Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery thymectomy versus open thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis: a meta-analysis.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy has become a feasible treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG) in recent years. The objective of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the perioperative characteristics, safety, and completely stable remission rate in patients with MG who received VATS or open thymectomy (OT).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and CNKI for related articles using combinations of the search terms video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy, transsternal thymectomy, and MG.

Influence of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy on immunological functions in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

In this study, we compared the effects of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and traditional open surgery (TOS) on immune system functioning in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We enrolled 122 NSCLC patients in this study. The patients were randomly divided into VATS group (n = 61) and TOS group (n = 61).

[Combination of single-port thoracoscopy and laparoscopy for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma: report of 6 cases].

Objective: To study the feasibility and early results of radical resection of esophageal carcinoma using single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy.

Methods: From March 2010 to December 2010, 6 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent radical resection by single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army. With the patients at a supine position, laparoscopy was performed to complete stomach mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection.

Diagnostic values of SCC, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and NSE for lung cancer in patients with suspicious pulmonary masses: a single center analysis.

We recruited 805 patients with suspicious pulmonary masses that were identified finally as lung cancer or benign pulmonary masses. The serum levels of four tumor markers, including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were tested for every patient. Though receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated unsatisfactory diagnostic power of those four tumor markers for lung cancer, 37.

[Clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary pulmonary lymphoma].

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics, the principles of diagnosis and surgical treatment for primary pulmonary lymphoma.

Method: Ten patients with primary pulmonary lymphoma were treated surgically and their clinical characteristics, the experiences of clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment were analyzed. The tumors located in left upper lobe in 2, left lower lobe in 1, right upper lobe in 3, right middle lobe in 3 and right lower lobe in 1.

[Influence of preoperative radiotherapy on resection rate and long-term efficacy for patients with stage II and III lung carcinomas].

Background & Objective: It is difficult to diagnose lung carcinomas in early stage. Quite a few patients are in advanced stages(partial stage IIIb and IV) and unsuitable for surgical treatment when they come to see doctors with some clinical symptoms. For some patients with stage II and III lung carcinomas, especially associated with ipsilateral hilar and/or mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis, it is very difficult to resect the tumors, or the patients can't tolerate double lobectomy or pneumonectomy because of cardio-pulmonary function deficiency.