Pleurectomy-decortication in malignant pleural mesothelioma: are different surgical techniques associated with different outcomes? Results from a multicentre study.

Objectives: The potential benefit of surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), especially concerning pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), is unclear from the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome after multimodality treatment of MPM involving different types of P/D and to analyse the prognostic factors.

Methods: We reviewed 314 patients affected by MPM who were operated on in 11 Italian centres from 1 January 2007 to 11 October 2014.

Successful primary staple-repair of thoracic oesophagus after delayed presentation of a spontaneous perforation.

Introduction: Spontaneous perforation of the oesophagus is diagnosed late in over 50% of cases. Misdiagnosis may be due to atypical presentations. Primary repair is technically demanding in this setting and the risk of failure is high.

Prognostic Score of Long-Term Survival After Surgery for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Multicenter Analysis.

Background: Despite ongoing efforts to improve therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, few patients undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy experience long-term survival (LTS). This study aims to explore predictors of LTS after extrapleural pneumonectomy and to define a prognostic score.

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed clinicopathologic and oncological factors in a multicenter cohort of 468 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Temporal trend, geographic distribution, and publication quality in asbestos research.

Asbestos is a well-known cause of cancer and respiratory diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the scientific production in asbestos research evaluating temporal trend, geographic distribution, impact factor (IF) of published literature, and taking into account socioeconomic variables. The PubMed database was searched starting from 1970.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant mesothelioma: an Italian multicenter retrospective study.

Background: This study assessed perioperative outcome and long-term survival in a large series of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) to identify prognostic factors allowing better patient selection.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from nine referral centers for thoracic surgery in Italy. Perioperative outcome and survival data were available for 518 malignant pleural mesothelioma patients (84.

CREST biorepository for translational studies on malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and other respiratory tract diseases: Informatics infrastructure and standardized annotation.

Advances in molecular epidemiology and translational research have led to the need for biospecimen collection. The Cancer of the Respiratory Tract (CREST) biorepository is concerned with pleural malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancer (LC). The biorepository staff has collected demographic and epidemiological data directly from consenting subjects using a structured questionnaire, in agreement with The Public Population Project in Genomics (P(3)G).

Chemoprevention of asbestos-linked cancers: a systematic review.

Asbestos has been used extensively and, in spite of many countries having banned most of its uses, professional, domestic and environmental exposure has not ceased worldwide. Inhaled asbestos fibers can lead to malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and non-cancerous conditions, while the substance persists indefinitely in the lung and pleural tissue, resulting in continuous damage. Exposed individuals may be offered medical surveillance or compensation, but nothing is currently being done to lower their specific cancer risk: chemoprevention seems a promising approach.

Endovascular treatment of pulmonary sequestration in adults using Amplatzer® vascular plugs.

Two adult patients were diagnosed with extralobar and intralobar pulmonary sequestration. One patient presented with haemoptysis. Both patients suffered from recurrent episodes of severe pulmonary infections.

Primary and secondary purulent pericarditis in otherwise healthy adults.

The records of five previously healthy adult patients with primary and secondary purulent pericarditis are reported, in order to review the literature about such a rare condition and to discuss the options for treatment. Primary purulent pericarditis occurred in a five months pregnant woman and in a lady who had experienced a serous pericarditis two months before. A man presented with pyo-pneumo-pericardium.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: ten years' experience.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a rare disease that is usually caused by a spreading, diffuse inflammatory reaction (phlegmon) to an odontogenic infection or peritonsillar abscess. Reported mortality rates range from 25 to 40%. The use of antibiotics and advances in resuscitation procedures and critical care techniques have not essentially improved survival, and an effective treatment has not been clearly established.