Anatomical left S3 pulmonary segmentectomy using blunt dissection guided by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

The plane running between two adjacent pulmonary segments consists of a very thin layer of connective tissue through which the pulmonary vein also runs. To perform an anatomically correct segmentectomy, this segmental plane needs to be divided. Before the operation, the locations of vessels and bronchi are confirmed by three-dimensional computed tomography.

Lymph node dissection in thymic carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Objectives: Although lymph node (LN) metastases are not uncommon in thymic carcinomas, preoperative LN evaluation, intraoperative lymph node dissection (LND) and postoperative outcomes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of and outcomes in patients with thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine carcinomas undergoing LND.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed using our multi-institutional database to identify patients who underwent resection and LND for thymic carcinoma or thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma between 1991 and 2018.

The treatment and survival of patients with postoperative recurrent thymic carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: There are few data available on the outcomes of postoperative recurrent thymic carcinoma (TC) and thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma (TNEC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment and survival in patients with recurrent TC and TNEC after undergoing surgical resection.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed using our multicenter database to identify patients with a postoperative recurrence of TC and TNEC from 1995 to 2018.

Comparison of three nutritional scoring systems for outcomes after complete resection of non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Mounting evidence suggests that preoperative nutritional status can predict postoperative outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. However, a consensus on the optimal evaluation tool among the various nutritional assessment methods has not been reached. This study aimed at validating the predictive value of 3 nutritional scoring systems for clinical outcomes in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Are volume-dependent parameters in positron emission tomography predictive of postoperative recurrence after resection in patients with thymic carcinoma?

This study aimed to investigate the association between the volume-dependent parameters in F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) and a recurrence of thymic carcinoma. A retrospective chart review was performed based on our multi-institutional database to identify patients undergoing PET prior to resection of thymic carcinoma or neuroendocrine carcinoma between 1991 and 2018. The PET parameters (metabolic tumor volume and total lesion glycolysis) were evaluated retrospectively.

Bilateral Trans-Septal Approach to Right Lung Cancer Invading the Left Atrium.

We describe a 69-year-old woman with primary lung cancer in the right lower lobe invasive to the left atrium (LA) via the pulmonary vein (PV). The tumor in the LA measured 30 × 26 mm, and to avoid critical embolism preoperative induction therapy was not performed. The patient underwent right thoracotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the atrial septum was incised via the right atrium.

Venous Sinus Stenting for Transverse Sinus Stenosis Associated with Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis in a Patient with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutated Lung Cancer: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Cerebral venous sinus obstruction associated with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is an extremely rare complication of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. There is little information available on the efficacy of therapeutic options because of its rarity and extremely poor prognosis. CASE REPORT A 57-year-old man presented with severe headache, vomiting, and visual loss for 1 month.

Impact of histology on patterns of failure and clinical outcomes in patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Unlike metastatic disease, histological differences are usually not considered while planning chemoradiotherapy. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes and relapse patterns between squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas, and investigated possible histology-specific approaches for chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Resected case of giant cystic thymoma with spontaneous intracystic hemorrhage.

Background: Spontaneous intracystic hemorrhage of cystic thymoma is very rare. We encountered a patient with giant cystic thymoma with spontaneous intracystic hemorrhage and successfully resected the thymoma.

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old man was referred to our hospital with chest pain.

Invasive Thymoma Protruding into the Superior Vena Cava through the Thymic Vein.

We report a rare case of protrusion of an invasive thymoma with intraluminal growth through the thymic vein into the superior vena cava (SVC) without direct invasion of the vessel walls. The tumor and left brachiocephalic vein were resected, and the tumor in the SVC was removed with temporal bypass of the right brachiocephalic vein and right auricle. Histopathological finding showed that the thymoma had protruded via a thymic vein.

Neck and superior mediastinal granular cell tumor excised via a combined approach.

Granular cell tumor (GCT) is an uncommon tumor of Schwann cell origin. GCT occurs in various sites throughout the body, but mediastinal GCT is very rare. We present an extremely rare case of GCT of the neck and superior mediastinum.

Thoracoscopic bronchoplasty using continuous sutures in complete monitor view.

Thoracoscopic sleeve lobectomy in a complete monitor view is rarely reported. In thoracoscopic bronchoplasty, the insertion of a needle to the optimal point at the appropriate angle is difficult because of the restricted movement, and the limitation of monitor visualization complicates the creation of extraluminal ligations for anastomosis of the deep part of the bronchus. We report a case of sleeve resection of the right upper lobe with continuous sutures in a complete monitor view.

Right lower lobe sleeve resection: bronchial flap to correct caliber disparity.

Sleeve resection of the right lower lobe is performed infrequently. Caliber disparity between the truncus intermedius and the middle lobe bronchus is a major problem. We report a case of lung cancer completely resected by sleeve resection of the right lower lobe.

[Esophageal duplication cyst resected with video-assisted thorasic surgery; report of a case].

Duplication of the alimentary tract is a developmental anomaly, which may affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Esophageal duplication cyst is caused by an incomplete differentiation of the foregut. We report a case of esophageal duplication cyst resected using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

[A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis that showed solitary ground-glass opacity in the subpleural area].

A 58-year-old man visited our department regarding a growing ground-glass opacity (GGO) on chest CT. He underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery, because a malignancy such as bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma was suspected. However, histopathologic examination revealed pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP).

[Three cases of removal of intrabronchial metal nails].

We describe the successful extraction from an airway of foreign bodies metal nails in three cases. They were all carpenters, and often held nails between their lips. Case 1: a 72-year-old man had aspirated a nail three months earlier, but did not seek medical assistance at the time.

[A case of bronchogenic carcinoma which obtained long-term relapse free survival by argon plasma coagulation].

A 69-year-old man was admitted complaining of bloody sputum. A chest X-ray and CT revealed no abnormal findings, but bronchoscopy revealed a squamous cell carcinoma nodular lesion in the bifurcation between the left B(1+2)a and B(1+2)b. After two courses of chemotherapy (CBDCA + PAC), the nodular lesion disappeared.

Airway compression by the ascending aorta due to a thin thoracic cage.

An 89-year-old woman with dyspnea and disturbed consciousness due to hypoventilation was admitted to our hospital. Chest radiography showed no abnormal shadow, but she was intubated for deteriorated hypoventilation. Bronchoscopy demonstrated obstruction of the left main bronchus at the carina.

Intrabronchial foreign body extracted with tranilast and corticosteroid.

We present a case of intrabronchial foreign body buried in granulation tissue, which was successfully extracted administrating tranilast (n-[3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl] anthranilic acid), suppressing collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in keloid and hypertrophic scars, and corticosteroid. Bronchoscopy of a 74-year-old man showed the nail was buried in reactive granulation tissue and could not be observed from the surface. Tranilast at 300 mg/day and methylprednisolone at 250 mg/day were prescribed for 4 days, followed by a reduction of the corticosteroid to 40 mg/day for 3 days.

[A case of drug-induced interstitial pneumonia caused by TS-1].

A 75-year-old man underwent right hemi-colectomy in 2003. After recurrence in November, 2005, he had been given CDDP and TS-1. He had complained of cough with white sputum and fever from the end of October, 2006, however, antibiotics did not improve his symptoms.

[Case of malignant lymphoma associated with rheumatoid arthritis].

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with exacerbation of dyspnea. She had a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 26 years, and had been taking methotrexate and prednisolone. Chest radiograph and chest CT revealed marked mediastinal and right axillary lymph node swelling, interstitial shadows and bilateral pleural effusion.

[Two cases of lung abscesses successfully treated with percutaneous drainage].

We report two cases of lung abscesses treated with percutaneous drainage. A 69-year-old man with diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital because of fever. Chest radiograph and chest CT scan demonstrated a lung abscess adjacent to the chest wall in right S10.

Huge extrapleural hematoma in an anticoagulated patient.

We report an unusual case of huge extrapleural hematoma in an anticoagulated patient with no apparent traumatic episode. An extrapleural hematoma (EH) was successfully treated by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). If an EH is large enough to cause ventilatory or circulatory disturbances, VATS may be the first option for the management of EH.

[A case of asymptomatic racemose hemangioma treated by bronchial artery embolization].

A 69-year-old man had an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray and bronchoscopic examination showed that left B4 was completely occluded by a tumor. A non-pulsatile polypoid nodule was also found in right B'. The tumor in the left B4 was diagnosed as carcinoid, but the nodule in right B' was suspected to be hemangioma and biopsy was not performed.

[A case of meningeal carcinomatosis from lung cancer successfully treated with aggressive multimodal therapy].

A 44-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of brain metastasis and intrapulmonary exacerbation of lung adenocarcinoma. Systemic chemotherapy (PAC + CBDCA) was administered, but neurological symptoms (muscle weakness of limbs and disorientation) appeared. Lumbar puncture and enhanced MRI of lumber vertebrae revealed meningeal carcinomatosis.