R Tsuchiya

National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan

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Publications (82)149.74 Total impact

  • Article: Distant failure after treatment of postoperative locoregional recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: The standard treatment for patients with locoregional recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete resection has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics, type of locoregional recurrence, pattern of subsequent failure, and survival after the recurrence. Of 743 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for NSCLC in the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1990 and 1995, we retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of the 43 patients (5.8 %) found to have locoregional recurrence without distant metastasis or pleural or pericardial involvement. The median time to locoregional recurrence was 13.6 months (range: 1.6 - 85.8 months). The most frequent site of recurrence was the mediastinal nodes in 21 of 43 patients (49 %). 33 patients (77 %) received further treatment for the recurrence: thoracic irradiation in 26, surgery in two, systemic chemotherapy in two, and a combination of the above in 3 patients. Subsequent distant failure was detected in 26 (68 %) of the 38 patients assessable for the analysis of failure pattern: lung in 11, brain in 6, bone in 5, and others in 13. The median interval from the recurrence to distant failure was 8.4 months (range: 1.7-56.4 months). The median survival time after diagnosis of the locoregional recurrence was 10.5 months (range: 0-74.0 months). A multivariate analysis showed that local therapy for the locoregional recurrence had no significant impact on postrecurrent survival or distant failure-free survival. Many patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence developed distant metastases early after the first recurrence. Systemic chemotherapy in addition to local therapy may be of benefit in this population.
    The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon 10/2003; 51(5):283-7. · 0.88 Impact Factor
  • Article: T2 tumors larger than five centimeters in diameter can be upgraded to T3 in non-small cell lung cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: Among the TNM criteria, tumor size is a well-assessed factor in the prognosis of small tumors. A 3-cm cutoff point separates T1 from T2 tumors, whereas a size larger than 3 cm is not ascribed any prognostic value. Instead, N2 is considered to be the worst prognostic factor for intrathoracic extended disease. The prognosis of 545 patients with non-small cell lung cancer larger than 3 cm in diameter (T2, T3, and T4) was studied. These tumors were completely resected by pneumonectomy (n = 126) or lobectomy (n = 411) or were partially resected (n = 8). Survivals were compared according to the following factors: tumor size (3.1-5 cm, 5.1-7 cm, >7 cm), nodal status, age, sex, histologic type, degree of pleural involvement, operative procedure, stage, and T factor. For the multivariate analysis, the Cox proportional hazard model was used with the same variables. The univariate analysis showed that age, sex, degree of pleural involvement, operative procedure, tumor size, nodal status, and stage were all significant prognostic factors. Further comparison of survival between different tumor sizes (< or =5 cm vs >5 cm) in the same nodal category demonstrated a significantly poor prognosis for larger tumors in N0 (P =.00374) and N2+N3 (P =.0157), but not in N1 (P =.3452). T2 tumors (n = 349) were divided, according to size, into T2a (n = 238) and T2b (n = 111), and survival was compared with those in T3 and T4. The 5-year survivals were 51.3%, 35.1%, 47.8%, and 25.3%, respectively. The difference between T2a and T2b was statistically significant (log-rank P =.0170, Breslow P =.0055). A tumor size of more than 5 cm in diameter was indicative of a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer, because patients with T2b tumors had a significantly different survival from that of patients with T2a tumors, and the survival curve was located between those for patients with T3 and T4 tumors. Consequently, T2b might be upgraded to at least T3.
    Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 11/2001; 122(5):907-12. · 3.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: Completely resected stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer: the significance of primary tumor location and N2 station.
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    ABSTRACT: The number of N2 stations (single vs multiple N2 stations) is an important prognostic factor in patients with completely resected stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer. However, the significance of both the N2 station(s) actually involved and the primary tumor location remains unclear. The database was built with the use of a questionnaire survey on the survival of patients with pathologic stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer completely resected between January 1992 and December 1993. The survey was performed by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group as of July 1999. The data include information on the survival and N2 stations of 402 patients. A frequently metastasized single N2 station was the lower pretracheal station in primary tumors in the right upper lobe, the subaortic station in the left upper lobe, and the subcarinal station in the right middle or lower lobe and the left lower lobe. In multiple N2 stations, the frequency of metastasis of the N2 station observed in a single N2 station was as high as 72% to 89%, and one or two other frequently metastasized stations were added to each group. Regarding the survival of patients with a primary tumor in each lobe except for the left lower lobe, a single N2 station resulted in a significantly better survival than did multiple N2 stations. Furthermore, the overall survivals classified according to each primary site showed a significant difference among the four primary sites (P =.04). The primary tumors in each lobe showed a prevalence of N2 station(s). The number of N2 stations is a good prognosticator except in patients with a primary tumor in the left lower lobe. In addition, the site of a primary tumor itself is also considered to influence the survival of the patients.
    Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 11/2001; 122(4):803-8. · 3.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: Overall survival and local recurrence of 406 completely resected stage IIIa-N2 non-small cell lung cancer patients: questionnaire survey of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group to plan for clinical trials.
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    ABSTRACT: the group of completely resected stage IIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) is considered to be heterogeneous in various aspects including survival and the recurrent pattern. In the present study, we attempted to clarify the factors which separate these patients into high and low risk groups based on the survival and local recurrence. a questionnaire survey on the survival and local recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer patients with pathological stage IIIA-N2 disease who underwent a complete resection from January 1992 to December 1993 was performed by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group as of July 1999. The information on the survival of 406 patients and that of local recurrence in 332 of them was available. the 5-year survival of the 406 patients was 31.0%. In a univariate analysis, the age, clinical and pathological T status, number of N2 stations, pathological N1 disease, operative modality and postoperative radiotherapy were all found to be important prognostic factors. Clinical N2 disease marginally influenced the survival (P=0.07). In a multivariate analysis of these variables including clinical N2 disease, the survival was significantly worse in the case of multiple N2 stations (hazard ratio=1.741), the presence of pathological N1 disease (1.403), pathological T2 or 3 disease (1.399) and an age older than 65 (1.327). The rate of freedom from any local recurrence at the bronchial stump, or in the hilar, mediastinal or supraclavicular lymph nodes at 5 years was 64%. In a univariate analysis of the freedom from local recurrence, the clinical N status, pathological T status, pathological N1 disease and number of N2 stations were all found to be important prognostic factors. A multivariate analysis revealed the freedom from local recurrence to be adversely influenced by multiple N2 stations (hazard ratio=2.05), and the presence of either clinical N1 or 2 (1.733) disease. The 5-year survival and the rate of freedom from local recurrence at 5 years were 43 and 75% in patients with a single N2 station and 17 and 48% in those with multiple N2 stations, respectively. the number of N2 stations (single vs. multiple N2 stations) was found to be a useful prognostic factor, which can separate completely resected stage IIIA-N2 patients into high and low risk groups regarding both the overall survival and local recurrence.
    Lung Cancer 11/2001; 34(1):29-36. · 3.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prognosis and survival after resection for bronchogenic carcinoma based on the 1997 TNM-staging classification: the Japanese experience.
    T Naruke, R Tsuchiya, H Kondo, H Asamura
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    ABSTRACT: A new TNM staging system was proposed, and the previous system was revised in 1997. To evaluate the new TNM staging system for lung cancer, records of 3,043 lung cancer patients who underwent pulmonary resection at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, were analyzed. With regard to clinical stages, 3 patients had occult carcinoma; 786 patients had stage IA disease; 759 patients, stage IB; 54 patients, stage IIA; 469 patients, stage IIB; 582 patients, stage IIIA; 211 patients, stage IIIB; and 179 patients, stage IV. The 5-year survival rates for the respective stages were 70.8% for stage IA, 44.0% for stage IB, 41.1% for stage IIA, 36.9% for stage IIB, 22.7% for stage IIIA, 20.1% for stage IIIB, and 21.6% for stage IV. In terms of postoperative stages, 7 patients were classified in stage 0, 610 in stage IA, 506 in stage IB, 114 in stage IIA, 432 in stage IIB, 702 in stage IIIA, 448 in stage IIIB, and 224 in stage IV. The 5-year survival rates were as follows: stage IA, 79.0%; stage IB, 59.7%; stage IIA, 56.9%; stage IIB, 45.0%; stage IIIA, 23.6%; stage IIIB, 16.5%; and stage IV, 5.1%. In the clinical stage, there were significant prognostic differences between stage IA and stage IB, stage IIB and IIIA, and stage IIIA and stage IIIB, but there was no significant difference in 5-year survival rates between stage IB and stage IIA, stage IIA, and IIB, and stage IIIB and stage IV. In the postoperative stage, there were significant differences in 5-year survival rates between each stage except for stage IB and stage IIA.
    The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 07/2001; 71(6):1759-64. · 3.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Intrapulmonary metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer: a prognostic assessment.
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    ABSTRACT: According to the revised TNM classification in 1997, intrapulmonary metastasis within the same lobe of the primary tumor is designated as T4 and intrapulmonary metastasis in a different lobe is M1. However, their prognostic implications remain unclear. To assess their prognoses, we retrospectively analyzed the postoperative survival of patients with and without intrapulmonary metastasis. From January 1982 to December 1996, 2340 patients with non-small cell lung cancer underwent surgical resection. The survival of patients having complete resection (n = 1534) was analyzed according to their intrapulmonary metastasis status: patients without intrapulmonary metastasis (n = 1393), those with metastasis in the same lobe (n = 105), and those with metastasis in a different lobe (n = 18). For comparison, patients with T4 disease without intrapulmonary metastasis in the same lobe (n = 54) and those with M1 disease without metastasis in a different lobe (distant M1, n = 18) were also analyzed. The overall 5-year survivals were as follows: no intrapulmonary metastasis, 60%; stage T4 disease with no intrapulmonary metastasis, 34%; pulmonary metastasis in the same lobe, 34%; pulmonary metastasis in a different lobe, 11%; and distant M1, 6%. The differences in survival between patients with no pulmonary metastasis and those with metastasis in the same lobe (P <.001, log-rank test) and between patients with metastasis in the same lobe and those with distant M1 (P <.001) were significant. In contrast, there was no significant difference between patients with metastasis in the same lobe and those with T4 disease and no intrapulmonary metastasis or between patients with metastasis to a different lobe and those with distant M1. Prognostically, intrapulmonary metastasis within the same lobe of the primary tumor was comparable with T4 and that in a different lobe was comparable with M1. In terms of postoperative prognosis, the revised TNM classification for intrapulmonary metastasis seems to be appropriate.
    Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 07/2001; 122(1):24-8. · 3.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prognosis of resected non-small cell lung cancer patients with carcinomatous pleuritis of minimal disease.
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    ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognosis of resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with carcinomatous pleuritis of minimal disease which might be considered as the next advanced stage of positive pleural lavage cytology. The data were collected from a questionnaire survey on the survival of the patients with carcinomatous pleuritis found at thoracotomy from 1985 to December 1994 which was conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG). Out of 227 patients with carcinomatous pleuritis found at thoracotomy who had available information on a survival, 100 patients who underwent a resection of the primary tumor had carcinomatous pleuritis of minimal disease defined based on the criteria of the Japan Lung Cancer Society. The mean malignant fluid volume (+/-S.E.) was 37.1 (6.3) ml and the mean number of pleural disseminated nodules was 5.6 (0.9). A lobectomy was performed in 79 patients, a pneumonectomy in 11 and a limited resection in ten. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 31.8 and 22.8%, respectively. The prognosis of resected NSCLC patients with carcinomatous pleuritis of minimal disease was unexpectedly good. This indicates that no fine line may exist between positive pleural lavage cytology findings and the aforementioned lesion.
    Lung Cancer 05/2001; 32(1):55-60. · 3.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: Fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking.
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    ABSTRACT: Small lesions of the peripheral lung have been detected more frequently with the recent prevalence of computed tomography (CT). Identification of these lesions is indispensable for wedge resection performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Previous reports of marking techniques showed some failure and complications. We have developed a new marking technique and herein describe the efficacy of this technique: fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking. Twenty patients underwent this procedure for 21 small peripheral pulmonary lesions approximately 10 mm in size. All the lesions were successfully marked and identified during fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopy. They were resected with sufficient margins. There were no complications related to this procedure. The pathologic examination of these 21 lesions revealed primary lung cancer in 14, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in four, a metastatic tumor in one, and a benign tumor in two. This procedure is both a reliable and minimally invasive technique in thoracoscopic wedge resection for small peripheral pulmonary lesions.
    The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 03/2001; 71(2):439-42. · 3.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer patients with positive pleural lavage cytology after a thoracotomy: results of the survey conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group.
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    ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer patients without pleural effusion whose intrapleural cancer cells were detected by a cytologic examination of pleural lavage fluid obtained immediately after a thoracotomy. A questionnaire survey on the survival of the patients with positive pleural lavage cytology from January 1985 to December 1994 was performed by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group. According to the data collected from 15 institutions, 1890 non-small cell lung cancer patients without pleural effusion underwent pleural lavage cytology immediately after thoracotomy and 142 (7.8%) of them were found to have intrapleural cancer cells detected by the cytological analysis. The information of survival on 113 patients was available. This comprised of 64 males and 49 females with a mean age of 64.6 years. The predominant histologic type was adenocarcinoma (74%). Out of these 113 patients, 109 (97%) underwent a surgical resection. The 5-year survival rate was 30% in all patients, 49% in pathological stage I (n=35), 23% in stage II (n=20) and 26% in stage IIIA (n=34). Patients with a positive pleural lavage cytology in pathological stage I or II appear to have a poor 5-year survival rate.
    Lung Cancer 02/2001; 31(1):37-41. · 3.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: Where is the boundary between N1 and N2 stations in lung cancer?
    H Asamura, K Suzuki, H Kondo, R Tsuchiya
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    ABSTRACT: The anatomical definition of N1 stations, its boundary to N2 stations, and its prognostic implication are yet to be defined in lung cancer. Metastasis in lymph nodes close to the pleural reflection has been classified differently as N1 or N2 according to the lymph node maps promulgated so far. The pattern of lymphatic involvement and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed in 180 N1 patients who underwent at least lobectomy and complete hilar/mediastinal lymphadenectomy from 1987 through 1997. For comparison, the prognoses of 166 N2 patients were also analyzed. The overall 5-year survival of N1 and N2 patients was 67% and 37%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0000, log-rank test). The prognosis was compared between N1 without No. 10 involvement (N1-, n = 145), N1 with No. 10 involvement (N1+, n = 35), and N2 (n = 166). Their 5-year survival was 70%, 54%, and 37%, respectively. A significant difference was observed only between N1+ and N2 (p = 0.04), and not observed between N1- and N1+. However, survival curves of single-node N2 (n = 66) and N1+ were superimposed. In terms of prognosis, a pleural reflection does not seem an appropriate anatomical boundary between N1 and N2 stations in lung cancer.
    The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 01/2001; 70(6):1839-45; discussion 1845-6. · 3.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Lung carcinoma with polypoid growth in the main pulmonary artery: report of two cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Invasion into the lumen of the main pulmonary artery is an uncommon mode of extension in lung carcinoma and its prognostic significance remains unclear. We describe here two resected cases of lung carcinoma that showed such a rare tumor spread. Although a preoperative evaluation, such as angiography or perfusion scan of the lung, had shown a significant decrease in circulation, we could not diagnose the intraluminal tumor growth preoperatively. Pneumonectomy was finally needed to perform a curative operation. The tumors were centrally located and showed polypoid growth in the main pulmonary artery. Postoperative pathological examination revealed the tumors to be adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung in both cases. No intrapulmonary metastases were detected. One patient is doing well with no signs of recurrence after a follow-up period of 10 years. Although intra-arterial polypoid growth of lung carcinoma is extremely rare, such tumor extension should be considered preoperatively to perform a curative surgical resection, especially when the tumor is centrally located. While arterial invasion is generally an ominous prognostic factor, curative surgical resection would offer a good prognosis, even for lung carcinoma invading the main pulmonary arterial trunk.
    Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 09/2000; 30(8):358-61. · 1.78 Impact Factor
  • Article: Hemangioma of the rib: a case report.
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    ABSTRACT: A case of hemangioma of the left seventh rib is presented. In January 1999, a 59-year-old woman presented with an enlarged costal mass which had been followed up for 4 years. Preoperative examination suggested chondrosarcoma because of tumor growth beyond the disrupted bony cortex. She underwent resection of the left seventh rib along with the sixth and seventh intercostal muscles and reconstruction of the chest wall defect. The pathological diagnosis of the lesion was hemangioma. She was discharged after an uneventful postoperative course. There has been no evidence of recurrence after a 14-month follow-up. Tumor growth beyond the disrupted bony cortex was a characteristic feature by both imagery and pathological examination in this case. This case represents a difficulty of a preoperative definite diagnosis of the chest wall tumors by imagery alone.
    Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 09/2000; 30(8):354-7. · 1.78 Impact Factor
  • Article: Management of the bronchial stump in pulmonary resections: a review of 533 consecutive recent bronchial closures.
    H Asamura, H Kondo, R Tsuchiya
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    ABSTRACT: The method used to achieve bronchial closure, especially the relative merits of sutured versus stapled closure, remains an important topic among thoracic surgeons who seek the best way to prevent postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF) formation. Bronchial closure in 533 consecutive stumps in pulmonary resection from 1995 to 1997 at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, was reviewed in terms of the incidence of troubles related to mechanical stapling (stapling failure) and to BPF formation. Fifty stumps (9%) were closed by manual suturing and 483 (91%) by mechanical stapling. For stapling, endostaplers were used for 313 stumps (65%), and other types of conventional staplers for 170 stumps (35%). There were 18 stapling failures (a 3.7% overall incidence, 4.8% for endostaplers, 1.8% for other types of staplers). However, of these 18 patients only one developed BPF after surgery. Seven BPFs developed postoperatively among the 533 closures (overall incidence, 1.3%): two after manual suturing (4%) and five after stapling (1%), and this difference was not statistically significant. Of seven patients with BPF, four died of BPF-related complications. Although bronchial closure by stapling was accompanied by failure, its incidence was acceptable and was not directly associated with the development of BPF postoperatively, as long as properly repaired. Newly developed endostaplers had similar incidence of stapling failure and BPF formation compared with other types of conventional staplers. These results suggest endostaplers can be used safely for various types of bronchial closure. The advantage of such devices could be the least chance of pollution of the operative field, simultaneous performance of stapling and division by one motion, and subsequently great saving of time.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 03/2000; 17(2):106-10. · 2.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: The prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer found to have carcinomatous pleuritis at thoracotomy.
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    ABSTRACT: Non-small cell lung cancer with carcinomatous pleuritis is considered to be a contraindication of surgical resection. The objective of this study was to clarify the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in whom carcinomatous pleuritis was found at thoracotomy. A questionnaire survey on the survival of patients with carcinomatous pleuritis found at thoracotomy between January 1985 and December 1994 was conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group. According to the data collected from 21 hospitals, 8813 patients with non-small cell lung cancer underwent thoracotomy, 284 (3.2%) of whom were found to have carcinomatous pleuritis. Information on survival was available for 227 of these patients, 34 (15%) of whom underwent thoracotomy alone without resection, whereas 193 (85%) underwent surgical resection. Of the 193 resected patients, 155 had no macroscopical residual tumor apart from the carcinomatous pleuritis. The 5-year survival rate was 14%. According to a univariate analysis, female sex, the presence of adenocarcinoma, a tumor size of less than 3.0 cm, no clinical lymph node metastasis, and no macroscopical residual tumor had a significantly favorable impact on survival. A multivariate analysis revealed that the extent of clinical lymph node metastasis (P = 0.006), histology (P = 0.028), and the absence or presence of a macroscopic residual tumor after the operation (P = 0.045) were predominant prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rate of 83 patients with three positive variables was 24%. The prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma found to have carcinomatous pleuritis at thoracotomy was not necessarily unfavorable if there was no clinically detected lymph node metastasis and no residual tumor apart from the carcinomatous pleuritis.
    Surgery Today 02/2000; 30(12):1062-6. · 1.22 Impact Factor
  • Article: Lymph node sampling in lung cancer: how should it be done?
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    ABSTRACT: Systematic lymph node dissection in radical operation for lung cancer is recognized as an operative procedure which is expected to improve local control. We investigate the most effective method of lymph node dissection or sampling. A retrospectrive study was carried out on 1815 patients who underwent systematic lymph node dissection and complete resection. The lymphatic route of metastatis from each lobe was investigated by examining which nodes had the most likelihood of metastasis, or to find out which is the sentinel lymph node in the case of small sized tumor, suitable for the video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) approach. At N2 level, distribution of major metastases from each lobe are as follows: right upper lobe tumor, #3 - 12.3% (80/648) and/or #4 - 8% (52/648); right middle lobe tumor, #3 and/or #7 - 16.4% (13/79); right lower lobe tumor, #7 - 13.7% (52/380); left upper lobe tumor, #5 - 12.3% (60/489) and/or #6 - 6.7% (33/489); and left lower lobe tumor, #7 - 11.9% (26/219). Small sized tumor requires lymph node sampling upon staging, and the lymph node most likely to become the first metastasis, i.e. sentinel node, are as follows: regardless of the location of tumor, #12, #11, and/or #10 in N1 level, which means dissection or sampling within these locations of lymph nodes are prerequisite. In N2 level, #3 and/or #4 in right upper lobe tumor, #3 and/or #7 in right middle lobe tumor, #7 in right lower lobe tumor, #5 and/or #6 in left upper lobe tumor, and, #7 in left lower lobe tumor. In clinical T1NO lung cancer, sentinel lymph node sampling should be done first, if the nodes are negative, complete mediastinal lymph node dissection might be omitted. On the other hand, if the sentinel nodes are positive for pathology, complete medistinal lymph node dissection is required for curative resection.
    European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 10/1999; 16 Suppl 1:S17-24. · 2.55 Impact Factor
  • Article: Lobe-specific extent of systematic lymph node dissection for non-small cell lung carcinomas according to a retrospective study of metastasis and prognosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Complete lymphadenectomy of the mediastinum is advised for patients with lung cancer to provide prognostic information and possible survival benefit. The proper extent of dissection should be further defined. The lymphatic metastatic patterns according to the primary site and prognoses were retrospectively analyzed in 166 patients with non-small cell carcinoma who underwent at least lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. All patients had histologically proven mediastinal metastasis (pN2). Among 54 right upper lobe tumors the most common site of metastasis was the lower pretracheal station (74%), whereas metastases to the subcarinal station were seen only in 13%. Among 8 patients with right middle lobe tumors and 41 patients with right lower lobe tumors, both superior mediastinal and subcarinal stations were involved. The 34 left upper segment tumors metastasized to the aorticopulmonary window most commonly (71%) and to the subcarina only in 12% of cases. Inversely, the 10 left lingular tumors metastasized to the subcarina most commonly (50%) and to the aorticopulmonary window only in 20% of cases. Among 44 left lower lobe tumors the subcarinal station was most common for metastasis (58%), with infrequent metastases to the aorticopulmonary window. The 5-year survival for all 166 patients was 35%. Patients with single-station and single-node metastases had a significantly better prognosis than those with more extensive metastases. Right lower lobe tumors with superior mediastinal metastasis carried a particularly poor 5-year survival of only 4.1%. Subcarinal lymphadenectomy is not always necessary for tumors of the right upper lobe and left upper segment. For tumors of other lobes both superior mediastinal dissection and subcarinal dissection are advised. However, superior mediastinal metastasis should be recognized as an indicator of poor prognosis in tumors of both lower lobes.
    Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 07/1999; 117(6):1102-11. · 3.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: Clinical features and management of bronchogenic cysts: report of 17 cases.
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    ABSTRACT: Between 1966 and 1996, 17 patients, comprising 1 child and 16 adults, underwent surgical treatment for bronchogenic cysts at the National Cancer Center Hospital. The bronchogenic cysts were located in the mediastinum in 11 patients and in the pulmonary parenchyma in 6. Of the 17 patients, 5 (29.4%) manifested symptoms, being more frequently seen in those with intrapulmonary cysts than in those with mediastinal cysts. Chest radiographs were ineffective for accurate preoperative diagnosis, but accurate diagnosis was possible with 69.2% of computed tomography (CT) scans and 100% of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. MRI also proved very useful for qualitatively diagnosing the mediastinal tumors as cystic or solid. Surgery was performed through a thoracotomy in 14 patients and by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 3 patients, achieving complete resection in 16 patients. In one patient, a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst was excised by VATS and incompletely resected because of tight adhesion to the membranous part of the trachea; however, no late complication or recurrence developed after the residual cystic wall had been ablated by electrocautery. VATS, which is an easy procedure to perform with only minimal surgical invasion, may be indicated for bronchogenic cysts if patients who undergo incomplete resection can be followed up carefully. Recent advances in imaging techniques have made it unnecessary to perform surgical excision for diagnostic confirmation, but we recommend surgery for most patients to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
    Surgery Today 02/1999; 29(11):1201-5. · 1.22 Impact Factor
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    Article: Spinal epidural abscess associated with epidural catheterization: report of a case and a review of the literature.
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    ABSTRACT: We describe a 53-year-old man who developed a catheter-related epidural abscess 8 days after left upper lobectomy for lung cancer. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in a culture of the epidural pus. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential for the diagnosis of epidural abscess and for determining the extent of spread. The patient was treated by laminectomy and administration of appropriate antibiotics, with almost complete recovery, except for urinary retention. A literature search yielded 29 additional cases of catheter-related epidural abscess. The median duration of catheterization was 4 days and the median time to onset of the clinical symptoms after catheter placement was 8 days. Eleven of the 30 patients had some underlying disorders, including malignancy or herpes zoster, or were receiving steroids. Nine of the 10 patients with thoracic epidural abscess had persistent neurological deficits, whereas 12 of the 15 patients with lumbar epidural abscess showed a full recovery after treatment. Surgical decompression was not required in six patients without significant neurological deficits, who recovered following antibiotic treatment (four patients) or percutaneous drainage (two patients). Thoracic catheters are associated with a disproportionately high incidence of epidural abscess and persistent neurological sequelae following treatment.
    Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 02/1999; 29(1):49-52. · 1.78 Impact Factor
  • Article: Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from gastric cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: There are no reports concerning surgical treatment on pulmonary metastases from gastric cancer. The aims of this study were to characterize patients with pulmonary metastasis from gastric cancer and to determine the efficacy of surgical therapy. Between 1977 and 1993, 3,076 patients underwent curative resection for gastric cancer. Among them, four patients (0.1%) with pulmonary metastases from gastric cancer underwent pulmonary resection. All four patients had advanced gastric cancers involving regional lymph nodes far from the primary gastric lesion. The median tumor-free interval after the initial gastrectomy was 32.0 months (range: 19-48 months). All patients underwent a lobectomy for a solitary pulmonary lesion. Although transthoracic fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed adenocarcinoma in all cases, none of them were definitely diagnosed as metastasis from gastric cancer preoperatively. The diagnosis was obtained after pulmonary resection. All patients received postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. However, they all subsequently developed systematic metastases. The time interval to recurrence after pulmonary resection ranged from 6 to 36 months and they were all dead at a median follow-up of 24.3 months after the pulmonary resection. An aggressive surgical approach was not warranted in patients with isolated resectable pulmonary metastases from gastric cancer. However, the possibility of surgical treatment could not be eliminated because surgery is the only diagnostic method for a solitary pulmonary nodule when there is some doubt about the diagnosis of primary or secondary lung cancer in patients with gastric cancer.
    Journal of Surgical Oncology 12/1998; 69(3):147-50. · 2.10 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Surgical treatment for metastatic lung tumors].
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    ABSTRACT: Surgical treatment for metastatic lung tumors has been reported to be efficacious in selected patients by many authors. Most of these reports are retrospective studies. In our hospital, metastatic lung tumors were resected in 624 patients, and the 5- and 10-year survival rates after pulmonary metastatectomy were 38.3% and 26.6%, respectively. There are many long-time survivors without recurrence after thoracotomy. However, pulmonary metastatectomy seems to offer no survival benefit in some cancers, e.g., gastric cancer, even if the patients satisfy the criteria for surgery. Prospective studies for each type of primary cancer are needed to determine the true efficacy of pulmonary metastatectomy.
    Nippon Geka Gakkai zasshi 06/1998; 99(5):299-302.