Abstract: Objective To compare the sensitivity and accuracy of autofluorescence bronchoscope (AFB) and white light bronchoscope (WLB) in airway examination for patients with central type lung cancer. Methods From September 2009 to May 2010, 46 patients including 36 males and 10 females with an average age of 62.1 years underwent both AFB and WLB procedures in People’s Hospital of Peking University. Among them, 35 were preliminary diagnostic cases and 11 were postoperative surveillance cases. Local anaesthesia of glottis and airway, and general anaesthesia with continuous intravenous drugs were given before electric bronchoscope was adopted. All patients underwent WLB examination followed by AFB procedure. All suspicious abnormal visual findings were recorded for biopsy and pathological examination. Results All procedures were carried out safely without death or severe complications. We performed bronchoscopy 48 times for all 46 patients and 159 tissues of various sites were taken out for biopsy and pathologic examination which showed 64 malignancies and 95 none malignancies. In 64 malignancies, AFB found all but WLB missed 15 with a missed diagnosis rate of 23.4%. Thirtysix times of examination were performed for the 35 preliminary diagnostic cases and 56 sites of malignancy were found. AFB found all, while WLB missed 12, and 6 sites of malignancy found by AFB were larger in size than those found by WLB. AFB detected 3 cases of multisite malignancy, but WLB missed these diagnoses. The results of AFB and WLB were the same for 26 patients. Twelve times of bronchoscopy were performed for the 11 postoperative surveillance cases and 8 sites of malignancy were found. AFB found them all while WLB missed 3 which were two recurrent cases during the early period after lung cancer surgery. The sensitivity of AFB and WLB was 100.0 % and 76.6%(Plt;0.05) respectively, and the negative predictive value of AFB and WLB was 100.0% and 84.5%(P=0.002) respectively. Conclusion AFB has a better sensitivity and negative predictive value than WLB in detecting mucous canceration lesions in central type lung cancer, and is more accurate in assessment of tumor margins, more sensitive in finding multiple lesions in airway and detecting early cancer recurrence in postoperative surveillance patients.
Abstract: Objective To discuss the security, effectiveness and risk factors of videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery for posterior mediastinal tumors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 59 patients including 36 men and 23 women who underwent thoracoscopic resection of posterior mediastinal tumors in People’s Hospital of Peking University from May 2001 to July 2009. Their age ranged from 6 to 73 years old with an average age of 40.6 years old. The average maximum diameter of the tumors was 4.86 cm. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia and tumors were cut out with three ports. The anterior port was extended to 6 to 10 cm when conversion to thoracotomy was needed. After mediastinal pleura were opened, the tumor was stripped out along the outside of peplos and the vascular pedicle nerves were managed respectively. Results All surgeries were carried out successfully. The surgical duration, perioperative blood loss, postoperative chest tube duration and postoperative stay in hospital were respectively 45-300 min(125.80±57.40 min), 10-1 000 ml(168.10±157.70 ml), 1-10 d(2.50±1.74 d), and 2-14 d(5.24±2.24 d). There were 6 cases of conversion to open thoracotomy with a conversion rate of 10.2%. Postoperative pathology showed that there were 46 cases of neurogenic tumors, 10 cases of cyst, 2 cases of teratoma, and 1 case of lipoma. Follow-up was done on 51 cases for a period of 7-108 months(55.0±24.0 months) and 8(13.6%) cases were missed out during the period. No recurrence or death occurred during the followup. Logistic multivariable analysis showed that maximum diameter of the tumor ≥6 cm was the independent risk factor for extending operative time (OR=1.932,P=0.004), increasing perioperative blood loss (OR=2.267,P=0.002), increasing conversion rate to thoracotomy (OR=3.123,P=0.004) and increasing postoperative complication rate (OR=1.778,P=0.013). Conclusion Videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery for posterior mediastinal tumor is safe and effective. Maximum diameter of the tumor ≥6 cm is an independent risk factor for increasing operation difficulty and risk.