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We report a case of delayed diaphragmatic injury caused by lower rib fractures. A 56-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to the fractures of right lower ribs. Chest X-ray revealed pneumothorax, and the patient was hospitalized for follow-up. On the sixth day after the injury, the patient suddenly complained of chest pain and respiratory distress, and then shock status developed. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed massive pleural effusion. An emergency operation was performed. The injury of the diaphragm was found. Fracture of the lower rib can cause diaphragmatic injury leading to massive hemorrhage.

Mediastinal ectopic goiter is a thyroid tumor that lies entirely below a plane extending from the superior surface of the first thoracic vertebra to the suprasternal notch, and commonly lies in the vicinity of the thymus. Intrapericardial ectopic goiter is extremely rare. We present an extremely rare case of a 63-year-old woman with an intrapericardial ectopic goiter and review the pertinent literature.

Background Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in noncardiac surgeries is common. However, it is unclear whether such atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs in the long term. Methods This study was a prospective, single-center, observational study that included patients who underwent noncardiac surgeries for malignancies. Patients were followed up for 1 year to evaluate the incidence of AF, ischemic stroke, and mortality. An event-triggered recorder was used in patients with POAF. The incidences were compared according to the presence of POAF. Results Of 752 consecutive patients, 77 (10.2%) developed POAF and wore an event recorder for 19 (12-30) days. AF and ischemic stroke at 1 year were observed in 24 patients (31.1%) and 2 patients (2.6%) with POAF and 4 patients (0.6%) and 3 patients (0.4%) without POAF, respectively. Of the 24 patients with POAF and AF recurrence, 22 (92%) were asymptomatic. Anticoagulation was prescribed in 67 patients (87%) with POAF. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a higher AF recurrence rate in patients with POAF was associated with hypertension (hazard ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-7.38) and serum creatinine level (hazard ratio for 20 μmol/L increase, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-4.62). Conclusions AF recurs in approximately 30% of patients with POAF with malignancy in the subsequent year; most recurrences are asymptomatic.

Perioperative complications have been reported to be associated with a lower incidence of cancer-free survival. Perioperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of occasionally observed complications in patients with malignancies who undergo noncardiac surgeries. However, the long-term clinical impact of POAF on those with malignancies have remained unknown. This was a prospective, single-center, observational study. Patients who underwent noncardiac surgeries for definitive malignancies between 2014 and 2017 were included. The primary and secondary endpoints were 3-year recurrence of malignancies and cancer death, respectively. The present study included consecutive 752 patients (mean age, 68 ± 11 years; males, 62%), and POAF was observed in 77 patients. The follow-up duration was 1037 (interquartile range, 699–1408) days. The 3-year recurrence of malignancies was observed in 239 (32%) patients (POAF, 32 [42%]; non-POAF, 207 [31%]) and 3-year mortality was 130 patients (17%). Cardiac, noncardiac, and cancer deaths were observed in 4 (0.5%), 126 (17%), and 111 (15%) patients, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that POAF was associated with 3-year recurrence of malignancies (hazard ratio [HR], 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–2.52). Landmark analysis demonstrated that POAF tended to be correlated with the incidence of 3-year cancer death (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 0.96–3.31). In conclusion, POAF is associated with the subsequent recurrence of malignancies. The association of arrhythmia with cancer death may be revealed under longer follow-up durations. Clinical Trial Registration: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000018270 . UMIN ID: UMIN000016146.

A 17-year-old man came to the hospital complaining of right back pain. He had a history of an emergency operation for a left idiopathic hemopneumothorax. A chest X-ray revealed right lung collapse and suggested pleural adhesion at the apex of the right lung. He was diagnosed with right spontaneous pneumothorax and the surgical treatment was performed, because pleural adhesion may cause the hemothorax. During surgery, several pleural adhesion bands were found in the thoracic cavity between the right lung apex and chest wall. Spontaneous pneumothorax with a pleural adhesion at the apex is considered to be the indication for surgery because of the risk of hemothorax.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is an autosomal and predominantly inherited disorder. We report 3 cases of BHD syndrome. Case 1:A 24-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. He had a previous drainage history of right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. In operation, we resected the cyst at segment 8 of the left lung and covered the lung using polyglycolic acid( PGA) sheet. Case 2:A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. He had a previous surgical history of right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax and left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. In operation, we resected the cyst at segment 8 of the right lung and covered the lung using fibrin glue-coated collagen fleece. Case 3:A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. He had 2 times of previous drainage history of left-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. In operation, we resected the cysts at lingular division of the lung and covered the lung using PGA sheet. On genetic analysis, all 3 cases were diagnosed with the BHD syndrome.

Mediastinal ectopic goiter is a thyroid tumor that lies entirely below a plane extending from the superior surface of the first thoracic vertebra to the suprasternal notch, and commonly lies in the vicinity of the thymus. Intrapericardial ectopic goiter is extremely rare. We present an extremely rare case of a 63-year-old woman with an intrapericardial ectopic goiter and review the pertinent literature.

Various complications can cause hypoxemia after pulmonary resection for lung cancer, but intracardiac shunt that becomes symptomatic and causes severe hypoxemia postoperatively is very rare. We report a case that presented platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) due to right-to-left shunt via patent foramen ovale (PFO). A 71-year-old man with a lung cancer in the left upper lobe was referred to our hospital. Left upper lobectomy was performed. Dyspnea developed postoperatively, which was worsened by sitting or standing and relieved in a recumbent position. Contrast transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and right intracardiac catheterization revealed a right-to-left shunt via PFO. Open-heart closure of PFO was performed and the patient was free from POS. Postoperative intracardiac shunt via PFO can cause severe hypoxemia after lung resection. POS suggests the possibility of intracardiac shunt and careful observation is needed.

Objectives We developed a modified pleural tent (m-tent) procedure and used it in our hospital in almost 30 consecutive patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. The objective of this study was to clarify the feasibility and effectiveness of a thoracoscopic m-tent for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. Methods From July 2013 to November 2014, 107 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax were treated in our institution. Eighty-nine of these patients were analysed retrospectively. The inclusion criteria for thoracoscopic m-tent for spontaneous pneumothorax were multiple and widespread bullae, postoperative relapse and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. The surgical procedures were usually performed through three ports. After bullectomy, an m-tent is made to strip the parietal pleura off the chest wall from about the level of the fourth or fifth rib to the apex, and two or three ligations are then applied to fix the pleural tent and lung parenchyma. Patients in whom an m-tent was not indicated underwent bullectomy plus coverage using absorbable materials. Results Twenty-seven patients underwent bullectomy plus m-tent (m-tent group) and 62 underwent bullectomy plus coverage over a staple line using an absorbable material such as a polyglycolic acid sheet or nitrocellulose sheet (coverage group). No severe postoperative complications were observed in either group. The m-tent and coverage groups showed significant differences in operation time (129 vs 86 min, mean), haemorrhage (12.8 vs 7.2 ml), postoperative hospital stay (3.7 vs 2.9 days) and postoperative painkiller intake (8.6 vs 6.8 days). Recurrence was observed in 1 (3.7%) and 2 patients (3.2%), respectively. Conclusions The thoracoscopic m-tent procedure requires a longer operation, a longer hospital stay and greater painkiller intake. However, these differences are acceptable, and an m-tent should be considered as an option for pleural reinforcement in spontaneous pneumothorax, especially in patients who are complicated with severe pulmonary emphysema, widespread bullae or recurrent pneumothorax.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAA) and pseudoaneurysms (PAP) are caused by infections, vasculitis, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, and connective tissue disease. Most cases of such aneurysm occur in the trunk or major branches of the pulmonary artery, while the peripheral type is less common. The treatment modalities are medical therapy, surgery, and percutaneous catheter embolization. The mortality rate associated with rupture is approximately 50%. We encountered a case of a 53-year-old man with a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to pneumonia and cavity formation during chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In diagnosis, contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) scan and pulmonary angiography were very useful. He was treated with right middle and lower lobectomy. After 1-month follow-up, he could restart additional chemotherapy.

“Definition of outcome” and “Details of SPIDER FLASH-t AFib®”. (DOCX 19 kb)

Table S1. The settings of automatic detection function (DOCX 13 kb)

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to verify the prognostic impact of pleural invasion according to the revised TNM classification, seventh edition. METHODS: The study consisted of 1488 patients with surgically resected non-small cell carcinoma. The degree (pl0-3) and location of pleural invasion were examined using hematoxylin and eosin- and elastica van Gieson-stained slides, and outcome was compared with stratification by several clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rates of 1008, 260, 85 and 135 patients with pl0, pl1, pl2 and pl3 tumours were 80, 60, 55 and 52%, respectively. Overall survival differed significantly between patients with pl0 tumours and those with pl1 tumours (P < 0.0001). The difference was significant for patients with 1

Introduction:This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes (nN) in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in comparison with the currently used pathologic nodal (pN) category in the staging system.Methods:A total of 1659 patients who underwent potentially curative resection for NSCLC from 2000 to 2006 were included in this study. The association between the nN and survival was explored, and the results were compared with those using the location-based pN stage classification.Results:The patients were divided into four categories according to the number of metastatic nodes: nN0, absence of metastatic nodes; nN1, metastasis in one to two nodes; nN2, metastasis in three to six nodes; and nN3, metastasis in seven or more nodes. The 5-year overall survival for nN0, nN1, nN2, and nN3 was 89.2%, 65.1%, 42.1%, and 22.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). The nN category could be used to subdivide pN1 and pN2 patients into two (nN1 and nN2) and three (nN1, nN2, and nN3) prognostically distinct subgroups, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the nN category was an independent prognostic factor for resected NSCLC. The difference in overall survival between pN1 and pN2 was not significant (55.4% versus 47.8%, p = 0.245). Patients in each nN category could not be subdivided into different prognostic subgroups according to the pN classification.Conclusions:The nN category in this study was shown to be a better prognostic determinant than the location-based pN stage classification.

The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and clarify the validity of surgical resection for patients with positive pleural lavage cytology (PLC). Between 1993 and 2006, 563 patients who underwent complete surgical resection for primary non-small cell lung cancer and who were examined with regard to PLC were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-two patients (7.2%) showed positive PLC. The 5-year survival rates were 65.0% and 33.5% for patients with negative and positive PLC, respectively. The 5-year survival rates for patients with positive PLC were 57.1%, 50.8%, 40.0%, and 0% for pathological stage I, II, IIIA, and IIIB, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, PLC, vascular invasion, lymphatic permeation, and pathological stage were independent prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rate for the patients with a high CEA level and positive PLC was 0%. Intrathoracic recurrence was observed more frequently in patients with positive PLC. PLC was an independent prognostic factor. While positive PLC alone may not be a contraindication for surgical resection, patients who are complicated with a high CEA level preoperatively should receive special attention since no long-term survivors were observed.

Background: The efficacy of screening for lung cancers remains controversial, and none of the guidelines for lung cancer detection recommend screening for lung cancers. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze and characterize the clinicopathological features of screen-detected (SCR) lung cancer in comparison with lung cancers detected by other means. Patients: The records of 2281 patients who underwent lung resection for primary lung cancer between 2000 and 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were classified into three groups according to the method of detection: SCR ( n = 1290), symptom-detected (SYM, n = 481), and incidental (INC, n = 568). In the SCR group, clinicopathological factors were analyzed according to the detection modality: chest x-ray ( n = 1136, 82.6%), computed tomography (CT, n = 196, 13.9%), positron emission tomography ( n = 22, 1.6%), and sputum cytology ( n = 17, 1.3%). Results: The percentages of smaller (≤2 cm) lung cancer (42.6%: SCR, 19.6%: SYM, 40.9%: INC), adenocarcinoma (85.8%: SCR, 58.6%: SYM, 73.1%: INC), and pathologic stage I (73.0%: SCR, 47.0%: SYM, 71.2%: INC) were higher in the SCR group than in the other two groups. The 5-year survival rates in SCR, SYM, and INC group were 79.6%, 74.6%, and 64.6%, respectively. The patients with CT-detected lung cancer had a higher incidence of smaller size (≤2 cm, 76.4%), adenocarcinoma (92.6%), and stage I (clinical: 97.2%, pathologic: 93.1%). The 5-year survival rates in the chest x-ray and CT groups were 77.8% and 91.2%, respectively. Conclusions: SCR lung cancers were characteristically less advanced, had a smaller diameter, and were more frequently adenocarcinoma histologically. CT-screening may be able to detect early stage lung cancers, and improve the prognosis of lung cancer patients.

Objective The objective of this study was to compare video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS lobectomy) with standard thoracotomy in terms of morbidity and mortality. Patients and methods Two-hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with clinical (c) stage I non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgery between 1999 and 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients underwent surgical resection that was at least as extensive as lobectomy. VATS lobectomy was performed in 73 patients, and thoracotomy in 176 patients. Results The clinical stages were stage IA in 151 (60.6 %), and stage IB in 98 (39.4 %), and the pathological stages were I in 206 (82.7 %), II in 16 (6.4 %), and III in 27 (10.9 %). The mean operation time was 291 minutes for VATS and 215 minutes for thoracotomy ( P = 0.0 042). The mean blood loss was 160 ml and 191 ml ( P = 0.2 738), respectively. Mortality was 1.4 % (1/73) in the VATS group, and 2.3 % (4/176) in the thoracotomy group ( P = 0.6 438). Morbidity was 19.2 % (14/73), and 24.4 % (44/176), respectively ( P = 0.1 315). Air leakage was the most frequent complication. Anastomotic leakage was found in four patients who underwent thoracotomy. The incidence of pulmonary vessel injury was 8.2 % in the VATS group and 1.7 % in the thoracotomy group ( P = 0.0 361). While pulmonary vessel injury was observed frequently in the intermediate part of the study period, the incidence decreased in the late period. Conclusions Pulmonary vessel injury, longer operation times, and greater blood loss have been frequently observed with VATS lobectomy. Proficiency is required to perform VATS lobectomy, and the procedure should be performed by a well-trained surgeon as indicated by the results of this study.

Introduction The prognosis and proper management of patients with microscopic residual tumor at the bronchial resection margins (bronchial R1) remain unclear. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 74 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for lung cancer between 1976 and 2003 and had bronchial R1. The prognosis, pattern of the recurrence, and occurrence of the bronchopleural fistula (BPF) were analyzed according to the types of bronchial R1 morphology: direct extension (DIR, n = 11), peribronchial extension (PER, n = 54), and carcinoma in situ (CIS, n = 9). Results Five-year survival rates of patients with DIR, PER, and CIS were 0, 10, and 63%, respectively. The patients with CIS showed significantly better prognosis than those with DIR and PER (p = 0.0006, p = 0.0009, respectively). No prognostic difference was observed between patients with DIR and PER (p = 0.1753). Recurrent disease developed in 43 patients (58%). Only one of nine patients with CIS (11%) had recurrence, whereas 6 of 11 patients with DIR (55%) and 36 of 54 patients with PER (67%) had disease relapse. The recurrence rate in the CIS group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups (CIS versus DIR, p = 0.036; CIS versus PER, p = 0.006, respectively). BPF formation was not detected in patients with CIS; however, BPF developed in 3 of 11 patients with DIR (27%) and 3 of 54 patients with PER (5.6%). Conclusions Residual tumor morphology influenced the prognosis of patients with postresection bronchial R1 disease.

The pathogenesis of bulla formation has not yet been demonstrated in pathologic examinations or through direct visualization during thoracotomy or thoracoscopic surgery. We present two cases of giant bulla formation after pneumothorax because of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and lung abscess. The case findings suggested that the pathogenesis was attributable to a check-valve mechanism, secondary to bronchiolitis obliterans, or the presence of an obstructing air leakage due to a lung fistula. The lung fistula had been covered by inflammatory membranes consisting of blood and/or fibrous precipitates with detached visceral pleura.

Background The aim of this study was to clarify the outcomes of lung resection for lung cancer in patients with cardiac disease, especially coronary artery disease, in a large-scale multi-institutional cohort. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data on 1,254 patients who underwent major lung resection for lung cancer and had been diagnosed with coronary stenosis, atrial fibrillation, or both, in 58 institutions in Japan between January 2009 and December 2011. The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative mortality or in-hospital death. Results Among the 1,254 patients, 902 (71.9%) and 452 patients (36.0%) were preoperatively diagnosed with coronary stenosis and atrial fibrillation, respectively, and 951 patients (75.8%) received antiplatelet therapy. Among the patients with coronary stents (n = 532; 42.4%), 204 (16.3%) received drug-eluting stents. The 90-mortality or in-hospital death rate was 2.6% (n = 32), including stent thrombosis (n = 1), thromboembolic events without stent thrombosis (n = 2), and bleeding events (n = 2). In the multivariate analyses, blood transfusion, history of cerebrovascular disease, amount of bleeding, and history of congestive heart failure were associated with a higher independent risk of 90-day mortality or in-hospital death (odds ratio, 9.400, 3.574, 2.827, and 2.945, respectively). Preoperative discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy was not associated with an independent risk of 90-day mortality or in-hospital death on univariate analysis. Conclusions Major lung resection for lung cancer in patients with coronary artery disease is feasible. Our study suggests that discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy may not increase postoperative complications in patients with coronary artery disease.

経過中に腫瘤径が増大したため, 確定診断を外科的手技にて行い, 治療として胸膜剥皮術を施行した円形無気肺の3例を経験したので報告する. 症例1 : 71歳, 男性. 胃癌の術後経過観察中に胸部X線にて腫瘤影を指摘され, 1年間で明らかな増大を認めた. 胸腔鏡手術で円形無気肺と診断し, 胸膜剥皮術を施行した. 症例2 : 72歳, 男性. 検診で右横隔膜に接する腫瘤を指摘, 増大傾向を示したため胸腔鏡を施行した. 組織学的に円形無気肺と診断し, 胸膜剥皮術を行った. 症例3 : 73歳, 男性. 左下葉の円形無気肺に対し左下葉切除を施行後, 3年後右側にも円形無気肺が出現し, 胸膜剥皮術を施行した. 肺剥皮後の経過はいずれも良好で, 肺は拡張し, 無気肺の再発はみられていない. 円形無気肺は増大傾向を示すことがあり, 肺癌との鑑別が重要である. 治療法として胸膜剥皮術が有用である.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is rare, but its association with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is well known. A 56-year-old man with NF1 was referred to our hospital for investigation of dyspnea. Computed tomography showed a huge mass occupying the right thorax and invading the inferior vena cava. A salvage resection was performed to alleviate the developing hypoxemia. Histological examination confirmed an MPNST. The tumor regrew rapidly and the patient died 6 weeks after the resection. This case report reinforces the importance of monitoring patients with NF1 carefully because of their increased risk of the development of malignant neoplasms.

INTRODUCTION Early recurrence is observed even in patients who undergo complete resection and had pathological (p-) stage I. Therefore, we focused on early recurrence, and attempted to elucidate the relationship between early recurrence and clinicopathological factors. METHODS Between May 1993 and December 2005, 1201 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) underwent surgical treatment at our institution. Of these, 402 patients who underwent complete resection and had p-stage I NSCLC were retrospectively analyzed for clinicopathological factors. Patients were divided into four groups according to the period between surgery and recurrence (R): no recurrence (NR, n = 331), late recurrence (LR, n = 28, R > 2 years), intermediate recurrence (IR, n = 22, 1 year < R < or = 2 years), and early recurrence (ER, n = 21, R < or = 1 year). RESULTS The overall 5-year survival rate for patients with p-stage I was 79.9 %. The overall 5-year survival rates were 91.0 %, 55.6 %, 17.1 %, and 7.5 % for the NR, LR, IR, and ER group, respectively. Preoperative high CEA level, lymphatic permeation, and pleural invasion were proven to be independent factors for overall recurrence. Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that preoperative CEA level, pathological T factor, lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, and pleural invasion influenced early recurrence within one year. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that preoperative CEA level, pathological T-factor, lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, and pleural invasion were independent prognostic factors for early recurrence within one year, even in patients with pathological stage I. In patients with these factors, adjuvant therapy may be indicated since this may improve their survival.

The effect of surgical procedures for survival of cases with pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer was examined retrospectively. In the literature, some factors such as timing of surgery, numbers of metastases, site of laterality, lesion in lymph nodes, extra-pulmonary metastases and serum CEA level have been considered to exert influence on surgical treatment for pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer. On the other hand, no significant differences have been in the literature and our hospital found between open thoracotomy and thoracoscopic surgery, lobectomy and limited resection, and with and without lymph node dissection. Therefore, less invasive and limited resection using thoracoscopy should be attempted in surgical treatment of pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer.

The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and clarify whether or not the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level could be used as a decision-making factor as an adjunct to the TNM staging system in patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Between 1993 and 2006, 815 patients who had clinical stage I NSCLC were analyzed retrospectively. The CEA level was defined as being either normal (CEAor=5 ng/ml), high (5CEAor=30 ng/ml) and very high (CEA30 ng/ml) sub-groups. The rate of patients with an elevated CEA level was 33.6%. The five-year disease-free survival rates for patients with normal, high and very high CEA levels were 76.7, 60.0 and 31.3%, respectively. The survival curve for patients with a normal CEA level almost overlapped that for p-stage I, that for a high CEA level nearly overlapped that for p-stage II, and that for a very high CEA level nearly overlapped that for p-stage III. The present study demonstrated that the preoperative CEA level was a very good predictor of the pathological stage. These findings suggest that the preoperative CEA level may be useful as an adjunct to the TNM staging system.

ObjectiveIt remains controversial whether there is a gender difference in survival of patients with resected non–small cell lung cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 2770 patients (1689 men and 1081 women) with non–small cell lung cancer who underwent pulmonary resection between 1995 and 2005 at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo. A gender difference in survival was studied in all patients, in those divided according to histology or pathologic stage, and in propensity-matched gender pairs.ResultsThere were no differences in background, such as preoperative pulmonary function, operation procedures, or operative mortality. The proportions of adenocarcinoma and pathologic stage I in women were greater than those in men (93.6% vs 61.7% and 71.4% vs 58.6%, respectively) (P < .001). Overall 5-year survival of women was better than that of men (81% vs 70%, P < .001). In adenocarcinoma, the overall 5-year survival for women was better than that for men in pathologic stage I (95% vs 87%, P < .001) and in pathologic stage II or higher (58% vs 51%, P = .017). In non-adenocarcinoma, there was no significant gender difference in survival in pathologic stage I (P = .313) or pathologic stage II or higher (P = .770). The variables such as age, smoking status, histology, and pathologic stage were used for propensity score matching, and survival analysis of propensity score-matched gender pairs did not show a significant difference (P = .69).ConclusionWomen had better survival than men; however, there was no survival advantage in propensity-matched gender pairs. A gender difference in survival was observed only in the adenocarcinoma subset, suggesting pathobiology in adenocarcinoma in women might be different from that of men.

Background: Costal coaptation pins made of hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactide (HA/PLLA) composite are used to prevent slippage of the connectedribs inposterolateral thoracotomy. Theobjectiveofthisstudywasto evaluateribfixationachievedbyHA/PLLAcostalcoaptation pins. Methods: Between September 2005 and January 2006, HA/PLLA costal coaptation pins were used in 106 consecutive patients who underwent posterolateral thoracotomyat theNational Cancer CenterHospital, Tokyo,Japan. Amongthese,96 patients whowere followedfor oneyear were analyzed. Fixation was assessed on chest X-ray at one week, two months, and one year after surgery, and classified into four types: no displacement, vertical displacement, lateral displacement, and combined vertical with lateral displacement. Results: The incidence of displacement at one week, two months, and one year after surgery was 22%, 19%, and 31%, respectively. No severe adverse events leading to the removal of HA/PLLA pins occurred. At one year, the most frequent type of displacementwas vertical displacement(15%), which reflected a delay in bone formation. The use of analgesics among patients with different types of displacement was not significantly different (p = 0.97). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the fixation of cut ribs with HA/PLLA costal coaptation pins may be less advantageous in posterolateral thoracotomy, as displacement and delay of bone formation appear to occur frequently. # 2008 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detection of bullae is usually performed during lung inflation with an inspiratory hold in collaboration with anesthetists (conventional method). One cause leading to recurrent pneumothorax is failure to detect the position and extent of bullae under the conventional method. We herein present a novel method for detecting bullae under negative intrathoracic pressure, enabling exploration in the narrow cupola space without lung inflation.