Accuracy of positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) in detecting nodal metastasis according to histology of non-small cell lung cancer.

Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) is the non-invasive gold standard method for determining the oncological stage of patient with diagnosis of lung cancer. A correct preoperative staging is significant because only patients who do not have a history of regional or distant disease are those who will benefit from a surgical treatment. However, due to the different values of the PET-CT in terms of sensitivity and specificity to evaluate the mediastinal lymph node involvement, it is often necessary to perform a surgical mediastinal sampling through a cervical video mediastinoscopy (VM).

Sodium hydroxide as a sclerosing agent in patients with neoplastic pleural effusion non-candidates for VATS: results of a minimally invasive protocol.

Symptomatic neoplastic pleural effusion (SNPE) is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with advanced neoplastic disease. These patients often present a deteriorated general condition which prevents them from undergoing pleurodesis with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). We developed a minimally invasive therapeutic protocol specially designed for this population, achieved by combining chemical pleurodesis with placement of small-bore pleural catheters (PC), which resulted in early hospital discharge, low morbimortality and good therapeutic results.

Conversion during thoracoscopic lobectomy: related factors and learning curve impact.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has become a standard procedure for lung cancer treatment. Conversion-related factors and learning curve impacts, were poorly described. The aim of this study was to review the reasons and related factor for conversion in VATS lobectomy and the impact on this of the surgeon's learning curve.