Efficacy and safety of pleurodesis for lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease.

Background: Managing malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with pleurodesis is essential for symptom relief and minimizing the need for repeated thoracentesis. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common complications associated with advanced lung cancer. However, the efficacy and safety of pleurodesis for MPE secondary to lung cancer with ILD remains unclear.

Protocol of the IMPACT study: randomized, multicenter, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy (Atezolizumab) plus anti-VEGF therapy (Bevacizumab) in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab is recommended as a first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). A subgroup analysis of the IMbrave150 trial showed shorter overall survival (OS) in uHCC patients with stable disease (SD) than patients with complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Improving OS in patients with SD is an unmet medical need.

Basic Techniques and Technical Tips for Ultrasound-guided Needle Puncture.

Ultrasound-guided needle puncture is essential for both vascular and nonvascular interventions. Ultrasound is widely available in various clinical settings, requires no ionizing radiation, offers color Doppler imaging, and enables real-time visualization of the needle position during puncture. However, ultrasound imaging has some limitations, such as signal attenuation in deeper tissues and the inability to penetrate bone or air, and it is a heavily operator-dependent modality.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with a portal vein tumor thrombus and pulmonary metastases of rectal cancer with microsatellite stability using atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

Herein, we report the successful treatment using atezolizumab plus bevacizumab of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a portal vein tumor thrombus and multiple pulmonary metastases from rectal cancer with microsatellite stability. This patient developed rectal cancer with synchronous pulmonary metastases and HCC. After resecting the primary lesion of the rectal cancer, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed for the HCC.

Management of potential portal vein thrombus during laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy following portal vein embolization.

Background: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is often performed prior to right hemihepatectomy (RH) to increase the future liver remnants. However, intraoperative removal of portal vein thrombus (PVT) is occasionally required. An algorithm for treating the right branch of the PV using laparoscopic RH (LRH) after PVE is lacking and requires further investigation.

Technical Strategy for Pancreatic Body Cancers: A Raison d'etre of Distal Pancreatectomy with Portal Resection.

Background: Advancements in multiagent chemotherapy have expanded the surgical indications for pancreatic cancer. Although pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with portal vein resection (PVR) has become widely adopted, distal pancreatectomy (DP) with PVR remains rarely performed because of its technical complexity. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of DP-PVR compared with PD-PVR for pancreatic body cancers, with a focus on PV complications and providing optimal reconstruction techniques when DP-PVR is necessary.

Remarkable Clinical Response of -Rearranged/-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma with Liver Metastasis to Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab-Carboplatin-Paclitaxel After ALK Inhibitors: A Case Report.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK-positive) lung adenocarcinoma with multiple liver metastases accounts for a relatively small number of cases of non-small cell lung cancer. Several ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) are available for the treatment of lung cancer. However, there is limited evidence on the treatment of multiple liver metastases in patients with lung cancer that are refractory to ALK-TKIs.

Late-onset hemobilia due to pseudoaneurysm rupture after endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy.

We report the case of a 65-year-old man who experienced hemobilia due to rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the left hepatic artery after endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS). The patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for obstructive jaundice. Biliary drainage was converted to EUS-HGS due to tumor invasion in the superior duodenal angle.

Clinical Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation Combined with Transarterial Chemoembolization Using Degradable Starch Microsphere Mixed with Mitomycin C for the Treatment of Non-hepatocellular Carcinoma Malignant Liver Tumors.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation combined with transarterial chemoembolization using degradable starch microspheres for non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignant liver tumors.

Material And Methods: A total of 15 patients (13 men, 2 women; median age, 67 years) who underwent radiofrequency ablation immediately after transarterial chemoembolization using degradable starch microspheres for liver tumors between July 2011 and September 2020 were included in this study. Thirteen patients had liver metastases from colorectal cancer (n = 6), esophageal cancer (n = 2), lung cancer (n = 2), and other tumors (n = 3), and 2 patients had primary liver tumor of cholangiocellular carcinoma (n = 1) and gastrinoma (n = 1).

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy with a Port System Proposed by the Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology and Japanese Society of Implantable Port Assisted Treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death both in Japan and globally. In the advanced stage, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is one of the most commonly used treatment options for liver cancer in Japan, and implantation of a catheter system (called a port system) in the body is a treatment method that has evolved mainly in Japan. The Guideline Committee of the Japanese Society of Interventional Radiology and the Japanese Society of Implantable Port Assisted Treatment jointly published clinical practice guidelines for HAIC with a port system to ensure its appropriate and safe performance in Japanese in 2018.

Preoperative percutaneous needle indigo carmine and lipiodol mixture marking in lung segmentectomy.

Objectives: For successful nodule localization and appropriate surgical margin distances in pulmonary segmentectomy for patients with lung malignancies, the effectiveness and feasibility of preoperative marking using an indigo carmine and lipiodol mixture remain unclear.

Methods: Patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy with (marking group, n = 69) and without (non-marking group, n = 265) preoperative marking at our institution from January 2013 to March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and compared in terms of surgical outcomes. All markings were performed using a fine needle to percutaneously inject an indigo carmine and lipiodol mixture under the guidance of computed tomography fluoroscopy.

Unilateral Autoimmune Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis with Polymyositis-related Interstitial Lung Disease.

A 61-year-old patient with cystic bronchiectasis and bronchial artery hyperplasia in the left lung was diagnosed with polymyositis-related interstitial lung disease. After nine months of immunosuppressive therapy, he developed unilateral autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) in the right lung with respiratory failure. After bronchial artery embolization to prevent massive hemoptysis, whole-lung lavage was performed using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Usefulness and safety of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy for reassessment of treatment in the clinical course of diffuse parenchymal lung disease.

Background: The usefulness and safety of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) for reassessment of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) with progression is still unknown. Our purpose was to clarify the usefulness and safety of TBLC for reassessment of DPLD with progression.

Methods: This retrospective study included 31 patients with DPLD diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy who progressed in the clinical course and underwent TBLC for reassessment between January 2017 and September 2019 at Kanagawa Cardiovascular & Respiratory Center.

Clinical usefulness of Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Objectives: We investigated the detectability of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN).

Methods: From January 2016 to October 2020, 125 SRS examinations using indium-111 pentetreotide performed for patients with NEN lesions were retrospectively evaluated. The detection rate of NEN lesions was determined according to histopathological classification by primary site and by organ.

Preoperative Embolization of Spinal Metastatic Tumor: The Use of Selective Computed Tomography Angiography for the Detection of Radiculomedullary Arteries.

Introduction: Preoperative embolization for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) has a risk of spinal ischemia. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of preoperative embolization in patients with MSCC and evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) angiography for the detection of the radiculomedullary arteries (RMA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 20 patients (12 men and 8 women; median age, 66 years), who underwent preoperative embolization before a decompression surgery, which corresponded to 22 embolization procedures.

Successful treatment with afatinib following the failure of osimertinib rechallenge with osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease: A case report.

Herein, we report the case of an 84-year-old woman with epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation exon 19 deletion postoperative recurrent lung adenocarcinoma. Osimertinib was administered as a first-line treatment; however, she was urgently admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea on the 46th day. Chest computed tomography revealed bilateral diffuse ground-glass opacities (GGOs) suggestive of grade 3 osimertinib-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Novel strategy to treat lung metastases: Hybrid therapy involving surgery and radiofrequency ablation.

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of hybrid treatment involving surgical resection and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for patients with multiple lung metastases.

Methods: Seventeen patients (6 men, 11 women; median age, 52 years; range, 16-78 years) underwent hybrid treatment involving surgery and radiofrequency ablation to treat multiple lung metastases (median number, 4; range, 2-26) between May 2014 and February 2020. The primary lesions were colorectal carcinoma (n = 9), uterine endometrial carcinoma (n = 3), osteosarcoma (n = 2), renal cell carcinoma (n = 1), glottic carcinoma (n = 1), and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1).

Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 levels are associated with mortality and severity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: The serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) level is a predictive factor for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The development of ARDS has been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine whether serum KL-6 levels are associated with mortality and severity in patients with COVID-19.

Transarterial Embolization for Bleeding in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Who Benefits?

Objectives/hypothesis: The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of transarterial embolization (TAE) for bleeding in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and to evaluate the prognostic factors after TAE.

Study Design: Outcome study.

Methods: This retrospective study included 31 consecutive patients (27 men and 4 women; median age, 61 years) who presented uncontrollable hemorrhage associated with HNC and underwent emergency TAE at our institution during a 10-year period (January 2011-December 2020).

Percutaneous Image-guided Needle Biopsy of Musculoskeletal Tumors: Technical Tips.

With recent advances in imaging technology, the frequency of detecting musculoskeletal lesions has also increased. Percutaneous image-guided needle biopsy is occasionally required for the diagnosis of such lesions. Moreover, in the era of personalized cancer care, chances in histopathological diagnosis and the importance of histopathological diagnosis by percutaneous needle biopsy are increasing.

Successful bronchial arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for an endobronchial metastasis after resection of small cell lung cancer.

Bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) chemotherapy has been reported to be an effective treatment option for centrally located early-stage squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) and has a favourable response rates for patients with stage III or IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without distant metastases who cannot tolerate standard chemotherapy. Here, we report a case of an 83-year-old male with a solitary polypoid endobronchial metastatic tumour in the left main bronchus one year and 10 months after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) combined segmentectomy (left S6 + S8a) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), pT1bN0. He was treated with BAI of 100 mg of cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum/cisplatin (CDDP), followed by thoracic radiotherapy (56 Gy in 28 fractions).

Clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Introduction: Although several reports on the risk factors for severe disease of COVID-19 already exist, reports on effective early indicators are still limited, especially from Japan. This study was conducted to clarify the patient's characteristics whose disease progressed to severe status.

Methods: The medical records of all consecutive 300 Japanese patients hospitalized at our institution between February and November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

Arterial Embolization Using Microspheres for Hypervascular Liver Metastases Refractory to Standard Treatments: A Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical utility of bland arterial embolization using microspheres in patients with hypervascular liver metastases refractory to standard treatments.

Materials And Methods: Primary endpoints of this prospective single-arm non-comparative study were objective response and disease control rates (ORR and DCR), based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors at 4 weeks after embolization. Secondary endpoints were ORR according to primary tumor, overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and safety.