Absolute Lymphocyte Count Changes During Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy are Associated With Prognosis of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients.

Ntroduction/background: Some reports have shown that absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is associated with prognosis in breast cancer; however, the impact of ALC changes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ALC changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer patients and disease prognosis.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study January 2010 to September 2020) included patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer and treated with trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

ypN0 in Patients With Definitive cN-positive Status After Preoperative Treatment Is a Prognostic Factor in Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Histopathological tumor regression grade is applied not to lymph nodes but primary tumors modified by preoperative treatments. This study focused on patients whose pathological examination at the time of surgery showed no residual tumor after chemo(radio)therapy in the primary lesion (ypT0) or lymph nodes (ypN0).

Patients And Methods: A total of 87 patients with clinical stage II/III thoracic esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy following preoperative treatments to evaluate significances between pathological response and clinical outcomes; 51 patients with clinically definitive lymph node metastasis (cN+) were analyzed as a subgroup.

methylation-dependent expression of a variant ligand and receptor of the ghrelin system induces thymoma tumorigenesis.

Our previous study reported that the DNA methylation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor () was significantly higher in thymoma or thymic carcinoma (TC) than in normal thymic tissue samples. Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) with higher DNA methylation were associated with significantly worse prognosis than those with lower levels of DNA methylation. Diversified components of the ghrelin- axis may exert opposing effects in cancer progression, depending on the cancer type in question.

Diagnosis of visceral pleural invasion using confocal laser endomicroscopy during lung cancer surgery.

Background: Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) in lung cancer is a significant prognostic factor; however, it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively or intraoperatively. In this study, we examined the possibility of intraoperative diagnosis of VPI using confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE).

Methods: Among patients with primary lung cancer who underwent surgery between April 2018 and August 2019, those in whom the tumor was in contact with the pleura on chest computed tomography and whose pleural changes were intraoperatively confirmed were enrolled in this study.

Hypervascularized bronchial arteries as a risk factor for intraoperative bleeding and prolonged surgery.

Background: The present study investigated whether highly vascularized bronchial arteries affect the intraoperative blood loss and the operative time of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. We retrospectively collected data on consecutive pathological stage I to IIIA non-small cell lung cancer patients who underwent VATS lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection between January 2017 and December 2019. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to bronchial artery diameters on preoperative enhanced contrast computed tomography (CT) findings: ≤2 and >2 mm groups.

Impact of preoperative 6-minute walk distance on long-term prognosis after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer.

Background: The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) is a simple way of assessing exercise capacity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative 6MWD and long-term prognosis after esophagectomy.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 108 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 2013 and 2020.

Diversity of lymphatic flow in patients with lung cancer revealed by computed tomography lymphography.

Objectives: This study was conducted to verify the optimal extent of lymph node dissection or sampling during lung cancer surgery based on the sentinel node (SN) map created by computed tomography (CT) lymphography.

Methods: From April 2010 to January 2015, patients with clinical stage I non-small-cell lung cancer, who were candidates for lobectomy or segmentectomy with standard hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and in whom bronchus reached the tumour, were enrolled. An ultrathin bronchoscope was inserted to the target bronchus under the guidance of virtual bronchoscopic navigation images.

A CASE OF VAGUS NERVE SCHWANNOMA DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH FROM LYMPH NODAL METASTASIS OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER.

In this report, we describe a rare case of vagus nerve schwannoma associated with esophageal cancer. A 70-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of worsening dysphagia. His upper gastrointenstinal endoscopy revealed a mass in the esophagus.

GAD1 expression and its methylation as indicators of malignant behavior in thymic epithelial tumors.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) comprise thymomas and thymic carcinoma (TC). TC has more aggressive features and a poorer prognosis than thymomas. Genetic and epigenetic alterations in thymomas and TC have been investigated in an attempt to identify novel target molecules for TC.

Calcification in thymomas can predict invasiveness to surrounding organs.

Background: Thymomas are the most common type of anterior mediastinal tumors. Calcification is sometimes observed in thymomas using computed tomography (CT), and it is more frequent in invasive thymomas than in noninvasive thymomas. However, the significance of calcification in thymomas remains unknown.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Improves the Diagnosis of the Tracheobronchial Invasion of Advanced Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of the tracheobronchial invasion of advanced esophageal cancer is essential to select appropriate treatment and improve prognosis; however, it is difficult using the conventional modalities. This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic usefulness of convex probe endobronchial ultrasound (CP-EBUS) for the diagnosis of the tracheobronchial invasion of advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: We conducted a cadaveric study to clarify the changes in ultrasonic and histopathologic findings in the esophageal tumor and tracheal invasion models.

Cone-beam computed tomography versus computed tomography-guided ultrathin bronchoscopic diagnosis for peripheral pulmonary lesions: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Background And Objective: CBCT-guided TBB using a UTB under VBN is a useful method for the diagnosis of peripheral small pulmonary lesions. CBCT-guided TBB using UTB under VBN has been used as an alternative to CT-guided TBB. However, the advantage of CBCT-guided TBB using UTB under VBN over CT-guided TBB is still unknown.

Can computed tomography differentiate adenocarcinoma in situ from minimally invasive adenocarcinoma?

Background: Given the subtle pathological signs of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), effective differentiation between the two entities is crucial. However, it is difficult to predict these conditions using preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging. In this study, we investigated whether histological diagnosis of AIS and MIA using quantitative three-dimensional CT imaging analysis could be predicted.

Classifying the destination of right top pulmonary vein in 31 clinical cases.

Disruption in the flow of blood vessels is of great concern during thoracic surgery. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography facilitates visualization of the exact location and course of blood vessels. The right posterior upper lobe segmental vein, known as the right top pulmonary vein (RTPV), is an anomalous vein beginning at the right upper lobe and running through the posterior surface of the intermediate bronchus.

Lobectomy for lung cancer with a displaced left B and an anomalous pulmonary vein: a case report.

Background: A displaced left B accompanied by an anomalous pulmonary vein is a rare condition involving complex structures. There is a risk of unexpected injuries to bronchi and blood vessels when patients with such anomalies undergo surgery for lung cancer.

Case Presentation: A 59-year-old male with suspected lung cancer in the left lower lobe was scheduled to undergo surgery.

Biomarkers predicting the response to chemotherapy and the prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been improved by multidisciplinary therapy with chemoradiotherapy and surgery, but it remains poor. Advanced stage, malignant potential, and chemo-resistance contribute to the poor prognosis. Here, we attempted to identify predictive factors of the response to chemotherapy and the prognosis of ESCC patients.

Evaluation of extended thymectomy approaches based on residual fat tissue.

Objectives: This study analysed the patterns of extraction ranges, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of median sternotomy (MS) and subxiphoid (SX) approaches for extended thymectomy.

Methods: This study included patients with anterior mediastinum tumour and myasthenia gravis who underwent extended thymectomy at our institution between 2015 and 2018. There were 5 MS and 6 SX extended thymectomy surgeries with the VINCENT software.

Effects of excitation light intensity on parathyroid autofluorescence with a novel near-infrared fluorescence imaging system: two surgical case reports.

The intraoperative identification and preservation of the parathyroid glands are vital techniques, which are largely dependent on a surgeon's experience. Therefore, a simple and reproducible technique to identify the parathyroid glands during surgery is needed. Parathyroid tissue shows near-infrared (NIR) autofluorescence, which enables the intraoperative identification of the parathyroid gland.

Long-term outcomes of sentinel node identification using indocyanine green in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is used in the management of numerous cancers to avoid unnecessary lymphadenectomy. This was a clinical exploration/feasibility study of a novel identification technique for SN biopsy using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging during lung cancer surgery.

Methods: SN biopsy using ICG was performed on 22 patients who had cT1 or T2N0M0 lung cancer.

Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast arising in encapsulated mammary hamartoma ; A case report.

Mammary hamartoma is benign lesion and relatively rare. 17 cases of breast cancer associated with a hamartoma had been previously documented in the literature. We describe herein a case of noninvasive ductal carcinoma of the breast arising in hamartoma in a woman of 60's.