Thoracic Oncology Research Articles

How will lung cancer screening and lung nodule management change the diagnostic and surgical lung cancer landscape?

Implementation of lung cancer screening, with its subsequent findings, is anticipated to change the current diagnostic and surgical lung cancer landscape. This review aimed to identify and present the most updated expert opinion and discuss relevant evidence regarding the impact of lung cancer screening and lung nodule management on the diagnostic and surgical landscape of lung cancer, as well as summarise points for clinical practice. This article is based on relevant lectures and talks delivered during the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Respiratory Society Collaborative Course on Thoracic Oncology (February 2023). Original lectures and talks and their relevant references were included. An additional literature search was conducted and peer-reviewed studies in English (December 2022 to June 2023) from the PubMed/Medline databases were evaluated with regards to immediate affinity of the published papers to the original talks presented at the course. An updated literature search was conducted (June 2023 to December 2023) to ensure that updated literature is included within this article. Lung cancer screening suspicious findings are expected to increase the number of diagnostic investigations required therefore impacting on current capacity and resources. Healthcare systems already face a shortage of imaging and diagnostic slots and they are also challenged by the shortage of interventional radiologists. Thoracic surgery will be impacted by the wider lung cancer screening implementation with increased volume and earlier stages of lung cancer. Nonsuspicious findings reported at lung cancer screening will need attention and subsequent referrals where required to ensure participants are appropriately diagnosed and managed and that they are not lost within healthcare systems. Implementation of lung cancer screening requires appropriate mapping of existing resources and infrastructure to ensure a tailored restructuring strategy to ensure that healthcare systems can meet the new needs.

PREDICTIVE MODELS FOR ASSESSING RISKS OF POSTOPERATIVE CARDIAC AND RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER

The aim of the study is to identify risk factors for the development of postoperative cardiac and respiratory complications in patients after lobectomy and to develop nomograms to predict such complications.
 Materials and Methods. From January 2020 to August 2023, 411 lobectomies were performed in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the surgical department of thoracic oncology, Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary (Ulyanovsk). The present study included 162 patients according to the designed enrolment criteria. The authors identified statistically significant risk factors for the development of severe cardiac and respiratory complications after lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection.
 Results. Due to insufficient data cardinality, artificial data with a similar distribution were synthesized using the MICE method (multivariate imputation by chained equations). The sample is divided into training (n=1258) and validation (n=342) datasets at a ratio 80 to 20. Final testing of the initial data was carried out (n=162).
 Logistic regression for respiratory complications: respiratory complications = 23.4232 – 0.7427 × stair climbing test – 0.0259 × shuttle walking test. Based on these data, a nomogram was constructed to predict the development of respiratory complications. Error matrix characteristics: accuracy – 0.95; sensitivity – 0.86; specificity – 0.97; positive predictive value – 0.86; negative predictive value – 0.97.
 Logistic regression for cardiac complications: cardiac complications = 11.1147 – 0.1247 × stair climbing test – 0.1651 × ejection fraction + 0.1568 × BMI + 1.133 × hypertension. Based on these data, a nomogram was constructed to predict cardiac complications. Error matrix characteristics: accuracy – 0.91; sensitive-
 ty – 0.63; specificity – 0.98; positive predictive value – 0.9; negative predictive value – 0.92. 
 Conclusions. The developed prognostic models allow us to determine the risk group among patients who are planning a lobectomy for lung cancer at the preoperative stage. It also allows us to ensure high-quality prevention for these complications in patients at high risk.

Gender inequities in ENT: Insights from women speakers at American Head and Neck Society meetings.

Gender inequity exists across national speakers at American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) conferences. This qualitative study explores potential causes of this disparity by surveying women invited to speak at AHNS between 2007 and 2019 and examining advice, resources, and meaningful actions from "those who made it." An internet search for contact information for the 131 female AHNS was performed. An electronic survey was distributed via email. Deidentified qualitative responses were coded by two independent researchers into themes. Themes characterize barriers that female head and neck (HN) surgeons face and describe ways to mitigate the impact of these for the next generation. Contact information for 73/131 female AHNS speakers was obtained via internet search. Email responses were received from 22/73 (30%). Of those, respondents specialized in otolaryngology (n = 17), medical oncology (n = 2), palliative care (n = 1), vascular surgery (n = 1), and thoracic surgical oncology (n = 1). All speakers worked in academic settings at varying stages of their career with 81.8% (18/22) of respondents fellowship-trained (primarily HN surgery). Concerns about gender disparity in ENT were grouped into the following themes: (1) recruiting women to ENT, (2) removing barriers to career advancement, (3) diversifying ENT's national presence, and (4) improving the broader culture of HN surgery. Respondents emphasized a need for diversifying leadership, early exposure to otolaryngology in medical school, and connecting students with female role models. Outstanding research, involvement at annual meetings, and committee membership were consistently deemed important for establishing a national presence in the field. Implicit bias, "boys clubs" culture, and burdensome childcare responsibilities were described as barriers to career advancement. While encouraging more women to enter otolaryngology residencies, increasing the number female role models and establishing strong mentoring networks may help to mitigate challenges. Meaningful progress requires the efforts of both male and female allies within the specialty. Simple solutions, such as educating on implicit bias, removing demographics from applications, and eliminating hidden penalties for maternity leave, may help improve diversity and mitigate barriers to career progression for underrepresented groups within ENT.

Abstract 1288: Evaluating gender and country of origin diversity on editorial boards in thoracic, gastrointestinal, and breast oncology journals

Abstract Background: The composition and diversity of editorial board members in oncology journals are critical indicators of the field's inclusivity and global perspective. Despite a historical trend of female underrepresentation on editorial boards of peer-reviewed medical journals, the extent of diversity within oncology's various subspecialties remains less understood. This study aims to elucidate the landscape of gender and economic diversity among editorial boards in three major oncology subspecialties: thoracic, gastrointestinal (GI), and breast oncology. Methods: 5 top oncology journals in thoracic, GI, and breast oncology were selected based on 2022 Journal Citation Reports impact factors (Clarivate). Editorial board members, identified from each journal's website, were assessed for economic diversity using the World Bank's 2024 high-income country classification and gender based on academic profile data. Chi-square tests evaluated the gender and economic diversity differences. Results: A total of 762 editor positions from 15 journals were analyzed across the 3 subspecialties. In thoracic oncology, 64.6% were men, 33.5% women, with 7.3% from non-high-income countries. In GI oncology, 84.5% were men, 10.5% women, with 11.1% from non-high-income countries. In breast oncology, 59.3% were men, 39.7% women, with 2.8% from non-high-income countries. Significant disparities in gender and geographical origin were noted (χ² < 0.01). A majority of GI oncology journal editors are based in Asia (66.1%), while in thoracic and breast oncology, most editors are located in North America and Europe. Among 17 editors-in-chief, 88.2% were men, all from high-income countries. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant gender imbalance and a predominance of editors from high-income countries in oncology journals. This imbalance underscores the need for greater inclusivity and diversity in the editorial boards of prominent oncology journals. Gender and country of origin representation among thoracic, GI, and breast oncology Journals Editors in Subspecialties Male Female Unknown Gender Originating from High-Income Country Originating from Middle- or Low-Income Country Continent Thoracic Oncology (N=206) 133 (64.6%) 69 (33.5%) 4 (1.9%) 191 (92.7%) 15 (7.3%) Asia: 37 (18.0%) Africa: 1 (0.5%) Australia: 7 (3.4%) Europe: 73 (35.4%) North America: 86 (41.7%) South America: 2 (1.0%) GI oncology (N=342) 289 (84.5%) 36(10.5%) 17 (5%) 304 (88.9%) 38 (11.1%) Asia: 226 (66.1%) Africa: 1 (0.3%) Australia: 2 (0.6%) Europe: 71 (20.8%) North America: 40 (11.7%) South America: 2 (0.6%) Breast Oncology (N=214) 127 (59.3%) 85 (39.7%) 2 (0.9%) 208 (97.2%) 6 (2.8%) Asia: 10 (4.7%) Australia: 10 (4.7%) Europe: 63 (29.4%) North America: 130 (60.7%) South America: 1 (0.5%) Citation Format: Zhaohui Liao Arter, Robert Hsu, David Benjamin. Evaluating gender and country of origin diversity on editorial boards in thoracic, gastrointestinal, and breast oncology journals [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1288.

Abstract 6997: Elucidating the tumorigenic properties of alveolar epithelial type 1 cells in EGFR-mediated LUAD tumorigenesis

Abstract Originating from within the distal lung, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common pathologic subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and encompasses an assortment of histologic presentations. Colocalized within the distal alveolar epithelium are two alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) subpopulations: alveolar epithelial type 1 (AT1) and alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells. We previously demonstrated that signatures unique to each AEC subpopulation were detected in LUAD tumors formed by oncogenic KRASG12D activation in mice and were associated with disparate survival outcomes, transcriptomic patterning, and histologic presentation. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are among the most frequent oncogenic drivers in thoracic oncology. Therefore, we set out to determine if EGFR oncogenic activation resulted in differential LUAD presentation and outcomes based on the cell of origin in which it was activated. To activate EGFR oncogenic mutations in AT1 or AT2 cells, we employed triple transgenic mouse models (AT1: Gramd2-CreERT2:EF1-LSL-tTA:TetO-EGFRdel20/T790 and AT2: Sftpc-CreERT2:EF1-LSL-tTA:TetO-EGFRdel20/T790), which allowed for EGFR activation in either Gramd2+ AT1 or Sftpc+ AT2 cells. Longitudinal analysis of hematoxylin and eosin-stained lungs over the course of 20 weeks was performed. Blinded pathology review demonstrated that EGFR oncogenic activation in Gramd2+ AT1 cells resulted in histologically defined LUAD with lepidic properties at early time points and solid adenocarcinoma properties at later time points. This differed from EGFR activation in Sftpc+ AT2 cells, which resulted in pre-carcinogenic atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) formation that did not progress to adenocarcinoma. While preliminary, our results suggest that cell of origin strongly influences EGFR-mediated lung oncogenesis and concomitant pathology and histologic presentation. This work may advance our understanding while informing patient stratification and treatment strategies for LUAD patients. Citation Format: Aaron M. Neely, Andrea Lanz, William Dean Wallace, Anthony W. Kim, Zea Borok, Crystal N. Marconett. Elucidating the tumorigenic properties of alveolar epithelial type 1 cells in EGFR-mediated LUAD tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6997.

Outcomes of minimal access cytoreductive surgery (M-CRS) and HIPEC/EPIC vs. open cytoreductive surgery (O-CRS) and HIPEC/EPIC in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies: a meta-analysis.

Minimal Access Surgery (MAS) has shown better peri-operative outcomes with equivalent oncological outcomes in gastrointestinal and thoracic oncology. Open CRS (O-CRS) procedure accompanies inevitable and significant surgical morbidity in patients. The aim of the review article is to compare outcomes of M-CRS and HIPEC/EPIC with open procedure in peritoneal surface malignancies. Comprehensive search of databases was done and total 2,807 articles were found (2793-PubMed and 14-Cochrane review). PRISMA flow chart was prepared and 14 articles were selected. Meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using random-effects model (DerSimonian Laird) and fixed effect model. Publication bias was tested with Funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Quality of studies was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Patients in both groups [total (732), M-CRS(319), O-CRS(413)] were similar in demographic characteristics. Peri-operative outcomes were significantly better in M-CRS group in terms of blood loss SMD=-2.379, p<0.001 (95 %CI-2.952 to-1.805), blood transfusion RR=0.598, p=0.011 (95 % CI 0.402 to 0.889), bowel recovery SMD=-0.843, p=0.01 (95 % CI-1.487 to-0.2), hospital stay SMD=-2.348, p<0.001 (95 % CI-3.178 to-1.519) and total morbidity RR=0.538, p<0.001 (95 % CI 0.395 to 0.731). Duration of surgery SMD=-0.0643 (95 % CI-0.993 to 0.865, p=0.892) and CC0 score RR=1.064 (95 % CI 0.992 to 1.140, p=0.083) had no significant difference. Limited studies which evaluated survival showed similar outcomes. This meta-analysis shows that M-CRS and HIPEC/EPIC is feasible and has better peri-operative outcomes compared to open procedure in patients with limited peritoneal carcinoma index (PCI) peritoneal surface malignancies. Survival outcomes were not calculated. Further studies are warranted in this regard.

Outpatient Embedded Palliative Care for Patients with Advanced Thoracic Malignancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Although cancer care is often contextualized in terms of survival, there are other important cancer care outcomes, such as quality of life and cost of care. The ASCO Value Framework assesses the value of cancer therapies not only in terms of survival but also with consideration of quality of life and financial cost. Early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer is associated with improved quality of life, mood, symptoms, and overall survival for patients, as well as cost savings. While palliative care has been shown to have numerous benefits, the impact of real-world implementation of outpatient embedded palliative care on value-based metrics is not fully understood. We sought to describe the association between outpatient embedded palliative care in a multidisciplinary thoracic oncology clinic and inpatient value-based metrics. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 215 patients being treated for advanced thoracic malignancies with non-curative intent. We evaluated the association between outpatient embedded palliative care and inpatient clinical outcomes including emergency room visits, hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, hospital charges, as well as hospital quality metrics including 30-day readmissions, admissions within 30 days of death, inpatient mortality, and inpatient hospital charges. Outpatient embedded palliative care was associated with lower hospital charges per day (USD 3807 vs. USD 4695, p = 0.024). Furthermore, patients who received outpatient embedded palliative care had lower hospital admissions within 30 days of death (O.R. 0.45; 95% CI 0.29, 0.68; p < 0.001) and a lower inpatient mortality rate (IRR 0.67; 95% CI 0.48, 0.95; p = 0.024). Our study further supports that outpatient palliative care is a high-value intervention and alternative models of palliative care, including one embedded into a multidisciplinary thoracic oncology clinic, is associated with improved value-based metrics.

Clinical and pathogenetic justification for the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in the complex of preoperative preparation of patients with non-small cell lung cancer complicated by the inflammatory process

Purpose of the study. Determination of pathogenetic substantiation and indication criteria for the inclusion of extracorporeal detoxification methods in preoperative preparation of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) complicated by inflammation.Patients and methods. This study included the data on 222 patients with newly diagnosed stage I–IV NSCLC referred for elective surgical treatment to the Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Medical Centre for Oncology, in 2017–2019. Endogenous intoxication was evaluated in all patients depending on the leukogram results: leukocytic intoxication index (LII), body resistance index (BRI), reactive neutrophil response (RNR), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Indicators of the inflammatory response, i. e. interleukin 6 and procalcitonin, were also studied.Results. 36.5 % of NSCLC patients developed inflammation. That over 70 % of the NSCLC patients showed pronounced clinical and laboratory signs of endogenous intoxication and inhibited protective systems of homeostasis. Initial sub- or decompensated endotoxicosis together with reduced overall reactivity of the body poses a high risk of systemic inflammatory response to antitumor surgical treatment. This justifies the inclusion of extracorporeal detoxification into preoperative preparation of this category of patients as an active preoperative therapy.Conclusions. Simultaneous elevation of LII, RNR and NLR characterizing the presence of endotoxicosis in sub- and decompensation of endogenous intoxication by own physiological detoxification systems requires an active preoperative preparation with extracorporeal detoxification.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Treatment Decisions: A New Era for NSCLC.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women and men, in developed countries, despite the public health interventions including tobacco-free campaigns, screening and early detection methods, recent therapeutic advances, and ongoing intense research on novel antineoplastic modalities. Targeting oncogenic driver mutations and immune checkpoint inhibition has indeed revolutionized NSCLC treatment, yet there still remains the unmet need for robust and standardized predictive biomarkers to accurately inform clinical decisions. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents the computer-based science concerned with large datasets for complex problem-solving. Its concept has brought a paradigm shift in oncology considering its immense potential for improved diagnosis, treatment guidance, and prognosis. In this review, we present the current state of AI-driven applications on NSCLC management, with a particular focus on radiomics and pathomics, and critically discuss both the existing limitations and future directions in this field. The thoracic oncology community should not be discouraged by the likely long road of AI implementation into daily clinical practice, as its transformative impact on personalized treatment approaches is undeniable.

Innovations in Thoracic Oncology and the Promise of Liquid Biopsies with Dr. Luis Raez.

Thoracic oncology continues to pose a great threat to human health as one of the most common forms of cancer. Liquid biopsies present a transformative approach to treating patients affected by these types of diseases by providing a less invasive genetic overview of the tumor, aiding in both diagnostic and treatment measures. The primary objective of this article is to examine the prospects of liquid biopsies in managing thoracic malignancies and to present barriers to their usage as demonstrated by Dr. Luis Raez. In examining why molecular diagnostics continue to be employed together with more traditional methods, this article presents the next steps in the clinical application of blood-based cancer screening. Future cancer diagnosis and treatment aim to prioritize circulating biomarker analyses based on their potential for the detection and monitoring of thoracic cancers. Liquid biopsies are favored thanks to their reduced invasiveness with respect to traditional treatments. The further study of clinical biomarkers and technological advancements are thus pivotal to enhance the clinical applicability of this method. In conclusion, this blood-based analysis offers a promising route by which the diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes of thoracic cancer can be improved.

Optimizing Outpatient Radiation Oncology Consult Workflow by Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: Efficiency and Financial Impacts.

Clinical efficiency is a key component of value-based health care. Our objective here was to identify workflow inefficiencies by using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) and evaluate the implementation of a new clinical workflow in high-volume outpatient radiation oncology clinics. Our quality improvement study was conducted with the Departments of GI, Genitourinary (GU), and Thoracic Radiation Oncology at a large academic cancer center and four community network sites. TDABC was used to create process maps and optimize workflow for outpatient consults. Patient encounter metrics were captured with a real-time status function in the electronic medical record. Time metrics were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Individual patient encounter data for 1,328 consults before the intervention and 1,234 afterward across all sections were included. The median overall cycle time was reduced by 21% in GI (19 minutes), 18% in GU (16 minutes), and 12% at the community sites (9 minutes). The median financial savings per consult were $52 in US dollars (USD) for the GI, $33 USD for GU, $30 USD for thoracic, and $42 USD for the community sites. Patient satisfaction surveys (from 127 of 228 patients) showed that 99% of patients reported that their providers spent adequate time with them and 91% reported being seen by a care provider in a timely manner. TDABC can effectively identify opportunities to improve clinical efficiency. Implementing workflow changes on the basis of our findings led to substantial reductions in overall encounter cycle times across several departments, as well as high patient satisfaction and significant financial savings.

Chest wall resections for sulcus superior tumors.

Chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection (trimodality therapy) is a guideline recommended treatment for sulcus superior tumors (SST). By definition, SSTs invade the chest wall and therefore require en-bloc chest wall resection with the upper lung lobe or segments. The addition of a chest wall resection, potentially results in higher morbidity and mortality rates when compared to standard anatomical pulmonary resection. This, together with their anatomical location in the thoracic outlet, and varying grades of fibrosis and adhesions resulting from induction chemoradiotherapy in the operation field, make surgery challenging. Depending on the exact location of the tumor and extent to which it invades the surrounding structures, the preferred surgical approach may vary, e.g., anterior, posterolateral, hemi-clamshell, or combined approach; all with their own potential advantages and morbidities. Careful patient selection, adequate staging and discussion in a multidisciplinary tumor board in a center experienced in complex thoracic oncology leads to the best long-term survival outcomes with the least morbidity and mortality. Enhanced recovery guidelines are now available for thoracic surgery, promoting faster recovery and helping to minimize complications and morbidity, including infections and thoracotomy pain. Although minimally invasive surgery can enhance recovery and reduce chest wall morbidity, and is in widespread use in thoracic oncology, its use for SST has been limited. However, this is an evolving area and hybrid surgical approaches (including use of the robot) are being reported. Chest wall reconstruction is rarely necessary, but if so, the prosthetic materials are preferably radiolucent/non-scattering, rigid enough while still being somewhat flexible, and inert, providing structural support, allowing chest wall movement, and closing defects, while inciting a limited inflammatory response. New techniques such as 3D image reconstructions/volume rendering, 3D-printing, and virtual reality modules may help pre-operative planning and informed patient consent.

Percutaneous Image-Guided Microwave Ablation for Treating Postsurgical Intrapulmonary Oligometastases or Oligorecurrence.

To assess the clinical efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) in treating tumour patients with postsurgical intrapulmonary oligometastases or oligorecurrence (PIORO). Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Departments of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital and Qilu Hospital, Jinan, China, from January 2014 to June2023. Clinical data of 31 patients with PIORO receiving treatment with MWA were retrospectively analysed. After undergoing MWA, the patients were followed up for computed tomography (CT) examination on the 7th day, 1st month, and every 3 months, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes; overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to local progression (TTLP). All patients with PIORO were successfully treated with MWA. The 3-year survival rate of patients was 35.5%. The median OS was 26.0 months, the median PFS was 11.1 months, and the median TTLP was 14.4 months. Patients with oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter showed better PFS (≤3 cm, 14.261 m vs. >3 cm, 7.786 m; p <0.01) and TTLP (≤3 cm, 19.522 m vs. >3 cm, 12.214 m; p <0.05) than those with tumours >3 cm in diameter. Clinical characteristics of the patients were not significantly correlated with OS. MWA, as a topically therapeutic method, is an effective procedure for tumour patients with PIORO, especially in casesof oligometastatic or oligorecurrent tumours ≤3 cm in diameter. Microwave ablation, Thermal ablation, Oligometastases, Oligorecurrence, Progression-free survival, Survival.

Thymoma Profile at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital: Does Thymoma Size Really Affect Distant Metastasis?

Introduction: Size is a predictor factor of a patient’s prognosis and metastasis in solid tumors. This study determined the relationship between thymoma size and distant metastasis. Methods: A cohort retrospective study using medical record data was conducted at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, from January 2019 to August 2021. Of 1,430 thoracic oncology patients, 150 (10%) had mediastinal mass with thymoma as the majority (48.6%). About 73 thymoma patients were included. The size of the thymoma was the dependent variable, and the metastasis (distant and non-distant) was the independent variable. The cut-off point of thymoma size was determined with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The correlation of thymoma size with distant metastasis was analyzed with the Chi-Square test, and p &lt; 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Thymoma was predominated by males (53.4%), the mean age was 43 ± 16 years old, and dyspnea was the most common symptom. Metastatic lesions were found in 87.7% of the patients, and the most common metastatic sites were intrathoracic (79.5%), followed by axillary lymph nodes (49.3%), bone (21.9%), liver (20.5%), and brain (1.4%). The cut-off value of thymoma size was 8.25 cm, indicating that &gt;8.25 cm was categorized as large thymoma. Distant metastasis was found in 86.0% of large thymoma patients. The large tumors tend to spread into various sites (OR = 5.39; 95% CI 2.8-32.6; p = 0.002). Conclusion: Thymoma must be taken into account when there are male patients in their forties presented with dyspnea and mediastinal mass. The cut-off point of 8.25 cm for the thymoma size can predict distant metastasis.

Randomized controlled trials in lung cancer surgery: How are we doing?

ObjectiveRandomized control trials are considered the highest level of evidence, yet the scalability and practicality of implementing randomized control trials in the thoracic surgical oncology space are not well described. The aim of this study is to understand what types of randomized control trials have been conducted in thoracic surgical oncology and ascertain their success rate in completing them as originally planned. MethodsThe ClinicalTrials.gov database was queried in April 2023 to identify registered randomized control trials performed in patients with lung cancer who underwent surgery (by any technique) as part of their treatment. ResultsThere were 68 eligible randomized control trials; 33 (48.5%) were intended to examine different perioperative patient management strategies (eg, analgesia, ventilation, drainage) or to examine different intraoperative technical aspects (eg, stapling, number of ports, port placement, ligation). The number of randomized control trials was relatively stable over time until a large increase in randomized control trials starting in 2016. Forty-four of the randomized control trials (64.7%) were open-label studies, 43 (63.2%) were conducted in a single facility, 66 (97.1%) had 2 arms, and the mean number of patients enrolled per randomized control trial was 236 (SD, 187). Of 21 completed randomized control trials (31%), the average time to complete accrual was 1605 days (4.4 years) and average time to complete primary/secondary outcomes and adverse events collection was 2125 days (5.82 years). ConclusionsGiven the immense investment of resources that randomized control trials require, these findings suggest the need to scrutinize future randomized control trial proposals to assess the likelihood of successful completion. Future study is needed to understand the various contributing factors to randomized control trial success or failure.

Assessing the impact of structured reporting on learning how to report lung cancer staging CT: A triple cohort study on inexperienced readers

PurposeTo assess the clinical utility of chest computed tomography (CT) reports for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) staging generated by inexperienced readers using structured reporting (SR) templates from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR-SR) and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM-SR), compared to traditional non-systematic reports (NSR). MethodsIn a cohort of 30 NSCLC patients, six third-year radiology residents reported CT examinations in two 2-month-apart separate sessions using NSR in the first and NSR, RCR-SR, or SIRM-SR in the second. Couples of expert radiologists and thoracic oncologists in consensus evaluated completeness, accuracy, and clarity. All the quality indicators were expressed on a 100-point scale. The Wilcoxon signed ranks, and Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney tests were used for statistical analyses. ResultsResults showed significantly higher completeness for RCR-SR (90 %) and SIRM-SR (100 %) compared to NSR (70 %) in the second session (all p < 0.001). SIRM-SR demonstrated superior accuracy (70 % vs. 55 %, p < 0.001) over NSR, while RCR-SR and NSR accuracy did not significantly differ (60 % vs. 62.5 %, p = 0.06). In the second session, RCR-SR and SIRM-SR surpassed NSR in completeness, accuracy, and clarity (all p < 0.001, except p = 0.04 for accuracy between RCR-SR and NSR). SIRM-SR outperformed RCR-SR in completeness (100 % vs. 90 %, p < 0.001) and accuracy (70 % vs. 62.5 %, p = 0.002), with equivalent clarity (90 % for both, p = 0.27). ConclusionsInexperienced readers using RCR-SR and SIRM-SR demonstrated high-quality reporting, indicating their potential in radiology residency programs to enhance reporting skills for NSCLC staging and effective interaction with all the physicians involved in managing NSCLC patients.

Surgical heritage of academician Bogush L.K. and its influence on modern thoracic and phthisiatric surgery

The authors discuss the contribution of the outstanding scientist, surgeon, health care organizer and academician Lev K. Bogush in development of original surgeries that saved ten thousands of patients with respiratory diseases. The main periods of phthisiatric surgery are described (no antibacterial drugs and limited technical possibilities of surgical treatment, defining the place of surgery after emergence of specific effective drug treatment, introduction of resection options, drug-resistant forms of disease in population). In recent years, phthisiatric surgery is experiencing «second» birth, when it is increasingly used for destructive forms of disease. The authors emphasize the foresight of the scientist. He not only first performed many surgeries for pulmonary tuberculosis, but also created a whole direction in scientific and clinical development. The last one was later applied in other areas of thoracic surgery and oncology. Today, developments of academician Bogush L.K. are again in demand at the new stage of development of surgical science. This is especially clear in reconstructive tracheobronchial surgery, as well as surgical treatment of various complications after lung surgeries. Active surgical activity of Bogush L.K. fell on the period of two wars (the Finnish Company and the Great Patriotic War). He took active part in these conflicts and was the chief surgeon of several fronts for many years. Only a severe wound did not allow him to finish the war in Berlin. Rich surgical experience inspired further scientific and clinical researches in thoracic surgery.

Lung cancer registry to promote person-centered care.&amp;nbsp;

Introduction: Lung cancer is a leading cause of death and major burden on healthcare systems. Patient-centered outcome measurements allow the optimization of care organization and quality improvement. The aim of this project was to outline a set of variables and outcomes to evaluate the quality of care provided to lung cancer patients. &#x0D; Methods: This project took place at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, a community-based tertiary care hospital in Argentina; which provides thoracic surgery, pneumology, oncology, pathology, radiology and radiotherapy services. It also has a Lung Cancer Multidisciplinary Board. All patient information is stored in a Data Repository fed by the electronic health record (EHR).&#x0D; We established a team of experts in management, IT, thoracic surgery, pneumology, oncology, and internal medicine. We reviewed care processes and patient trajectory along the usual pathway, through a retrospective EHR analysis of a consecutive sample of lung cancer patients. &#x0D; We performed a literature review to outline possible variables and health outcomes to be collected, instruments, and frequency of measurement. We determined needs, usefulness, and feasibility of collecting variables and outcomes in group meetings. &#x0D; Results: We reviewed 15 cases of lung cancer, 53% male, median age 68 years old (range: 29-85). We detected heterogeneity in the time elapsed between critical points of management (eg first visit to diagnosis 21 to 642 days; biopsy report to chemotherapy 19 to 163). The proportion of use of the healthcare system was also variable (eg: 87% consulted pneumonolory or oncology, only 13% had pain management visits and 7% received respiratory kinesic therapy). Patient-reported outcomes were not systematically evaluated.&#x0D; The selected baseline variables were: age, sex, weight loss, smoking status, comorbidities, patient-reported health status (EORTC European Organization for Research and treatment of cancer, QLC-LC30 Core quality of life questionnaire, QLC-LC13 Lung cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire), performance status (ECOG Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group), pulmonary function (VEF1), histology, clinical and pathological stage (AJCC-TNM 8th Ed), molecular tests and treatment intent. The outcomes (collected annually): clinical staging performed before treatment, time from diagnosis to treatment, performance status, patient-reported health status, major surgical complications, major chemotherapy/radiotherapy complications, time from diagnosis to treatment, completed treatment, overall survival, cause of death, treatment-related mortality, place of death, time spent in hospital at the end of life (last 30 days).&#x0D; Discussion: Cancer registries comprise a set of systematically and prospectively collected data. Quality measurements performed in the context of cancer registries could assist in monitoring and evaluating quality of care. &#x0D; Conclusions: The project determined essential variables and outcomes to be measured, considering their relevance and feasibility.&#x0D; Lessons learnt: Teamwork is essential when developing a registry, as different stakeholders' opinions are reflected. Integrated care is a useful solution to overcome fragmentation.&#x0D; Limitations: Patients did not participate directly in this development. &#x0D; Suggestions for future research: These results will assist in outlining a care pathway for patients with lung cancer, which is currently under development. Evaluation before and after the implementation of care pathways may evidence quality improvement.

Right middle pulmonary vein classification by 3D-CT reconstruction and its clinical significance.

A profound understanding of the type of right middle lobe (RML) vein return is crucial for thoracic surgeons to ensure safe anatomic lung resection. In this study, the type of venous return in the RML and its clinical significance were analyzed using the 3D computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction technique. This retrospective study analyzed the patients who underwent anatomical lobectomy or anatomical lung segment resection with preoperative 3D-CT reconstruction at the Department of Thoracic Oncology Surgery, Fujian Cancer Hospital from January 2020 to October 2022. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (I) blurred CT images and inadequate IQQA 3D reconstruction for clear visualization of bronchial and vascular subsegmental branches; (II) patients with a previous history of right middle lobectomy; (III) incomplete medical records. This study included 608 eligible cases, 245 males (40.30%) and 363 females (59.70%), with an average age of 58.61 years. We identified four major types of RML venous return, including 407 cases (66.94%) of central vein type, 123 cases (20.23%) of isolated vein type, 11 cases (1.81%) of basal vein type, and 67 cases (11.02%) of combined vein type. Furthermore, the central venous type comprised four subtypes: 191 cases (27.3%) had one branch, 165 cases (27.14%) had two branches, 43 cases (7.07%) had three branches, and 8 cases (1.32%) had more than three branches. The combined venous type includes four subtypes: combination type A (n=37 cases, 6.09%), combination type B (n=7 cases, 1.15%), combination type C (n=21 cases, 3.45%), and combination type D (n=2 cases, 0.33%). Based on 3D-CT reconstruction, numerous types of venous return in the RML were found, highlighting the significance of 3D-CT reconstruction for thoracic surgeons. It plays a crucial role in understanding the type of RML venous return prior to surgery, providing invaluable information to ensure surgical safety and success.

What's new in thoracic oncology.

Many changes have occurred in the field of thoracic surgery over the last several years. In this review, we will discuss new diagnostic techniques for lung cancer, innovations in surgery, and major updates on latest treatment options including immunotherapy. All these have significantly started to change our approach towardthe management of lung cancer and have great potential to improve the lives of our patients afflicted with this disease.