Clinically important pulmonary vascular variations: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Pulmonary vascular variations are a major factor in thoracic surgeries. Minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) used in non-small lung cancer treatment, have a limited field of view and no haptic feedback. Additionally, new studies suggest that segmentectomies are beneficial for patients.

The effectiveness of surgical treatment of lung cancer in Polish academic and nonacademic centers.

Background: The theoretical advantage of academic hospitals over nonacademic are: more qualified surgeons, adequate diagnostic facilities and infrastructure, including intensive care units. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of surgical lung cancer treatment in academic (ACA) and nonacademic (non-ACA) centers.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of data from 31,777 patients surgically-treated for lung cancer during the period from 2007 to 2020 in 9 ACA and 21 non-ACA centers.

The absence of lymph nodes removed (pNx status) impacts survival in patients with lung cancer treated surgically.

Objectives: We aimed to study the clinical significance of the lack of lymph node assessment (pNx status) and its impact on survival in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the Polish Lung Cancer Study Group database. pNx status was defined as 0 lymph nodes removed.

The clinico-pathological characteristics of surgically treated young women with NSCLC.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed in young patients is rare. Younger patients with lung cancer are mostly female and have a more advanced stage at initial diagnosis. To our knowledge, no studies have compared single-surgical treatment in different age groups among women.

Sex differences in clinico-pathologic characteristics and long-term survival among 17,192 surgically treated NSCLC patients: Nationwide population-based propensity score-matching study.

Introduction: More information is needed on gender differences in lung cancer surgery. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study on thoracic treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients between 2007 and 2020 in Poland. The aim was to characterize sex differences in survival after complete surgical resection and to compare postoperative complications between Polish men and women.

Effect of 3A lymph node resection on survival in patients with right-sided NSCLC: a retrospective, multicentre, propensity-score matching study.

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical significance and impact on survival of prevascular mediastinal lymph nodes (3A) in patients with right-sided lung cancer.

Methods: Prospective data of 6,348 patients, who underwent lung resection from 2005 to 2015, were retrospectively analysed. There were 221 patients who underwent 3A dissection (3ALN+), while 6,127 did not (3ALN-).

The impact of left lower paratracheal (4L) lymph node dissection on survival in patients with surgically treated left-sided NSCLC.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the clinical significance of left lower paratracheal nodes (#4L) and their impact on survival in patients with left-sided lung cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospective data. The study included 5369 patients who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2015.

Video-assisted versus open thoracotomy lobectomy: comparison on lymphadenectomy and survival in early stage of lung cancer.

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is increasingly used in the surgical treatment of early lung cancer, but the oncological benefits are still controversial. We aimed to compare video-assisted lobectomy and open thoracotomy lobectomy in terms of lymphadenectomy and long-term survival depending on the location of lobectomy.

Methods: A retrospective, multicenter study was based on the Polish Lung Cancer Study Group and included patients with stage I lung cancer who were surgically treated between 2007 and 2015.

The influence of the number of lymph nodes removed on the accuracy of a newly proposed N descriptor classification in patients with surgically-treated lung cancer.

Introduction: The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has proposed a new classification of N descriptor based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) stations, including skip metastasis. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of removed LNs on the adequacy of this new classification.

Materials And Methods: The material was collected retrospectively based on the database of the Polish Lung Cancer Group, including information on 8016 patients with non-small cell lung cancer operated in 23 thoracic surgery centers in Poland.

Alternative methods of lymph node staging in lung cancer: a narrative review.

The nodal status indicator in non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most crucial prognostic factors available. However, there are still many arguments among scientists regarding whether the currently used nodal status descriptor should be changed in the forthcoming editions of the Tumor Node Metastasis classification or whether it is precise enough and should be maintained as is. We reviewed studies concerning nodal factor classifications to evaluate their accuracy in non-small cell lung cancer patients and to address the previously mentioned challenge.

Carinal Resection and Reconstruction.

The carinal resection is still considered a real challenge, both for a thoracic surgeon and an anesthesiologist. Depending on the indications and the degree of local advancement of the neoplasm, there are 2 techniques of carinal resection and reconstruction. The first one consists of the isolated resection with formation of a new bifurcation, whereas the second one is a combination of anatomic resection of lung parenchyma together with the bifurcation and the subsequent reconstruction.

Log odds of positive lymph nodes as a novel prognostic indicator in NSCLC staging.

Objectives: The paper aimed to compare the efficacy of log odds (LODDS) compared to a classification based on the distribution of involved lymph nodes (pN) and lymph node ratio (LNR).

Methods: Material was collected retrospectively from an online survey-based database of the Polish Lung Cancer Group and included a group of 17,369 patients who received radical surgical treatment (R0) due to lung cancer.

Results: In the whole group the median survival for N0, N1 and N2 was 76.

Elevated regulatory T cells, surface and intracellular CTLA-4 expression and interleukin-17 in the lung cancer microenvironment in humans.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in the suppression of the immune response in lung cancer. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expressed on T lymphocytes is capable of downregulating cytotoxic T cells and is constitutively expressed on Tregs. Little is known about the population of Tregs with two forms of CTLA-4: surface (s) and intracellular (in) in the lung cancer environment.

Airgun shot wound to the orbit with retention of pellet. Case report and review of the literature.

Shot wounds become a growing clinical concern in the civilian setting, due to increasing popularity of air guns among minors. We present a pediatric case of a shot wound to the orbit with sparing of the eyeball and retention of airgun pellet in the retrobulbar space. The pellet was removed 3 months after injury via lateral orbitotomy.

CD4+/CD25(high)/FoxP3+/CD127- regulatory T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of lung cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to compare the presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the local lung cancer environment versus systemic immune response based on the examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) and peripheral blood (PB) from the same patient. 35 patients with lung cancer were investigated. Flow cytometry method with panel of antibodies: anti CD4/CD25/FoxP3/CD127 for Tregs identification was used.

Evaluation of the diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for metastatic mediastinal tumors.

Background And Objectives: The mediastinum is a relatively uncommon site of distant metastases, which typically appear as peripheral lung nodules. We chose to assess the utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the diagnosis of distant metastases to the mediastinum.

Materials And Methods: Over the period 2008-2013, a total of 446 patients with concurrent or previously diagnosed and treated extrathoracic malignancies were evaluated.

Open surgery versus stent placement in failed primary surgical treatment of esophageal perforation - a single institutional experience.

Background: Surgical treatment is an accepted method to manage esophageal perforation, but in many cases it may result in failure. This paper compares the efficacy of surgical treatment and stenting in patients after previous surgical intervention for esophageal perforation.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective study was performed in a group of patients treated for esophageal perforation admitted to our centre from 2010 to 2015.

Results of surgical treatment and impact on T staging of non-small-cell lung cancer adjacent lobe invasion.

Objectives: To assess the results of surgical treatment of T-ALI (adjacent lobe invasion) tumours in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Methods: Multicentric retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of 13 065 patients, aged 32-89 years (mean 52.9, median 63 years), who underwent resection between January 2009 and September 2014.

Risk Factors for Local and Distant Recurrence After Surgical Treatment in Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify independent perioperative and pathologic variables associated with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) recurrence after complete surgical resection.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective examination was performed of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent resection for NSCLC from January 2009 to January 2014 at a multi-institution. Clinicopathologic variables were evaluated for their influence on frequency of recurrence.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in the staging of lung cancer patients.

Objective: Mediastinoscopy as diagnostic procedure for evaluation of mediastinum in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer has long been considered the reference standard. However, less invasive method has occurred. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration came into widespread use and has resulted in controversy as to whether it is a good replacement for mediastinoscopy.

Ten Years of Routine α- and β-Globin Gene Sequencing in UK Hemoglobinopathy Referrals Reveals 60 Novel Mutations.

We review and report here the genotypes and phenotypes of 60 novel thalassemia and abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) mutations discovered following the adoption of routine DNA sequencing of both α- and β-globin genes for all UK hemoglobinopathy samples referred for molecular investigation. This screening strategy over the last 10 years has revealed a total of 11 new β chain variants, 15 α chain variants, 19 β-thalassemia (β-thal) mutations and 15 α(+)-thalassemia (α(+)-thal) mutations. The large number of new thalassemia alleles confirms the wide racial heterogeneity of mutations in the UK immigrant population.

The Role of VATS in Lung Cancer Surgery: Current Status and Prospects for Development.

Since the introduction of anatomic lung resection by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) 20 years ago, VATS has experienced major advances in both equipment and technique, introducing a technical challenge in the surgical treatment of both benign and malignant lung disease. The demonstrated safety, decreased morbidity, and equivalent efficacy of this minimally invasive technique have led to the acceptance of VATS as a standard surgical modality for early-stage lung cancer and increasing application to more advanced disease. Formerly there was much debate about the feasibility of the technique in cancer surgery and proper lymph node handling.