Posterior midline approach for single-stage en bloc resection and circumferential spinal stabilization for locally advanced Pancoast tumors

Extended salvage surgery after high-dose chemoradiation therapy for tumors in the cervico-thoracic junction with invasion of the chest wall and the spine: a case series

The treatment of malignant tumors localized in the upper thoracic cavity and involving the spine at the cervico-thoracic junction (CTJ) is challenging. We report on three patients with malignant tumors invading the thoracic inlet and the spine at the CTJ. All three patients underwent radical tumor resection and 360° spine fusion following the posterior pedicle screw instrumentation and anterior vertebrectomy combined with implantation of an expandable titanium cage. Postoperatively, a mild paresis with hypesthesia of the ipsilateral arm occurred in one patient because of brachial plexus involvement. Two patients were still alive at last follow-up after 83 and 143 months, the third patient succumbed to tumor progression 13 months after extended salvage surgery. We display the possibilities of extended 'salvage' therapy in well-selected patients that were deemed hopeless regarding neurological function, biomechanical stability and tumor control after multiple courses of combined radio-chemotherapy.

Magnetic Resonance-Based Morphological Features of the Manubrium and the Surgeons' View Line: When to Use Manubriotomy?

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify the morphological features of the relationship between the manubrium and vertebrae of the cervicothoracic junction for use in guidelines for the selection of the appropriate surgical approach.

METHODS

We performed a review of 222 midsagittal section magnetic resonance imaging scans. The surgeons' view line was parallel to the inferior caudal vertebral endplate. Morphometric measurement of the manubrium and the cervicothoracic junction's vertebral body included the distance from the highest point of the manubrium to the surgeons' view line and the angle between that line to the horizontal line.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found with regard to the distance between the groups (P < 0.001). A significant difference between males and females was also identified. The lowest level above the manubrium was the T1. Between the groups, the angles were significantly different (P ≤ 0.01). Males had a larger angle than females with respect to groups C6, C7, T1 (P < 0.001), and T2 (P = 0.007). In terms of both the distance and the angle, no significant difference was found according to age (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results have provided insight into the anatomy of the manubrium and vertebrae of the cervicothoracic junction. Furthermore, our results have shown that, for most people, the T1 forms the boundary of the manubriotomy. We found that both the distance and angle differed significantly according to sex. A better understanding of the radiological anatomy of the surgeons' view line will help in the preoperative assessment of patients and in indicating an appropriate surgical approach.

Single Posterior Approach for En-Bloc Resection and Stabilization for Locally Advanced Pancoast Tumors Involving the Spine: Single Centre Experience

STUDY DESIGN

Monocentric prospective study.

PURPOSE

To assess the safety and effectiveness of the posterior approach for resection of advanced Pancoast tumors.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

In patients with advanced Pancoast tumors invading the spine, most surgical teams consider the combined approach to be necessary for "en-bloc" resection to control visceral, vascular, and neurological structures. We report our preliminary experience with a single-stage posterior approach.

METHODS

We included all patients who underwent posterior en-bloc resection of advanced Pancoast tumors invading the spine in our institution between January 2014 and May 2015. All patients had locally advanced tumors without N2 nodes or distant metastases. All patients, except 1, benefited from induction treatment consisting of a combination of concomitant chemotherapy (cisplatin-VP16) and radiation.

RESULTS

Five patients were included in this study. There were 2 men and 3 women with a mean age of 55 years (range, 46-61 years). The tumor involved 2 adjacent levels in 1 patient, 3 levels in 1 patient, and 4 levels in 3 patients. There were no intraoperative complications. The mean operative time was 9 hours (range, 8-12 hours), and the mean estimated blood loss was 3.2 L (range, 1.5-7 L). No patient had a worsened neurological condition at discharge. Four complications occurred in 4 patients. Three complications required reoperation and none was lethal. The mean follow-up was 15.5 months (range, 9-24 months). Four patients harbored microscopically negative margins (R0 resection) and remained disease free. One patient harbored a microscopically positive margin (R1 resection) and exhibited local recurrence at 8 months following radiation treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The posterior approach was a valuable option that avoided the need for a second-stage operation. Induction chemoradiation is highly suitable for limiting the risk of local recurrence.

Chest wall reconstruction after en bloc Pancoast tumour resection with the use of MatrixRib and SILC fixation systems: technical note

STUDY DESIGN

Technical note.

OBJECTIVE

In cases in which partial resection of the rib cage is accomplished with vertebrectomy, reconstruction of the chest wall may be challenging. That is because of lack of the anchor point which normally would be a proximal end of a rib or transverse process. We report a straightforward technique for chest wall reconstruction with the novel use of two systems of fixation commonly applied in spinal practice.

METHODS

The operation of a squamous cell carcinoma (Pancoast tumour) of the right lung infiltrating T2, T3 and T4 vertebrae was performed though T4 lateral thoracotomy. Posterior instrumentation with transpedicular screws T1-3-5 on the left and T1-5 on the right side was followed with the right upper lobectomy and hemivertebrectomy. The laminae and facet joints of T2-T4 vertebrae were removed on the side of the tumour. An osteotomy was performed medial to the pedicle at the lateral aspect of the dural sac on the side of the tumour. Proximal parts of four adjacent ribs were removed allowing radical en bloc resection with tumour-free margins. The distal end of each of four rib plates used (MatrixRib Precontoured Plate system) was attached to the proximal end of the rib. The proximal end of the plate was then attached to the rod of posterior fixation construct with the use of a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PeT) band of the SILC™ fixation system. The other end of the PeT band was then passed through the top-loading clamp subsequently attached to the rod of the posterior fixation.

RESULTS

The patient did not require additional procedures for chest wall reconstruction. On the 7-month follow-up, in chest CT he was found with satisfactory expansion of the remaining lung tissue with proper spinal alignment and anatomical shape of the rib cage.

CONCLUSIONS

The reported technique can be applied for chest wall reconstruction in cases of total or subtotal vertebrectomy accomplished with the resection extending towards rib cage. It appears to be straightforward, safe and effective allowing good cosmetic and functional outcome.

Management of locally advanced pancoast (superior sulcus) tumors with spine involvement

BACKGROUND

The preferred treatment for locally aggressive lung cancers is triple modality therapy with concurrent and induction chemotherapy with radiation therapy followed by surgery. Patients with locally advanced T4 Pancoast tumors with spine involvement, without mediastinal N2 lymph node involvement and without distant metastases, are appropriate candidates for complete resection with subsequent spine reconstruction. This review addresses the questions of whether triple modality therapy with complete en bloc resection of locally advanced Pancoast tumors offers an advantage in terms of overall survival and complication rates compared with other therapeutic modalities or therapies with incomplete resection.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using common medical databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for the articles were prospectively defined. The articles were independently reviewed and a consensus decision was made about each article. Selected papers were graded by level of evidence.

RESULTS

A total of 1,001 abstracts and 93 articles fulfilled the criteria; from these studies, 14 were included in this systematic review. No level 1 study was found in this search. Four level 2 studies and 10 level 3 retrospective case series were found. The overall 5-year survival rate reported in these studies ranged from 37% to 59% and the mortality rate ranged from 0% to 6.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence suggests that triple modality therapy with complete resection of locally advanced Pancoast tumors with involvement of the spine offers an advantage over other therapeutic modalities or therapies with incomplete resections.

Surgical planning and neurological outcome after anterior approach to remove a disc herniation at the C7-T1 level in 19 patients

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to report the neurological presentation, outcome and surgical planning in a series of patients with a symptomatic single-level C7-T1 disc herniation who underwent anterior surgical discectomy and fusion.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Disc herniations at C7-T1 are uncommon, and there are few large series in the literature describing anterior treatment of such herniations.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent surgery for a C7-T1 disc herniation and reviewed the medical records, operative reports, and imaging studies. The surgeons' view line was drawn and its relation to the manubrium and the great vessels was determined on T1 sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The location of the herniated disc in the spinal canal was determined using a T2 axial magnetic resonance imaging and classified as central, foraminal, and central/foraminal. Loss of muscle strength was evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up according to the classification of the Medical Research Council. The disc space was approached anteriorly by a standard cervical supramanubrial Smith-Robinson approach.

RESULTS

We identified 19 patients who had undergone C7-T1 discectomy and fusion. The mean age of the sample was 54.26 ± 8.65 years. There was a higher proportion of male patients (57.9%, 11/19). The clinical presentation was predominantly motor deficit in 15/19 cases (78.9%) in intrinsic hand muscles, and usually improved after surgery. The mean follow-up period was 27.05 ± 15.10 months. All the patients underwent an anterior cervical supramanubrial approach with microdiscectomy and fusion. Anterior cervical plate fixation was used in 9/19 cases (47.3%). In the rest of the cases, a stand-alone intervertebral device was placed.

CONCLUSION

An anterior cervical supramanubrial approach was easily accomplished in all patients. Motor deficit was the most common surgical indication.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with posterior spinal reconstruction for the resection of upper lobe lung tumors involving the spine

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is associated with less morbidity and recovery time compared with traditional open thoracotomy (OT) for the resection of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Local invasion of NSCLC into adjacent vertebrae confers a TNM T status of T4. Anatomical lobectomy by VATS with simultaneous posterior spinal reconstruction (PSR), as a single procedure, offers advantages to selected patients judged as suitable candidates for resection.

PURPOSE

To report the preliminary results of a novel, multidisciplinary surgical technique for the treatment of upper lobe lung cancers with direct extension to the spine.

STUDY DESIGN

Consecutive case series.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Eight adults who underwent PSR with either VATS or OT for the treatment of a T4 (vertebral body invasion) NSCLC.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Total operative time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis, survival, reoperations, and any other intraoperative or postoperative complication.

METHODS

Eight consecutive patients who underwent instrumented PSR with corpectomy for the treatment of an upper lobe NSCLC at a single institution were identified. Either VATS (n=4) or OT (n=4) was performed at the time of the reconstruction in each patient. All tumors were stage III NSCLC without metastasis.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent VATS and OT were aged 54±11 and 54±2.9 years, respectively. Mean operative time and blood loss were similar between the groups: VATS: 367±117 minutes versus OT: 518±264 minutes; VATS: 813±463 mL versus OT: 1,250±1,500 mL. Mean follow-up was 16±13 months after surgery. Complications occurred in all eight patients. One OT patient had wound dehiscence requiring a tissue flap, and another suffered from a septic shock. No wound complications developed after VATS. Death secondary to tumor recurrence occurred once in each group. For the six surviving patients, 23±15 months (range, 4.5-43 months) have elapsed since surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with PSR is a novel and viable method for the complete resection of T4 NSCLC.

Severe kyphosis with spinal cord compression after resection of a superior sulcus tumor

Vertebral involvement is no longer a contraindication for resection of superior sulcus tumors. We describe a patient who developed a kyphoscoliosis with spinal cord compression after resection of a superior sulcus tumor that invaded the vertebral column. Risk factors for spinal instability and indications for stabilization are discussed.

Anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction: proposed indication for manubriotomy based on preoperative computed tomography findings

Object

The purpose of this study was to present straightforward preoperative methods to define the need for manubriotomy in the anterior surgical approach to the cervicothoracic junction.

Methods

Preoperative MR imaging and CT scanning studies were performed in all patients. The CT images with sagittal reconstructions including the manubrium were done to apply the so-called surgeons' view line. This line is parallel to the inferior plateau of the superior healthy vertebrae or the vertebrae above the herniated intervertebral disc, and the decision concerning the need for manubriotomy depends on the correlation between this line and the manubrium.

Results

Preoperative planning of the need for manubriotomy was correct in all cases. Manubriotomy was never performed in C-7 corpectomy or C7–T1 discectomy cases; nevertheless, manubriotomy was needed in half of the cases when the T-1 corpectomy was the lowest level to be resected (8 cases), and in 4 cases the lowest level to be approached was T-2. The mean surgical time, bleeding volume, postoperative pain intensity, and length of hospital stay were less in the cervicotomy than in the manubriotomy group.

Conclusions

By using the surgeons' view line and its correlation with the manubrium, the need for manubriotomy can be predicted without compromising decompression and reconstruction. The statistical differences observed in the surgical variables between the manubriotomy and cervicotomy cases justified the use of preoperative evaluation of the need for manubriotomy as an aid to surgical planning and to give the patient and family realistic expectations about the surgery.

Surgery in the cervicothoracic junction with an anterior low suprasternal approach alone or combined with manubriotomy and sternotomy: an approach selection method based on the cervicothoracic angle

Object

The authors propose an easy MR imaging method to measure and categorize individual anatomical variations within the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ). Furthermore, they propose guidelines for selection of the appropriate approach based on this new categorization system.

Methods

In the midsagittal section of the cervicothoracic MR imaging studies obtained in 95 Chinese patients, a triangle was drawn among 3 points: the suprasternal notch (SSN), the midpoint of the anterior border of the C7/T1 intervertebral disc, and the corresponding anterior border in the CTJ at the level of the SSN. The angle above the SSN was specified as the cervicothoracic angle (CTA). The spatial position between the brachiocephalic vein (BCV), the aortic arch, and the CTA was also measured. Based on these measurements involving the CTA, 3 different patient-specific categorizations are proposed to assist surgeons with selection of the appropriate anterior approach to the CTJ. Three categories of operative approach based on whether the most caudal part of the lesion site was above, within, or below the area of the CTA were classified. The patients were divided into long- or short-necked groups based on whether their own CTA was greater than (long necked) or less than (short necked) the average CTA. Finally, a left BCV was called superiorly located when it coursed above the manubrium. The method was evaluated in 21 patients with spinal bone tumors in the CTJ to illustrate the measurement of both the CTA and the great vessels, and corresponding approach selections.

Results

In this series of 95 patients, the most common vertebra above the SSN was T-3, especially the upper one-third of T-3. The mean CTA was 47.64°. The left BCV was superior to the manubrium in 21.1% of the 95 cases, and 93.6% of the left BCVs were at the T-2 and T-3 levels. Type A and most Type B lesions could be addressed via a low suprasternal approach, or this approach combined with manubriotomy, if necessary. Type C lesions falling below the CTA will need alternative exposure techniques, including manubriotomy, sternotomy, lateral extracavitary, or thoracotomy. The spinal levels that could be exposed in the long-necked CTJ group were always 1 or 2 vertebral levels lower than those in the short-necked CTJ group during the anterior low suprasternal approach without the manubriotomy.

Conclusions

Imaging of the thoracic manubrium should be routinely included on MR imaging studies obtained in the CTJ. It is important for the surgeon to understand the pertinent anatomy of the individual patients and to determine the feasible surgical approaches after evaluating the CTA and vascular factors preoperatively. An anterior low suprasternal approach, or this approach combined with manubriotomy, is applicable in most of the cases in the CTJ. It should be cautioned that preoperatively unrecognized variations of the left BCV above the SSN might result in potential intraoperative trauma during an anterior approach.