Long-Term Survival Analysis of Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Undergoing Surgery: Brief Report From a Tertiary Referral Centre.

Objectives: to date, no consensus has been reached on the surgical gold-standard in pleural mesothelioma (PM). We retrospectively reviewed our experience as a tertiary referral centre, to compare short- and long-term survival of PM patients undergoing different types of surgery.

Methods: in retrospective, observational, single-centre study, we analysed all the patients histologically diagnosed with PM undergoing surgical procedures with palliative or curative intent at IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Italy, from January 2003 to December 2020.

Routine perioperative blood tests predict survival of resectable lung cancer.

There is growing evidence that inflammatory, immunologic, and metabolic status is associated with cancer patients survival. Here, we built a simple algorithm to predict lung cancer outcome. Perioperative routine blood tests (RBT) of a cohort of patients with resectable primary lung cancer (LC) were analysed.

Salvage Surgery After First-Line Alectinib for Locally-Advanced/Metastatic ALK-Rearranged NSCLC: Pathological Response and Perioperative Results.

Background: The role of salvage surgery after tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced oncogene-addicted non-small cell lung cancer is largely unexplored.

Patients: We aimed to describe the pathological features and surgical early-outcomes of Anaplastic Lymphome Kinase anaplastic lymphome kinase positive non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing surgery after first-line alectinib treatment. We retrospectively collected and analyzed multicentric data of 10 patients treated with alectinib for advanced-stage anaplastic lymphome kinase positive lung adenocarcinoma who underwent anatomical surgical resection from January 2020 to Decemeber 2021.

Interferometric laser imaging for respiratory droplets sizing.

Due to its importance in airborne disease transmission, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, much attention has recently been devoted by the scientific community to the analysis of dispersion of particle-laden air clouds ejected by humans during different respiratory activities. In spite of that, a lack of knowledge is still present particularly with regard to the velocity of the emitted particles, which could differ considerably from that of the air phase. The velocity of the particles is also expected to vary with their size.

Long term outcome of complex surgical resection and reconstruction for rare thoracic cancers.

Background: Complex surgical resection and reconstruction for rare thoracic cancers (RTCs) represent a major challenge, given their very low frequency, extreme variability of presentation, multi-modality treatment options and inadequate outcome prediction. We analysed the experience of a tertiary referral centre on a consecutive series of patients with thoracic germ cell tumours, thymomas and sarcomas, with the aim of reporting the long-term outcome by cancer type and complexity of surgical procedures.

Methods: From Jan 2003 to Dec 2018, 768 surgical procedures were performed with curative intent on 644 RTC patients.

Lung metastasectomy for osteosarcoma in children, adolescents, and young adults: proof of permanent cure.

Introduction: Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases has been associated with increased survival at 5 years for osteosarcoma, but limited information is available on long-term outcome, role of repeated metastasectomies, and surgical sequelae in a pediatric population. We analyzed a consecutive series of children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) treated by repeated lung metastasectomies during a period >40 years to estimate the clinical benefit and potential cure rate of salvage surgery.

Methods: All patients who underwent lung metastasectomy for osteosarcoma at the IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli of Bologna, University of Modena, and IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan from May 1973 to January 2014 were included.

Validation of a prognostic model including the number of harvested lymph-nodes in the setting of non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing curative resection: a multicenter analysis.

Background: The prognostic role of the extension of lymphadenectomy in non-small-cell lung cancer is still a debated and intriguing issue. The aim of this study is to validate a prognostic score including the number of resected lymph-nodes previously reported using a large multicenter dataset.

Methods: From 01/2002 to 12/2012, data on 4858 NSCLC patients undergoing curative-intent surgery in six institutions were retrospectively reviewed.

Survival Analysis in Single N2 Station Lung Adenocarcinoma: The Prognostic Role of Involved Lymph Nodes and Adjuvant Therapy.

Background: Prognostic factors in patients with single mediastinal station (sN2) involvement continues to be a debated issue.

Methods: Data on 213 adenocarcinoma patients with sN2 involvement and who had undergone complete anatomical lung resection and lymphadenectomy, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and pathological characteristics together with adjuvant therapy (AD) and node (N) status classifications (number of resected nodes (#RN), number of metastatic nodes (#MN), and node ratio (#MN/#RN = NR) were analyzed.

Recent Advances in the Management of Typical and Atypical Lung Carcinoids.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the lung represent about 20% to 30% of all neuroendocrine tumors. On the basis of clinical and pathologic characteristics, 2 different categories of tumors may be defined: poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms, characterized by a high rate of recurrences and poor prognosis, and well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (typical carcinoids and atypical carcinoids), which generally display an indolent course. Lung carcinoids represent only 1% to 5% of all lung malignancies, but their incidence has significantly increased over the past 30 years.

External validation of the N descriptor in the proposed tumour-node-metastasis subclassification for lung cancer: the crucial role of histological type, number of resected nodes and adjuvant therapy.

Objectives: Overlapping survival curves for N1b (multiple N1 stations), N2a2 (single N2 station + N1 involvement) and N2a1 (skip N2 metastasis) limit the current tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) node (N) subclassification for node involvement. We validated externally the proposed subclassification.

Methods: Clinical records from a multicentric database comprising 1036 patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC) or squamous cell carcinoma with N1/N2 involvement who underwent, from January 2002 to December 2014, complete lung resections were retrospectively reviewed.

Prognostic score for survival with pulmonary carcinoids: the importance of associating clinical with pathological characteristics.

Objectives: Lung carcinoids (LCs) are staged using the non-small-cell lung cancer tumour/node/metastasis staging system; the possibility of an LC-specific staging system is still being debated. The goal of our study was to construct a composite prognostic score for LC.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2014, data from 293 patients who underwent surgical treatment for LC in 7 research institutes were retrospectively analysed.

Mediastinal Up-Staging During Surgery in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Which Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastasis Patterns Better Predict The Outcome? A Multicenter Analysis.

Background: Unexpected N2 involvement occurs in approximately 10% to 20% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and patients' prognostic factors remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in these patients.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2012, we retrospectively analyzed data of 550 patients with NSCLC with preoperative negative, but pathologic positive N2 involvement, who underwent anatomical lung resection and hilo-mediastinal lymphadenectomy, obtained from 6 institutions.

The Prognostic Role of TNM Staging Compared With Tumor Volume and Number of Pleural Sites in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Background: Age, sex, stage, histotype, and surgery are the most recognized prognostic factors for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Tumor volume (TV) was suggested as an alternative prognostic evaluation. We aimed to assess the prognostic role of Tumor, Node, Metastases (TNM) versus TV and number of pleural sites (NPS).

Baseline and Postoperative C-reactive Protein Levels Predict Long-Term Survival After Lung Metastasectomy.

Background: Blood level of C-reactive protein (CRP) at diagnosis is a well-know prognostic bio-marker in different primary tumors, but its role has not been investigated in resectable lung metastases. The aim of our study is to assess the predictive value of baseline (CRP0) and 3rd postoperative day (CRP3) levels on long-term survival of patients undergoing lung metastasectomy.

Methods: A total of 846 consecutive patients underwent the first pulmonary resection for lung metastases between January 2003 and December 2015, including 611 (72%) single surgical procedures, 235 (28%) multiple metastasectomies, 501 (59%) epithelial primary tumors, 276 (33%) sarcomas, 66 (8%) melanomas, 286 (33.

Best practices for the management of thymic epithelial tumors: A position paper by the Italian collaborative group for ThYmic MalignanciEs (TYME).

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a heterogenous group of rare tumors, with a complex histopatological classification. Furthermore, the recent introduction of the first TNM staging system, that is scheduled to replace the Masaoka-Koga system, may create further difficulties in TET management, that remains challenging. Several guidelines for treatment of TETs are available and provide recommendations based mainly on non randomized trials and retrospective or limited series.

Lymph-node ratio predicts survival among the different stages of non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicentre analysis†.

Objectives: The prognostic role of the number of resected and metastatic lymph nodes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still being debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lymphadenectomy in addition to the already validated variables in NSCLC survival.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2012, data on 4858 patients with NSCLC undergoing anatomical lung resection and hilomediastinal lymphadenectomy in 6 institutions were analysed retrospectively.

Prognostic Model for Resected Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: External Multicenter Validation and Propensity Score Analysis exploring the Impact of Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Treatment.

Introduction: We developed one of the first clinicopathological prognostic nomograms for resected squamous cell lung cancer (SQLC). Herein, we validate the model in a larger multicenter cohort and we explore the impact of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment (ANT).

Methods: Patients with resected SQLC from January 2002 to December 2012 in six institutions were eligible.

Thirty-day mortality and five-year survival in thoracic surgery: "real-world" assessment of outcomes from a single-institution audit.

Background: Accurate measurement of outcomes is essential to monitor the effectiveness of public health policies. In Italy, the Ministry of Health has chosen 30-day mortality after major surgical or medical procedures as the main outcome measure, pooling all pulmonary resections for malignancy in a single category. The present audit evaluated all pulmonary resections performed over a 13-year period in a single institution to assess the immediate (30-day mortality) and long-term (5-year survival) outcomes according to type and stage of disease and extent of surgery.

Permeable Nonabsorbable Mesh for Total Diaphragmatic Replacement in Extended Pneumonectomy.

After complex thoracic exenterations, total diaphragmatic resection and reconstruction is challenging. We describe our novel technique for total diaphragmatic replacement with permeable nonabsorbable mesh after extended pneumonectomy.

Baseline and postoperative C-reactive protein levels predict mortality in operable lung cancer.

Background: Higher blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with shorter survival in patients with cardiovascular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. We investigated the impact of baseline and postoperative CRP levels on survival of patients with operable lung cancer (LC).

Patients And Methods: CRP values at baseline (CRP) and 3 days after surgery (CRP) were measured in a consecutive series of 1750 LC patients who underwent complete resection between 2003 and 2015.

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.