Role of fluorine-flurodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in preoperative assessment of anterior mediastinal masses.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to explore the usefulness of fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) in the preoperative assessment of isolated anterior mediastinal lesions, especially in the planning of operative strategy (biopsy or upfront resection).

Methods: During the last 36 months, 19 consecutive patients (10 males, mean age 54+/-16 years) underwent PET-CT in the preoperative work-up of isolated anterior mediastinal diseases. Maximal transverse diameter at CT and the postoperative histology and Masaoka staging for thymomas were collected and related to the maximum standardised uptake values (SUVs).

Twelve-year experience with left atrial resection in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: We retrospectively reviewed our 12-year experience in the surgical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer invading the left atrium. End points of the study were overall survival and factors potentially affecting survival.

Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients with lung cancer invading the left atrium underwent surgery.