Is thymectomy necessary in nonmyasthenic patients with early thymoma?

Background: In thymoma patients without myasthenia gravis, it is debatable whether thymectomy should be performed in addition to thymomectomy, the procedure in which the thymoma alone is resected. In this study, we proposed to compare the surgical results in early-stage nonmyasthenic thymoma patients who underwent thymomectomy with and without extended thymectomy.

Methods: A total of 95 patients without clinical evidence of preoperative myasthenia gravis, who underwent surgery for early-stage thymoma (stages I and II), were selected for the study.

Reconstruction after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: retrosternal or posterior mediastinal route?

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate which reconstructive route is most appropriate for patients undergoing an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Methods: Clinical data on 110 patients were retrospectively collected by reviewing their medical charts. In order to evaluate the effects of adjuvant radiotherapy, patients were interviewed about the adverse side effects they experienced during and after treatment.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a report of 16 cases from a single institution and literature review.

Background: The optimum treatment for small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCEC) has not been established. We reviewed our experience in the management of patients with SCEC.

Methods: The clinical data from 16 patients with SCEC were retrospectively collected with regard to demographics, use of tobacco or alcohol, presenting symptoms, tumor characteristics, staging, treatment, response, outcome, and survival.

Accuracy of helical computed tomography in the detection of pulmonary colorectal metastases.

Objective: This study assessed the sensitivity of helical computed tomography in the detection of pulmonary metastases in patients with colorectal cancer and the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with pulmonary metastases.

Methods: A total of 120 operations for pulmonary metastases were performed in 91 patients with colorectal cancer. All patients received an open thoracotomy that allowed full operative inspection and palpation.

Persistently high serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels after surgery indicate poor prognosis in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative and postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.

Material And Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of 257 patients with stage I lung cancer undergoing surgical resection was performed. The clinical data of each patient was collected for analysis including age, smoking habits, gender, preoperative and postoperative serum CEA levels, tumor diameter, histologic type, visceral pleural invasion, pathologic stage, and type of operation.

Surgical outcomes in resected non-small cell lung cancer < or = 1 cm in diameter.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors and patterns of recurrence in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) < or = 1 cm in diameter.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the clinicopathological characteristics of 71 patients with NSCLC < or = 1 cm in diameter in Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1982 and 2007. Overall survival and its predictors were analyzed.

Prognostic factors of postrecurrence survival in completely resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer with distant metastasis.

Objective: Distant metastasis after surgical resection is the most frequent cause of death in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to investigate the patterns of distant metastasis and the prognostic factors of postrecurrence survival in patients with resected stage I NSCLC with distant metastases.

Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics of 166 patients with distant metastases after complete resection of stage I NSCLC at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 1980 and 2000 were retrospectively reviewed.

Reduced axin protein expression is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus.

Aims: Our study investigates the significance of the expression of Wnt pathway proteins including beta-catenin, Axin, beta-transducin-repeat-containing protein (beta-TrCP), and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC).

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 128 resected ESCC tumors to detect the expression of beta-catenin, Axin, beta-TrCP, and APC. Correlation between immunoexpression, clinicopathological parameters, and patient survival was analyzed.

Race of the interviewer and the black-white test score gap.

Does the race of interviewers introduce a bias in estimating the test score gap between blacks and whites in the United States? To answer this question. I use an adult sample from the General Social Survey (GSS) in which vocabulary testing involves face-to-face and one-on-one interaction between the respondent and the interviewer. I find that black respondents perform better when tested by a black interviewer as opposed to a white interviewer.

Correlation of p53, MDM2 and p14(ARF) protein expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To determine the interrelationships of p53, MDM2, and p14(ARF) protein expression in primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their prognostic value in ESCC.

Methods: In total, 119 patients treated for ESCC with esophagectomy were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical data including gender, age, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, and 5-year survival rate were collected by chart review.

Reduced membranous beta-catenin protein expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate, by immunohistochemical analysis, the protein expression of beta-catenin and p53 in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens. The clinical relevance and prognostic significance of the expression of these proteins were also analyzed.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 68 resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tumor specimens to detect the expression of beta-catenin and p53.

Effect of formalin fixation on tumor size determination in stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Tumor size is an important prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system does not mandate a specific measurement method. Moreover, measuring fresh specimens and formalin-fixed specimens may yield disparate results. Our goal was to evaluate this disparity for stage I NSCLC.

Comparison of Charlson comorbidity index and Kaplan-Feinstein index in patients with stage I lung cancer after surgical resection.

Objective: We sought to determine whether Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) or Kaplan-Feinstein index (KFI) is a better predictor of prognosis in patients with stage I NSCLC after surgical resection.

Methods: A retrospective study of medical records of 426 patients with stage I lung cancer having complete surgical resection from 1995 to 2000 was performed. Data collected included age, gender, smoking history, resection type, pleural invasion status, and tumor type and size.

Prognostic factors in resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer with a diameter of 3 cm or less: visceral pleural invasion did not influence overall and disease-free survival.

Objective: Resection is the treatment of choice for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Stage I non-small cell lung cancer has been further subdivided into IA (T1N0M0, tumor size < or = 3 cm without visceral pleural invasion) and IB (T2N0M0, tumor size > 3 cm or any size with visceral pleural invasion). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors in patients with resected stage I non-small cell lung cancer with a diameter of 3 cm or less.

Thymoma is associated with relapse of symptoms after transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

Thymectomy is considered a therapeutic option for patients with myasthenia gravis. A myasthenic patient who has not received any treatment for years and shows no signs or symptoms of the disease after operation is still susceptible to a recurrence of myasthenic symptoms. To investigate which factors are related to relapse of symptoms in patients having thymectomy, we conduct a retrospective review in the patients who had experienced complete remission after thymectomy.

Preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level is a prognostic factor in women with early non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is one of the markers evaluated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The significance of the preoperative serum CEA level in female patients with NSCLC is seldom discussed. In this study, we conducted a retrospective review to investigate the prognostic significance of the preoperative CEA level in female patients with stage I NSCLC.

Management of primary chest wall tumors: 14 years' clinical experience.

Background: Primary chest wall tumor is rare but it encompasses tumors of various origins. We analyzed our experience with primary chest wall tumors with emphasis on its demographic presentation and management.

Methods: From 1991 to 2004, 62 patients with the diagnosis of primary chest wall tumors were enrolled.

En bloc resection for lung cancer with chest wall invasion.

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the results of en bloc chest wall plus lung resection for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) invading the chest wall.

Methods: From January 1986 to December 2000, of 1,820 patients having surgery for NSCLC, 42 (2.3%) patients with neoplasms involving the chest wall underwent en bloc chest wall and lung resection.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as a large chest wall mass.

Background: Malignant lymphoma presenting as a solitary chest wall mass is not frequently seen. Only a few case reports have been found in the English literature. The treatment for primary chest wall lymphoma remains unclear.

Intramural lipoma of the esophagus.

Lipomas of the gastrointestinal tract are rare, and those of the esophagus are extremely rare. Indeed, fewer than 20 resected cases of esophageal lipoma have been reported in the literature. In the current case, a 71-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of a slight swallowing disturbance in the upper chest.

Pulmonary metastasectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is seldom resectable due to advanced status. Even though hepatectomy is feasible, a large proportional of patients may still develops extrahepatic recurrence. Pulmonary metastasis is the most common site of extrahepatic spread.

Copy number changes of target genes in chromosome 3q25.3-qter of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: TP63 is amplified in early carcinogenesis but down-regulated as disease progressed.

Aim: By using comparative genomic hybridization, gain of 3q was found in 45-86% cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EC-SCC). Chromosome 3q25.3-qter is the minimal common region with several oncogenes found within this region.

Gastric schwannoma.

Gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors are a group of tumors originated from the mesenchymal stem cells of the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), leiomyomas or leiomyosarcomas or schwannomas. Gastric schwannoma is a very rare gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumor, which represents only 0.2% of all gastric tumors and 4% of all benign gastric neoplasms.

Mucoepidermoid tumors of the lung: analysis of 11 cases.

Background: Mucoepidermoid tumors (METs) of the trachea and bronchi are rare. They derive from the minor salivary gland tissue of the proximal tracheobronchial tree, and their clinical behaviors are still controversial. Herein, we analyze 11 cases of MET to investigate its clinicopathological characteristics.