The purpose of this study is to determine whether the combination assessment of DWI and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) improves the diagnostic ability for differential diagnosis of lung cancer from benign pulmonary nodules and masses (BPNMs). The optimal cut-off value (OCV) for differential diagnosis was set at 1.470 × 10−3 mm2/s for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and at 2.45 for T2 contrast ratio (T2 CR). The ADC (1.24 ± 0.29 × 10−3 mm2/s) of lung cancer was significantly lower than that (1.69 ± 0.58 × 10−3 mm2/s) of BPNM. The T2 CR (2.01 ± 0.52) of lung cancer was significantly lower than that (2.74 ± 1.02) of BPNM. As using the OCV for ADC, the sensitivity was 83.9% (220/262), the specificity 63.4% (33/52), and the accuracy 80.6% (253/314). As using the OCV for T2 CR, the sensitivity was 89.7% (235/262), the specificity 61.5% (32/52), and the accuracy 85.0% (267/314). In 212 PNMs which were judged to be malignant by both DWI and T2WI, 203 PNMs (95.8%) were lung cancers. In 33 PNMs which were judged to be benign by both DWI and T2WI, 23 PNMs (69.7%) were BPNMs. The combined assessment of DWI and T2WI could judge PNMs more precisely and would be acceptable for differential diagnosis of PNMs.

Midline prostatic cysts represent a common variant in asymptomatic men. In a patient with urologic symptoms, detection of a midline prostatic cyst requires a focused examination to determine whether the cyst represents a normal variant or is the cause of symptoms.

Background The risk factors for postoperative complications after pulmonary resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been elucidated. Methods Clinical data of 956 patients with NSCLC were analyzed. Patient factors such as sex, age, comorbidities, smoking history, respiratory function, and the lobe involved in lung cancer and operative factors such as operative approach and operative procedures were collected and analyzed. Results Male sex (odds ratio [OR]: 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–2.75, p = 0.01), coexistence of asthma (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.19–6.02, p = 0.01), low percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02–1.95, p = 0.03), and lobectomy or greater resection (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.66–3.68, p < 0.01) were identified as significant risk factors for postoperative complications. Male sex (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.03–3.81, p = 0.03) and complete video-assisted thoracic surgery and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.09–2.45; p = 0.01) were identified as significant risk factors for postoperative air leakage. Coexistence of asthma (OR 9.97; 95% CI 3.66–27.38; p < 0.01) was identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative atelectasis or pneumonia. Lobectomy or greater resection (OR 19.71; 95% CI 2.70–143.57; p < 0.01) was identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative arrhythmia. Conclusion Male sex, coexistence of asthma, low percentage of FEV1, and operative procedure were significant risk factors for postoperative complications. Furthermore, risk factors varied according to postoperative complications.

Background: Although several prognostic factors in patients undergoing pulmonary resection with earlystage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been reported, the risk factors are varied and have not been consistent among reports.Methods: Clinical data of 540 patients with pathological stage IA NSCLC were analyzed. Patient factors, such as the sex, age, comorbidities, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, and smoking history, and surgical factors, such as the operative approach and procedure, were collected and analyzed.Results: There were significant prognostic differences in the relapse-free survival (RFS) depending on the presence of interstitial lung disease (P<0.0001), CEA level (P=0.007), and wedge resection (P=0.002). There were significant prognostic differences in the overall survival (OS) depending on the presence of interstitial lung disease (P=0.0015), CEA level (P<0.0001), and smoking history (P=0.0003). Interstitial lung disease [hazard ratio (HR): 7.725, P=0.003], the CEA level (HR: 1.923, P=0.045), and operative procedure (HR: 2.086, P=0.025) were risk factors for the RFS in a multivariate analysis. The smoking history (HR: 2.539, P=0.002) and CEA level (HR: 2.464, P=0.002) were risk factors for the OS in a multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Interstitial lung disease, the CEA level, and operative procedure were risk factors for the RFS, while the smoking history and CEA level were risk factors for the OS.

Background Congenital pericardial defects are rare congenital anomalies, often asymptomatic and incidentally detected during thoracic surgery. Case presentation A 74-year-old man with primary lung cancer (cT1cN0M0, Stage IA3) underwent thoracoscopic radical lobectomy. At the time of thoracotomy, a pericardial defect was found on the ventral side of the hilar region, and the left atrial appendage was exposed. Due to concern that contact between the bronchial stump and the left atrial appendage may lead to postoperative bleeding and heart hernia, the pericardial defect was closed with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene GoreTex® membrane. Preoperative computed tomography was reanalyzed with a 1 mm slice, congenital pericardial defect was detected as the pericardium had penetrated under the left atrial appendage. Conclusions In congenital partial pericardial defect, contact between the left atrial appendage and bronchial stump, due to movement of the lung or heart, increases the risk of bleeding after lung resection. Therefore, closure of the defect should be considered. Although it is difficult to diagnose congenital partial pericardial defect preoperatively, computed tomography taken with a slice thickness of 1 mm is useful for diagnosis.

Background Anomalous systemic arterial supply to normal basal lung segments is a rare congenital malformation, in which aberrant arteries arising from the systemic circulation flow into the basal segment of the lung and return to normal pulmonary veins without abnormal bronchial branching. It presents a left-to-right shunt, resulting in volume overload of the pulmonary circulation, and consequently, pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, nearly all cases require surgery. Herein, we present a case, in which indocyanine green was used to demarcate the lung segment perfused by an anomalous systemic artery. Case presentation A 15-year-old boy was diagnosed with an anomalous artery originating from the celiac artery and supplying the right dorsobasal lung segment (S10). Via three-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, the anomalous artery was ligated and processed with an auto-stapler. Indocyanine green was injected intravenously to identify the tissue perfused by the anomalous artery, and the lung was resected. Conclusions With anomalous systemic arterial supply to normal basal lung segments, indocyanine green can be particularly helpful in identifying the boundaries of the perfused area. Then, the affected tissue can be resected by thoracoscopic surgery.

Background Renal infarction after pulmonary resection is relatively rare; however, it is associated with severe morbidity. Case presentation An 80-year-old woman without any severe comorbidity or smoking history underwent left upper lobectomy (LUL) concomitant with mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung adenocarcinoma. She did not show fever, flank pain, and/or nausea; however, laboratory data revealed an elevated white blood cell count (WBC) (13,460 cells/mm 3 ) and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (670 IU/L) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (23.6 mg/dL) levels on the fifth postoperative day. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography from the thorax to the pelvic cavity revealed a partial defect of the right kidney without any indication of infection and no pulmonary vein stump thrombosis. We diagnosed the patient with partial right renal infarction, and heparin (10,000 IU/day) was initiated. Laboratory data showed gradual reduction in the WBC (7700 cells/mm 3 ), as well as in the serum LDH (355 IU/L) and CRP (0.76 mg/dL) levels, 7 days after heparin initiation. Anticoagulation therapy including heparin administration was discontinued because renal function remained, and we observed no pulmonary vein stump thrombosis. Laboratory data remained within normal limits, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 15. Conclusions LUL is considered a risk factor for this condition, and elevated WBC, as well as serum LDH and CRP levels are useful diagnostic indicators.

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