%. In those with previous malignancy recurrence of extrathoracic sites is the major cause. Benign lesions and treatable second cancers occur in a significant frequency, emphasizing the need for tissue diagnosis. EUS-FNA is a safe and minimally invasive alternative for cytodiagnosis in the mediastinum.

Staging and the surgical management of lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer remains a nonsurgical disease with the majority (80%) of cases presenting in higher stages. The primary treatment modalities for small cell lung cancer are radiation therapy and systemic chemotherapy, often administered concomitantly. This article focuses on the staging and surgical management of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Semi-invasive and invasive procedures for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. II. Bronchoscopic and surgical procedures

Each of the various techniques used for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer has its advantages and limitations (Table 1). Imaging has a major role in guiding these procedures and deciding which of them is most appropriate in a given clinical setting. A CT examination by which the size and location of the parenchymal lesion and the presence and location of enlarged lymph nodes can be determined is a prerequisite for all sampling procedures. As a general rule, when attempting to diagnose a solitary pulmonary nodule or mass, central lesions are more easily approached by the bronchoscopic route, whereas a transthoracic route is preferred for peripheral lesions. Bronchoscopy is often performed using fluoroscopic guidance, and the recently developed CT fluoroscopy and endoscopic ultrasound have the potential to facilitate transbronchial needle aspiration. A recent advent in imaging of lung cancer has been the introduction of positron emission tomography to the diagnostic work-up of lung cancer. Although this technique has been shown to be highly accurate in determining the malignant or benign nature of lesions, it does not enable histologic diagnosis. In each case, the most appropriate diagnostic procedure should be tailored to suit the specific requirements determined by the characteristics of the disease process, institutional availability of the various diagnostic procedures, and patient preferences, when possible.

Diagnosis and staging of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer among men and women in the United States. Lung cancer can present in a myriad of ways and the goal of prompt diagnosis and staging requires that the clinician be able to knowledgeably choose from a variety of tools available for such purpose. Review of some of these tools and general strategies with regard to staging is provided. Many new technologies are becoming available and much evaluation needs to be done before their proper roles become well defined. Little has changed with regard to staging of small cell lung cancer in recent years. The International System for Staging Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer was revised for a second time in 1997. Although the revisions have largely corrected the shortcomings of the 1985 version, some controversies persist. Whenever possible, a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis, staging, and therapy should be utilized. This should include incorporating the services of the pulmonologist, the thoracic surgeon, the medical oncologist, the radiologist, the radiation therapist, the pathologist, the respiratory therapist, and the social worker.

Role of transesophageal endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of lung cancer

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Bronchoscopic methods fail to diagnose lung cancer in up to 30% of patients. We studied the role of transesophageal endosonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA; EUS-FNA) in such patients.

DESIGN

Prospective study. The final diagnosis was confirmed by cytology, histology, or clinical follow-up.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirty-five patients (30 male and 5 female; mean age, 60.9 years; range, 34 to 88 years) with suspected lung cancer in whom bronchoscopic methods failed. Patients with a known diagnosis, recurrence of lung cancer, or mediastinal metastasis from an extrathoracic primary were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

EUS and guided FNA of mediastinal lymph nodes.

RESULTS

The procedure was uneventful, and material was adequate in all. The final diagnosis by EUS-FNA was malignancy in 25 patients (11 adenocarcinoma, 10 small cell, 3 squamous cell, and 1 lymphoma) and benign disease in 9 patients (5 inflammatory, 2 sarcoidosis, and 2 anthracosis). Another patient with a benign result had signet-ring cell carcinoma diagnosed on pleural fluid cytology (probably false-negative in EUS-FNA). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were 96, 100, 97, 100, and 90%, respectively. There were no complications. Reviewing the EUS morphology, the nodes were predominantly located in levels 7 and 8 of American Thoracic Society mediastinal lymph node mapping (subcarinal and paraesophageal region). In seven patients, the punctured nodes were < 1 cm (four malignant and three benign), which are difficult to sample by other methods. The malignant nodes had a hypoechoic, homogenous echotexture.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS-FNA is a safe, reliable, and accurate method to establish the diagnosis of suspected lung cancer when bronchoscopic methods fail, especially in the presence of small nodes.

[Role of video-thoracoscopy in the pretreatment evaluation of lung carcinoma]

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is the first cause of cancer mortality in male patients in France. Treatment varies depending on the histological type and the disease extent at diagnosis.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

Videothoracoscopic staging appears to be an accurate method to assess the stage of lung cancer to guide rational management as it allows for 1) an accurate tissue diagnosis when standard methods failed, 2) the identification of a parietal or mediastinal invasion when suspected by CT-scan findings, 3) lymph node sampling of sites that are poorly or not reachable with mediastinoscopy, 4) the diagnosis of pleural or pericardial metastases in patients with effusion or indeterminate nodules, and finally 5) the conclusive answer to the diagnostic dilemma caused by the presence of a contralateral pulmonary nodule in patients with a potentially curable tumor.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

Video-assisted thoracoscopy thus appears to have a complementary role in intrathoracic lung cancer staging when conventional methods are equivocal. Its main side-advantage is the opportunity to proceed without delay to the surgical treatment, when appropriate, in the same operative settings, or to perform in the same session various procedures, i.e., talc poudrage and pericardial window, to palliate adverse symptoms occurring in some of those patients. Obviously, equally efficient and less invasive approaches should have been considered previously. To date, however, videothoracoscopic evaluation of tumor resectability is not achievable. Finally, one may suppose that positron emission tomography will probably reduce the role of those invasive surgical procedures in a near future.

Surgical endoscopic techniques in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with lymphoma

BACKGROUND

In patients with lymphoma, tissue for histology can be obtained through image-guided techniques or by surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of surgical endoscopic techniques in obtaining adequate tissue specimens.

METHODS

Ninety-two patients with suspected or confirmed lymphoma were referred for a surgical biopsy of a deeply located intrathoracic or intra-abdominal mass or lymph node. The 86 patients who had surgery using a surgical endoscopic technique were included in this study. There were 54 men and 32 women, of mean age 34 (range 15-78) years. Most were selected directly for surgery while five previously had a failed computed tomography-guided biopsy. A total of 89 procedures were performed in 86 patients: laparoscopy (15 patients), thoracoscopy (61) and mediastinoscopy (13).

RESULTS

No patient died. One intraoperative complication occurred during thoracoscopy (1 per cent). Two postoperative complications were noted (2 per cent). Three patients required conversion to open surgery (3 per cent). Adequate tissue for histology was obtained by surgical endoscopic procedures in 87 per cent. Twelve of 13 mediastinoscopies were successful. After thoracoscopy, the success rate was 92 per cent but only nine of 15 laparoscopies were considered successful.

CONCLUSION

In patients with lymphoma, surgical endoscopic techniques have a high diagnostic yield and a low morbidity rate. Barring exceptional circumstances these should be favoured rather than conventional open surgery.

The role of thoracoscopy in lung cancer management

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has enabled more complex procedures previously requiring thoracotomy to be accomplished in lung cancer management. VATS today can be employed in the evaluation of idiopathic (and known) malignant pleural effusions, mediastinal adenopathy, indeterminate pulmonary nodules, and compromise resection and lobectomy of peripheral stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Thus, VATS is becoming an accepted approach to a variety of intrathoracic problems, although its absolute indications for patients with lung cancer have yet to be firmly defined. This article reviews the authors' current experience with VATS procedures in the treatment of patients with lung cancer.

Thoracoscopic staging of IIIB non-small cell lung cancer before neoadjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND

Bronchoscopy and imaging techniques are the most valuable tools for noninvasive staging of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer but their overall accuracy is not satisfactory. Neoadjuvant therapy protocols require strict criteria for patient selection and invasive staging should be carried out to establish standardized inclusion criteria and to homogenize posttreatment results. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the role of thoracoscopy in the assessment of the real extent of lung cancer in patients with the clinical suspicion of stage IIIB disease.

METHODS

From January 1993 to March 1996, we observed 64 patients with suspected IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Forty-three patients were considered eligible for this study and were divided into three groups: group I, cytologically negative pleural effusion (n = 10); group II, computed tomographic suspicion of mediastinal infiltration (n = 30); and group III, contralateral lymphadenopathy not accessible by mediastinoscopy (n = 3).

RESULTS

No complications related to thoracoscopy occurred. Of 10 patients in group I, thoracoscopy up-staged the disease to IIIB in 6 (60%). Of 30 patients with suspicion of T4 (group II), thoracoscopy confirmed T4 in 15 patients (50%). Nine (30%) were downstaged to stage IIIA and 2 (6.6%) to stage II. In 4 patients (13.4%) thoracoscopy failed to yield definitive staging. In all 3 patients of group III, thoracoscopy confirmed stage IIIB.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopy proved adequate for correct staging in 39 of 43 patients (91%); therefore, it should be considered in the staging work-up of suspected stage IIIB patients.

Treatment strategy for patients with surgically discovered N2 stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The treatment strategy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and clinically negative, but surgically detected mediastinal lymph node metastasis (surgically discovered N2 disease) is controversial.

METHODS

From August 1979 through December 1994, 53 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were found to have surgically discovered N2 disease. We retrospectively studied the clinical characteristics and the factors that influenced the prognosis in these patients.

RESULTS

The 3-year and 5-year survival rates and the median survival for the 53 patients with surgically discovered N2 disease were 44%, 21%, and 26 months. Two thirds of the patients had adenocarcinoma. Only complete resection affected long-term survival; adjuvant therapy had no effect on survival. In regard to lymph node status, a single metastatic focus in the aortic area was associated with long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with adenocarcinoma may require histologic determination of N2 disease. Complete resection, including extensive and complete mediastinal lymph node dissection, is warranted in patients with surgically discovered N2 disease. In particular, when the aortic lymph node (including stations 5 and 6) alone is involved, the patients should undergo as complete a resection as possible.

Mediastinoscopy vs thoracoscopy for mediastinal biopsy. Results of a prospective nonrandomized study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the results and the morbidity of thoracoscopy compared with conventional mediastinoscopy for the approach of mediastinal solid masses and lymph nodes, we have performed a prospective study about the respective yields, complication rates, and the length of hospital stay for patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have included 114 patients in the study. The criteria of inclusion were the accessibility of the lymph nodes and/or mass to cervical mediastinoscopy through CT scan view. There were 2 groups: 52 patients underwent a mediastinoscopy (group M) and 62 underwent a thoracoscopy (group T).

RESULTS

There were 3 failures in group M (5.7%) and 5 failures in group T (8.1%) (not significant; NS). In group M, the three procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases) and to thoracoscopy (one case). In group T, the five procedures were converted to anterior mediastinotomy (two cases), mediastinoscopy (two cases), and thoracotomy (one case). The diagnostic yield was 94.3% in group M and 91.9% in group T (NS). After conversion, a diagnosis was reached in all patients in group M (100%) and in all but 1 patient in group T (98.3%) (NS). There was no intraoperative complication in group M, while 2 complications occurred in group T (3.2%) (p < 0.05). The overall morbidity was zero in group M and 4.8% in group T (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic yield of mediastinoscopy is comparable to thoracoscopy. Complication rate and hospital stay of patients undergoing mediastinoscopy are significantly inferior. Thoracoscopy should be indicated only for lesions that are not within the reach of the mediastinoscope or when multiple biopsy specimens are necessary.

[Value of video-assisted thoracic surgery in internal medicine. Apropos of 7 cases]

Since a few years, the medical thoracoscopy has already been used specially for the diagnostic and therapeutic taking up of the pleural pathology. Behind it, the video-assisted thoracic surgery has been improved since 1990. As a surgical technology, it proved its interest refering to the classical thoracotomy by lessening operative morbidity and mortality. The authors discuss its main indications about seven cases, recruted in the internal medicine service and operated in the thoracic surgery service of the Val-de-Grâce hospital. Some of these indications are now admited by most of the authors: 1) diagnostic aims: pulmonary biopsy in case of interstitial pathology, of pulmonary peripheral under-pleural nodule and sometimes of solid tumors of the mediastinum, specially of some lymph-nodes. 2) Therapeutic aims: the spontaneous pneumothorax treatment of the adult remains the most classical indication; the thoracic sympathectomy, the creation of pleuropericardial windows and the resection of benign tumors of the mediastinum are now well acknowledged indications.

Thorascopic staging of stomal recurrence

BACKGROUND

Squamous cell carcinoma of the low cervical area may be secondary to stomal recurrence following laryngectomy, low cervical esophageal disease, or peritracheal metastasis. Most often patients with disease in this area have already received both surgery and radiotherapy. Prior to Sisson's description of the trans-sternal radical neck dissection or mediastinal dissection the management and prognosis was uniformly poor. Since then, a number of authors have reported their experience with mediastinal dissection. Survival remains poor but palliation has been acceptable. Unfortunately, resectability of the disease cannot often be determined prior to the actual surgical procedure. A number of patients are explored only to have the procedure terminated. Thoracoscopy is a procedure that involves insertion of two or three trocars into the right thoracic cavity with collapse of the right lung. A form of endoscopic surgery, it permits visualization and dissection of the important structures of the mediastinum. Tracheal, esophageal, and great vessel invasion by tumor can be evaluated.

METHODS

Prospectively, all patients initially seen with stomal recurrence from 1991 to 1994 were evaluated. CT scans, MRIs as well as thoracoscopy were performed when indicated.

RESULTS

One patient required conversion to a minithoracotomy involving a 7-cm chest incision. The patient was found to have unresectable disease with tumor involving the great vessels of the mediastinum. A second patient was found to have unresectable disease with tumor encasing the subclavian artery. The third patient was found to have no mediastinum involvement. The patient with no mediastinum involvement underwent a stomal resection with mediastinal dissection. Reconstruction with a pectoralis major myogenous flap was performed. The patient has remained disease free to date. The remaining two patients were judged to have unresectable disease and were offered palliative treatment. Both of these patients died of the disease within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracoscopy provides important information in judging the surgical resectability of patients with stomal recurrence. This procedure has not been previously described in the otolaryngologic literature. We provide some suggestions for its use in the evaluation of the mediastinal extent of disease.