Two cases of granuloma mimicking local recurrence after pulmonary segmentectomy

Effective division of the intersegmental plane using a robotic stapler in robotic pulmonary segmentectomy

PURPOSES

Robot-assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) segmentectomy is becoming increasingly common because of the expanded indications for segmentectomy and the widespread adoption of robotic surgery. The precise division of the intersegmental plane is necessary to ensure oncologic margins from the tumor and to preserve the lung function. In this study, we present a strategy for accurately dividing the intersegmental plane using a robotic stapler and review the surgical outcomes.

METHODS

RATS portal segmentectomy was performed using the Da Vinci Xi system and the intersegmental plane was dissected using a robotic stapler. We evaluated the perioperative outcomes in 92 patients who underwent RATS portal segmentectomy between May 2020 and January 2023. These results were compared with those of 82 patients who underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (CVATS) during the same period.

RESULTS

The operative and console times were 162 and 97 min, respectively. No intraoperative complications occurred, and postoperative complications were observed in four cases (4.3%). The operative time, blood loss, postoperative complications, and maximum incision size were significantly lower in the RATS group than in the CVATS group. However, RATS requires a significantly higher number of staplers than CVATS.

CONCLUSIONS

The division of the intersegmental plane using a robotic stapler in RATS portal segmentectomy was, therefore, found to be safe and effective.

Long-term Intense 18F-FDG Uptake by the Homeostatic Matrix-associated Inflammatory Response May Mimic Malignancy Recurrence

A 70-year-old man underwent right upper lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma. During the operation, hemostatic matrix (as known Floseal®) was used to prevent pulmonary laceration-associated bleeding. When 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed for staging after surgery, intense 18F-FDG uptake was observed in the cicatricial fibrotic tissue in the operation area, and no significant change was observed in that area during the 4-year follow-up. Because it remained stable for several years without treatment, this finding was thought to be due to a foreign body reaction caused by the homeostatic material.

Residual middle lobectomy after right upper or lower lobectomy: indications and outcome

OBJECTIVES

Residual middle lobectomy after upper lobectomy and lower lobectomy differs in their indications and perioperative outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the indications and perioperative outcomes of residual middle lobectomy after upper and lower lobectomy.

METHODS

The data of 14 patients who underwent residual middle lobectomy after upper or lower lobectomy between January 1997 and December 2021 were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, six patients underwent residual middle lobectomy after upper lobectomy. The indication was second primary lung cancer in five patients and local recurrence in the hilar lymph node between the middle and lower lobar bronchi in one patient. However, one patient was treated with the R2 operation. The remaining eight patients underwent residual middle lobectomy after lower lobectomy. The indication was second primary lung cancer and bronchopleural fistula or stenosis in two and six patients, respectively. No postoperative 90-day mortality was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual middle lobectomy for second lung cancer after upper lobectomy is difficult because of severe hilar adhesions. Simultaneous resection of hilar structures or pulmonary artery and parenchyma might be an option. Residual middle lobectomy could be a treatment option for bronchopleural fistula or stenosis after lower lobectomy.

PET-positive suture granuloma of abdominal wall 56 years post-appendicectomy mimicking recurrence of lymphoma

We present a unique case of a positron emission tomography (PET)-positive suture granuloma deep to an appendicectomy abdominal wall scar from 56 years prior in a patient with treated lymphoma. The lesion was first detected 8 years ago on a PET scan for new diagnosis of follicular lymphoma, with stable appearances 6 and 7 years later at follow-up. Ultrasound-guided biopsy and flow cytometry of the specimen could not exclude an untreated or recurrent lymphoma; thus, the patient underwent resection of the right iliac fossa abdominal wall lesion. Histopathology results noted granulomatous inflammation surrounding foreign material. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged from surgical services. In this paper, we review the current literature and discuss the dilemma involved in the diagnosis and management of suture granulomas.

Pulmonary completion lobectomy after segmentectomy: An integrated analysis of perioperative outcomes

Background

Completion lobectomy (CL) after anatomical segmentectomy is technically challenging and rarely performed. Here, we aimed to report perioperative outcomes of a single center real‐world CL data.

Methods

Seven patients who underwent CL after segmentectomy were retrospectively evaluated between 2015–2021. Additionally, 34 patients were included in the review based on relevant studies in the literature until March 2022. A total of 41 patients were finally analyzed and classified into groups, according to surgical approach (video‐assisted thoracic surgery [VATS] and thoracotomy; 12 and 29 patients, respectively) or interval‐to‐CL following initial segmentectomy (≤8 weeks [short] and >8 weeks [long]; 11 and 30 patients, respectively).

Results

There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, or complications between the predefined groups. However, a longer operative time was observed in the long interval‐to‐CL group than in the short interval‐to‐CL group (267 vs. 226 min, p = 0.02). The rate of severe hilar adhesions was higher in the thoracotomy versus VATS groups (72 vs. 42%, p = 0.06) and in the long versus short interval‐to‐CL groups (70 vs. 45%, p = 0.15). On multivariable logistic regression analysis of a subgroup (n = 30), completion lobectomy of upper lobes may be associated with severe hilar adhesions (p = 0.02, odds ratio: 13.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–143.71).

Conclusion

Completion lobectomy after segmentectomy can be performed securely by either VATS or thoracotomy. Although the thoracotomy and long interval‐to‐CL groups retained a greater percentage of severe hilar adhesions, the perioperative outcomes were similar to those of VATS and short interval‐to‐CL groups, respectively.

Completion lobectomy after anatomical segmentectomy

OBJECTIVES

Completion lobectomy (CL) after anatomical segmentectomy in the same lobe can be complicated by severe adhesions around the hilar structures and may lead to fatal bleeding and lung injury. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the perioperative outcomes of CL after anatomical segmentectomy.

METHODS

Among 461 patients who underwent anatomical segmentectomy (thoracotomy, 62 patients; thoracoscopic surgery, 399 patients) between January 2005 and December 2019, data of patients who underwent CL after segmentectomy were extracted and analysed in this study.

RESULTS

Eight patients underwent CL after segmentectomy. CL was performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery in 3 patients and thoracotomy in 5 patients. In each case, there were moderate to severe adhesions. Four patients required simultaneous resection of the pulmonary parenchyma and pulmonary artery. Thoracotomy was not required after thoracoscopic surgery in any patient. Two patients experienced complications (air leakage and arrhythmia). The median duration of hospitalization after CL was 6 (range, 5-7) days. No postoperative mortality or recurrence of lung cancer was observed. All the patients with lung cancer were alive and recurrence-free at the time of publication.

CONCLUSIONS

Although individual adhesions render surgery difficult, CL after anatomical segmentectomy shows acceptable perioperative outcomes. However, CL by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery may be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the initial surgery.

The postoperative chest in lung cancer

Most of the complications following lung cancer surgery occur in the early postoperative period and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Delayed complications can also occur. Diagnosing these complications can be challenging because clinical manifestations are non-specific. Imaging plays an important role in detecting these complications in a timely manner and facilitates prompt interventions. Hence, it is important to have knowledge of the expected anatomical alterations following lung cancer surgeries, and the spectrum of post-surgical complications and their respective imaging findings to avoid misinterpretations or delay in diagnosis.

Differentiation between suture recurrence and suture granuloma after pulmonary resection for lung cancer by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging or FDG-PET / CT

There has been no publication which supports the usefulness of DWI differentiating for suture recurrence and suture granuloma after resection for lung cancer. We presented efficacy of DWI or FDG-PET/CT for an assessment of suture lesions after resection for lung cancer. Thirteen suture recurrences and 15 suture granulomas were examined. There were 24 adenocarcinomas and 4 squamous cell carcinomas, and 26 partial resections and 2 segmentectomies. The period of time (907±907 days) between surgery and suture recurrence was not significantly longer than that (546±547 days) between surgery and suture granuloma. Diffusion detectability scores (a 5-point scale) of suture recurrences was significantly higher than that of suture granulomas. The ADC value (1.35±0.24 × 10^-3mm²/sec) of suture recurrences was significantly lower than that (1.85±0.60 × 10^-3mm²/sec) of suture granulomas. The SUVmax (6.1 ± 5.0) of suture recurrences was not significantly higher than that (4.2 ± 2.5) of suture granulmas. The sensitivity of 85% (11/13) with DWI was not significantly higher than 69% (9/13) with FDG-PET/CT for suture recurrences. The specificity of 73% (11/15) with DWI was not significantly higher than the 60% (9/15) with FDG-PET/CT for suture granulomas. The accuracy of 79% (22/28) with DWI was not significantly higher than that of 64% (18/28) with FDG-PET/CT for suture recurrences and granulomas. DWI can differentiate suture granuloma from suture recurrence after resection of lung cancer. DWI is more useful than FDG-PET/CT for the differentiation between suture recurrence and suture granuloma after resection for lung cancer.

Biodegradable materials for bone defect repair

Compared with non-degradable materials, biodegradable biomaterials play an increasingly important role in the repairing of severe bone defects, and have attracted extensive attention from researchers. In the treatment of bone defects, scaffolds made of biodegradable materials can provide a crawling bridge for new bone tissue in the gap and a platform for cells and growth factors to play a physiological role, which will eventually be degraded and absorbed in the body and be replaced by the new bone tissue. Traditional biodegradable materials include polymers, ceramics and metals, which have been used in bone defect repairing for many years. Although these materials have more or fewer shortcomings, they are still the cornerstone of our development of a new generation of degradable materials. With the rapid development of modern science and technology, in the twenty-first century, more and more kinds of new biodegradable materials emerge in endlessly, such as new intelligent micro-nano materials and cell-based products. At the same time, there are many new fabrication technologies of improving biodegradable materials, such as modular fabrication, 3D and 4D printing, interface reinforcement and nanotechnology. This review will introduce various kinds of biodegradable materials commonly used in bone defect repairing, especially the newly emerging materials and their fabrication technology in recent years, and look forward to the future research direction, hoping to provide researchers in the field with some inspiration and reference.