Availability of lobe-selective bronchial blockade for video-assisted thoracic surgery

Background: Stable oxygenation and sufficient collapse of the lung are essential for video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We performed the lobe-selective lung collapse technique with VATS for patients who had deteriorated lung function. Methods and Results: Case 1: A 75-year-old man who had undergone thoracoplasty showed spontaneous pneumothoraces in the contralateral side. Bullae were stapled successfully under complete isolation and collapse of diseased lobe. Case 2: A 57-year-old woman who had undergone left lower lobectomy for lung cancer presented with another lung cancer in the right lower lobe. The right lower lobe bronchus was closed selectively, and basal segmentectomy was performed. Case 3: A 60-year-old woman who had lost left lung function presented with right-side spontaneous pneumothoraces. The right upper lobe was collapsed selectively, and bullectomy was performed. Conclusion: Lobe-selective bronchial blockade may be beneficial when VATS is performed for selected patients with deteriorated lung function.     

Lung cancer incidentally detected at the treatment of pneumothorax ; report of two cases

We report 2 cases of lung cancer incidentally detected following pneumothorax. Case 1:A 40-year-old man complaining of dyspnea was admitted with right pneumothorax. Chest computed tomography (CT) after chest drainage showed a cavitary nodule with pleural indentations in the right lower lobe. It was indicated at surgery that pneumothorax was caused by perforation of the tumor into the pleural cavity. Right lower lobectomy was performed because the pathological diagnosis of the nodule was a large cell carcinoma. The final histopathological diagnosis was stage II A (pT2aN1M0). The patient died of recurrence 14 months after surgery. Case 2:A 47-year-old man who admitted with right pneumothorax was found to have a nodule with pleural indentations closely a bulla at the apex of the right lung by chest CT after chest drainage. Pneumothorax was indicated to be caused by rupture of the bulla at surgery. Right upper lobectomy was performed because the pathological diagnosis of the nodule was a squamous carcinoma. The final histopathological diagnosis was stage I A (pT1bN0M0). The patient is alive at 2 years after the operation without recurrence. Lung cancer detected following pneumothorax which was caused by perforation of the tumor is generally considered to have poor prognosis. Whereas, prognosis of lung cancer incidentally detected following pneumothorax depends on its staging.     

Two Cases of Single-Stage Closure of a Bronchopleural Fistula Using Latissimus Dorsi Musculocutaneous Flaps after Lung Surgery

Two cases of successful primary closure of a bronchopleural fistula with favorable infection control using latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps are reported. Case 1 was a 70-year-old man who underwent resection of the right lower pulmonary lobe due to right lung metastasis of sigmoid colon cancer. A bronchopleural fistula was found on day 28 after surgery. Infection was controlled by antibiotic administration and tube drainage. Closure of the bronchopleural stump, thoracoplasty and plombage of latissimus dorsi muscles were performed for single-stage closure without open treatment, based on a negative pleural effusion culture. Case 2 was a 64-year-old man who underwent right lower pulmonary lobe resection due to right lung cancer. A bronchopleural fistula was found on day 14 after surgery. In single-stage closure, thoracoplasty and plombage of latissimus dorsi muscles were performed due to infection control and a negative pleural effusion culture. Both cases had a good postoperative course.     

Multiple primary lung cancer diagnosed by thoracic computed tomography; report of 2 cases

Two cases of bilateral multiple primary lung cancers are presented. One is synchronous, and another is metachronous. Case 1: An abnormal shadow in the left lower lobe was found on the chest radiograph of 40-year-old female during a regular check-up. Chest computed tomography (CT) film showed a micronodule in the right S2. Left lower lobectomy was performed, followed by second-staged right S2 segmentectomy 1 month after the initial operation. Case 2: A 62-year-old female underwent left lower lobectomy for lung cancer in April 1997. Follow-up CT showed a nodule in right S8. In March 2000, right basal segmentectomy was performed for second lung cancer. Moreover, follow-up CT showed a nodule in right S3. Right wedge resection was performed for third lung cancer in July 2002. It is important to carefully examine a synchronous lesion before the operation of a primary lung cancer and to perform close follow-up surveillance for early detection of a metachronous lesion.     

Lobar torsion after pulmonary resection for lung cancer

We reviewed our experience on postoperative lobar torsion. From January 1994 to December 2003, 1002 patients underwent lobectomy for lung cancer. Two (0.2%) patients with postoperative lobar torsion required surgical reintervention. The first case was that of a 79-year-old man who underwent left lower lobectomy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Based on the postoperative course, lobar torsion was highly suspected with progressive respiratory dysfunction and the chest X-ray showed complete opacification of the residual lobe. Rethoracotomy was performed on postoperative day 4. The left upper lobe was rotated clockwise, and completion pneumonectomy was carried out. The patient died 16 days after the second surgery because of respiratory failure due to severe pneumonia. The second case was that of a 24-year-old man with a diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer in the right upper lobe arising from pharyngeal cancer. The patient underwent right upper lobectomy and developed hemoptysis and persistent high fever. A chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy findings revealed lobar torsion of the middle lobe, and a reoperation was performed. The middle lobe was resected and the patient was discharged 8 days after the rethoracotomy. Pulmonary lobar torsion poses a difficult diagnostic dilemma in the early postoperative period after the pulmonary resection. Since late reoperation for postoperative lobar torsion sometimes results in poor prognosis, careful observation with bronchial fiberscopy as well as chest radiography is necessary for accurate diagnosis. Rethoracotomy should be carried out without any delay in cases of lobar torsion following pulmonary resection.     

Abdominal organ infarction encountered immediately after surgery of primary lung cancer

Very rare cases of abdominal organ infarction after surgery of primary lung cancer were reported. Case 1: Patient 1 was a 70-year-old man who underwent left upper lobectomy and ND 2a in June 1999 based on the clinical diagnosis of stage IA lung cancer. On the 4th postoperative day, the patient developed fever and right flank pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a specific finding compatible with renal infarction. The etiology could not be determined. The patient was treated conservatively. However, severe atrophy of right kidney was demonstrated by following CT performed 3 years later. Case 2: Patient 2 was a 70-year-old woman who underwent left upper lobectomy and ND 2a in December 2002 based on the clinical diagnosis of stage IA lung cancer. On the 4th postoperative day, the patient developed abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant, nausea and vomiting which had lasted for 10 days. Abdominal CT demonstrated a wedge-shaped filling defect at spleen compatible with splenic infarction. The etiology could not be determined. The patient was treated conservatively with prophylactic antibiotic therapy and followed closely. Partial atrophy of spleen was demonstrated by following CT performed 4 months later.     

Unusual case of cavitary lung metastasis of esophageal cancer: A case report

Introduction and importanceCavitary lung metastases are rare. We experienced lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity, which is extremely rare.Case presentationA 69-year-old female diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer underwent radical esophagectomy. Pathological diagnosis was T3N0M0-pStageII. Cavitary lesion appeared in the lower lobe of the right lung 12 months after surgery. We suspected an inflammatory change and followed up strictly. On Computed tomography (CT) image 18 months after surgery, the cavitary lesion slightly increased in size, showing wall thickening and fluid inside. Fluid collection disappeared after antibiotic treatment. The patient was followed for 4 weeks without antibiotics and fluid collection reappeared. Cavitary lesion resection for the purpose of diagnosis was planned because malignancy could not be excluded, although the readministration of antibiotics was also considered. Thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lower lobe of the lung was performed. Histopathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma which was similar in morphology to esophageal cancer. The final diagnosis was lung metastasis of esophageal cancer.Clinical discussionMetastatic lung cancer with a cavity is rare, accounting for approximately 4% of all cases. Moreover, Lung metastasis of esophageal cancer with a cavity is extremely rare.ConclusionsThe specimen collection, including total biopsy, should be aggressively performed when diagnosing cavitary lung disease in patients with a history of neoplastic disease.     

Recurrent breast cancer to the sternum 15 years after radical mastectomy and primary lung cancer; report of a case

We reported a successful operative case of solitary metastasis in the sternum 15 years after radical operation for a breast cancer and a primary lung cancer. The patient was a 59-year-old woman who was admitted for skin ulcer and tumor of the anterior chest wall. Histological diagnosis by skin biopsy was metastasis of breast cancer. Concurrently, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a coin lesion with slight spiculation at the right lower lobe. Because histological diagnosis by the partial resection of the right lower lobe was primary lung cancer, we performed right lower lobectomy. Twenty-four days after the operation, subtotal sternal resection was carried out. She is alive and well without any complaints.     

Minute localized malignant pleural mesothelioma coexisting with multiple adenocarcinomas

We report an extremely rare case of minute localized malignant pleural mesothelioma (LMPM) coexisting with multiple lung adenocarcinomas in a 64-year-old woman without a history of smoking or asbestos exposure. A computed tomography scan of the chest displayed total five ground-glass opacities in the lung. Transbronchial lung biopsy from a ground-glass opacity in the posterior segment revealed a bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. With a diagnosis of primary lung cancer, right upper lobectomy and wedge resection of the right lower lobe with systematic lymph node dissection was performed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Incidentally, a minute gray-white nodule measuring 6 mm was detected on the visceral pleural surface of the right upper lobe. The postoperative histological diagnosis was minute LMPM coexisting with multiple adenocarcinomas.     

Recurrence in regional pulmonary lymph nodes after surgery for isolated pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma occasionally metastasizes to extrahepatic organs, rarely to the mediastinal lymph nodes. We present the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with nodules in the upper and right lower lobes of the lung 4 years after undergoing resection of a hepatocellular carcinoma. We performed wedge resection of both lesions. Pathological examination showed that the lesion in the right upper lobe was non-small cell lung cancer and that in the right lower lobe hepatocellular carcinoma. We accordingly performed right upper lobectomy with lymph node dissection. Nine months later, enlarged subcarinal and segmental lymph nodes were detected and mediastinal lymph node metastases from the hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed by transbronchial needle aspiration.     

Torsion of the middle lobe after right upper lobectomy of the lung; report of a case and the review of the Japanese literatures

We report a case of torsion of the residual right middle lobe of the lung, following right upper lobectomy for lung cancer. A 71-year-old man who had medical treatment for emphysema was admitted with a lung tumor on chest computed tomography. The tumor was diagnosed as pulmonary adenocarcinoma by transbronchial biopsy. Right upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection, and partial resection of the right lower lobe were performed. On the following day, chest X-ray showed an opacification in the right upper lung field, which gradually increased. Bronchoscopic examination revealed a stenotic middle lobe bronchus. Torsion of the middle lobe was suspected, and rethoracotomy was performed on the second postoperative day. The middle lobe was torsed 90-degree counterclockwise around its bronchovascular pedicle. A middle lobectomy was performed secondary to severe congestion. The patient was discharged in good condition on the 11th postoperative day. In reviewing the literatures including this case, 13 of 16 torsions occurred after right upper lobectomy of the lung. Thirteen patients had rethoracotomy, 10 of them underwent resection of the rotated lung. Simple detorsion was carried out in 3 patients, and 1 of them developed cerebral infarction. Lung torsion was reported to be potentially life-threatening. Therefore, fixation of a remaining lobe should be performed. Exploratory thoracotomy should be performed without delay, if lung torsion is suspected.     

Surgically removed thoracolithiasis: report of two cases.

Thoracolithiasis is a rare condition with only 12 cases of surgically removed nodules reported in the literature. We report 2 additional cases. Case 1: A 19-year-old male admitted with an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a nodule in the right lower lung lobe. The material extirpated by thoracoscopy was milky white, glossy, and 1.6 cm in diameter. Histopathologically, it consisted of fatty necrotic tissue covered with hyalinized fibrous tissue. Case 2: A 78-year-old female, with a past history of breast cancer, admitted with an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. CT revealed a nodule in the left lung S(1+2) segment, of which transbronchial biopsy findings indicated primary lung adenocarcinoma. Exploratory thoracoscopy incidentally revealed some pearly material, 0.4 cm in diameter, in the thoracic cavity. They were extirpated during left upper lobectomy for lung cancer; all of them demonstrated concentric hyalinized fibrous tissue. Thoracic surgeons should consider this condition in the differential diagnosis of a peripheral pulmonary nodule.     

Breast Cancer with Endocrine Differentiation: Report of Two Cases Showing Different Histologic Patterns

We report two cases of breast cancer with endocrine differentiation. Case 1 was a 56-year-old woman with a 2-cm tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast and right axillary lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy suggested carcinoma and we performed breast-conserving surgery with lymph node dissection. Histologic examination revealed breast cancer with endocrine differentiation resembling small cell carcinoma of the lung, with one nodal metastasis. Case 2 was a 71-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm tumor in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast. Aspiration cytology suggested carcinoma and we performed mastectomy with lymph node dissection. Histologic examination revealed a carcinoid tumor, as one of the breast cancers with endocrine differentiation, but no nodal metastasis. The two patients are now disease-free 26 and 12 months after surgery, respectively.     

Successful treatment for lung cancer associated with pulmonary sequestration

We encountered a 69-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary sequestration. The cancer lesion was located in the left upper lobe, with sequestration of the left lower lobe. Left upper lobectomy was performed after induction chemoradiotherapy, but the sequestered lung lobe was preserved because the preoperative respiratory function was poor. Preservation of the sequestered lung during surgery for lung cancer should be considered in patients who have poor respiratory function and no signs of respiratory infection.     

Double primary lung carcinoma consisting of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: report of a case.

We report a rare case of double primary lung carcinoma including large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). A 67-year-old man underwent an annual medical checkup in 2000, pulmonary carcinoma was strongly suspected by sputum cytology and radiological images. Preoperative diagnosis was double primary lung carcinoma with a squamous cell carcinoma in the right lower lobe and non-small cell carcinoma in the right upper lobe. The histological carcinoma type in the right upper lobe could not be determined preoperatively. The patient underwent a right lower lobectomy and wedge resection of the right upper lobe. Histologically, the tumor in the right upper lobe was LCNEC and the tumor in the right lower lobe was a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient had right supraclavicular lymph node metastases of LCNEC and died of multiple pulmonary metastases 10 months after the operation.     

Middle lobe preservation and fixation: right upper and lower sleeve bilobectomy. How to do it

We herein report the case of a 65-year-old female with primary lung cancer who underwent a right upper and lower sleeve bilobectomy. The radiological findings revealed that the tumor was located in the superior segment of the right lower lobe and had invaded the posterior segment of the upper lobe and the truncus intermedius. We performed a right upper and lower sleeve bilobectomy. A latissimus dorsi flap was utilized to separate the thoracic cavity into upper and lower portions, and the preserved middle lobe was fixed in the upper portion to prevent torsion. Postoperative radiography showed good expansion of the middle lobe.     

全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗肺结核空洞内继发曲菌球26例

目的探讨全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗肺结核空洞内继发曲菌球的安全性、可行性。方法2009年4月～2013年12月全胸腔镜下以肺叶切除为主手术治疗26例肺结核空洞内继发曲菌球。采取3个切口：观察孔在腋中线第7或8肋间;主操作孔在腋前线第4或5肋间,应用切口保护器,不使用肋骨牵开器;辅助操作孔在与观察孔同一肋间的肩胛下角线（即第7或8肋间）。在全胸腔镜下完成解剖性肺叶切除,用内镜切割缝合器处理血管和支气管,术中遇到特殊情况则中转开胸。结果2例中转开胸：1例因胸膜粘连致密,1例因出血。余24例在全胸腔镜下完成解剖性肺叶切除,包括右肺上叶6例,右肺上叶＋下叶背段2例,右肺中叶1例,右肺下叶4例,左肺上叶4例,左肺下叶5例,左肺下叶＋上叶舌段2例。手术时间（152．3±57．2）min;术中出血量（336．3±106．5）mI,术后引流液总量（820．5±570．8）ml;术后带管时间（7．3±3．5）d;术后住院时间（9．4±3．7）d。围手术期无死亡。术后并发症4例：肺漏气3例,其中2例持续引流12～15d后愈合拔管,1例重新置入胸腔闭式引流管,接负压吸引,术后19d后愈合拔管;切口延迟愈合1例,给予清创缝合,10d后切口愈合良好拆线。26例随访5—60个月,平均27．6月,无复发、死亡。结论全胸腔镜下肺叶切除治疗肺结核空洞内继发曲菌球安全、可行。     

Left upper division sleeve segmentectomy for early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the segmental bronchus: report of two cases.

Early hilar lung cancer is rare. It is usually curable if properly diagnosed and treated. We recently encountered two cases of early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the left upper division bronchus, which responded well to left upper division sleeve segmentectomy. Case 1 was a 74-year-old man, a heavy smoker, who was referred to our hospital after sputum cytology had resulted in a positive diagnosis while receiving inpatient care for heart failure at another hospital. Bronchoscopy revealed a thickened tumor at the spur between left B(1+2) and B(3). Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by forceps biopsy via bronchoscopy. Left upper division sleeve segmentectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. Since the bronchi to be anastomosed to each other were greatly different in diameter, telescoped anastomosis was used. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he continues to show good respiratory condition, without any evidence of recurrence 25 months after surgery. Case 2 was a 60-year-old man, a heavy smoker, who was identified by sputum cytology as needing detailed examination during a mass screening of high-risk groups for early detection of lung carcinoma. Bronchoscopy revealed a nodular tumor at the orifice of the left upper division bronchus. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by forceps biopsy via bronchoscopy. Left upper division sleeve segmentectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. During surgery for this case, the lingular bronchus was dissected obliquely to make its cross-section wide enough to match the diameter of the left upper lobe bronchus to which the former was anastomosed. His postoperative course was uneventful, and he shows good respiratory condition, without any evidence of recurrence five months after surgery. The pathological stage was TisN0M0 (stage 0) in both patients, and their tumors were confirmed as early hilar lung cancer. Sleeve segmentectomy, aimed at radical resection of cancer while preserving lung function, can serve as a standard procedure for surgical treatment of cases of early hilar lung cancer confined to the segmental bronchi.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer patients with severe incomplete fissures or emphysema; intralobar no-touch access technique (INTACT)

OBJECTIVES: Severe air leak after lobectomy is one of well-known complications in lung cancer patients with severe emphysema or incomplete fissure. A developing air leak or persistent air leak in those patients may occur postoperative pneumonia or empyema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For those patients, we have operated with intralobar no-touch access technique (INTACT) assisted with thoracoscopy. INTACT is a surgical procedure of lobectomy without interlobar access, a procedure of prior dissection of lobar bronchus and stapling all the fissure. From January 2004 to December 2005, we performed surgery in 227 patients with primary lung cancer, and 12 patients were performed with lobectmy with INTACT among them. Mean age was 68 +/- 7 years. RESULTS: Distribution of lobectomies was as follows: right upper lobe, 7 patients; right upper lobe and S6 segment, 1; right middle lobe and right lower lobe, 1; left upper lobe, 2; left lower lobe, 1. The length of major skin incision was 5-15 (average 9.2 +/- 3.0) cm. Pathological stage were IA in 3 patients, IB in 7, IIIA in 1 and IIIB in 1. The backgrounds of those patients were severely emphysema in 7 patients, incomplete fissure in 2, both emphysema and incomplete fissure in 2 and emphysema and huge sized tumor in 1. The postoperative air leak stopped 1.8 +/- 0.8 days. CONCLUSIONS: For carefully selected patients video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy by INTACT for lung cancer patients with emphysema or incomplete fissure could be a safe and valuable procedure.