Are the minimally invasive techniques the new gold standard in thymus surgery for myasthenia gravis? Experience of a reference single-site in VATS thymectomy.

The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the maturation and proliferation of T lymphocytes. During the first years of our lives, the activation and inactivation of T lymphocytes occur within the thymus, facilitating the correct maturation of central immunity. Alterations in the positive and negative selection of T lymphocytes have been studied as the possible origins of autoimmune diseases, with Myasthenia Gravis (MG) being the most representative example.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: key points to reduce the high associated mortality in a consecutive case series.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute life-threatening infection that originates in the oropharyngeal region. It is an uncommon disease with a mortality rate of about 20-40%. This high mortality is mainly attributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment and poor drainage of the mediastinum.

Transcervical videomediastino-thoracoscopy.

Although technical advances in non-invasive and minimally invasive approaches to lung and pleural cancer diagnosis and staging have become more widely available and accurate, surgical techniques remain the gold standard in assessing the extent of loco-regional involvement. Precise surgical staging of lung or pleural tumours is pivotal in the selection of surgical candidates and for predicting survival. In some patients, both mediastinal and pleural exploration may be needed for many different reasons.

Subxiphoid video-thoracoscopy.

Surgical procedures of pleural cavity are crucial to complete the diagnoses or planning treatment of pleural effusions with an unknown aetiology. Traditionally, the transthoracic approach has been the most used procedure to study the pleural cavity. The subxiphoid video-thoracoscopy is becoming an alternative to the transthoracic approach.

Combination video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy and transcervical thoracoscopy.

Surgical staging of lung and pleural cancers is crucial for planning treatment and assessing prognosis. In some cases, we need to explore both the mediastinum and the pleural cavity to confirm or rule out tumor dissemination. The combination of video-assisted mediastinoscopic lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) and thoracoscopy through a single transcervical incision allows the surgeon to widen the range of the exploration and improve the staging for lung and pleural cancers.

Subxiphoid video-pericardioscopy.

Pericardial effusion may be associated with many diseases, but sometimes its aetiology is not easy to elucidate. Subxiphoid video-pericardioscopy is useful for the study of the pericardial cavity. Through a subxiphoid approach, the pericardium is incised and a rigid (usually a video-mediastinoscope) or a flexible endoscope (flexible bronchoscope or flexible choledoscope) is inserted into the pericardial cavity.

[Prognostic factors of colorectal cancer lung metastases].

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most common neoplasia and the second cause of death due to cancer in developed countries. Approximately 10% of patients with this diagnosis develop lung metastases, although only 2-4% of them have lung metastases as the only extension location.

Objective: To study the prognostic factors of colorectal cancer lung metastases.