OBJECTIVES
The measurement of part-solid and whole tumour sizes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using computed tomography (CT) has been widely accepted for assessing clinical outcomes. Although the volume doubling time (VDT) of a tumour is useful for distinguishing high-risk nodules from low-risk ones, it remains to be clarified whether separate calculation of whole-tumour VDT and solid-part tumour VDT (SVDT) greatly affects the survival rate of patients with radiologically node-negative part-solid or solid NSCLC.
METHODS
The study included 258 patients with NSCLC who had radiologically node-negative, part-solid or solid tumours and who had at least 2 preoperative CT scans taken more than 30 days apart followed by radical lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection between January 2012 and December 2015. Univariable and multivariable analyses of recurrence-free survival were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.
RESULTS
The mean whole-tumour VDT and SVDT were 375 and 458 days, respectively. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that whole-tumour VDT (P = 0.003), SVDT (P < 0.001), solid-part tumour size, whole-tumour size and comorbidities significantly affected the recurrence-free survival. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cut-off value of the SVDT for recurrence was 215 days, and the 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for patients with SVDT >215 days and those with SVDT <215 days were 85.7% and 43.0%, respectively (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The calculation of SVDT in patients with node-negative, part-solid or solid NSCLC is highly useful for predicting postoperative survival outcomes.
Although postoperative recurrent lumbar disc herniation (rec-LDH) is uncommon, it is a challenging situation that requires revision surgery when conservative treatment fails. Recently, an agent inducing chemical dissolution of the nucleus pulposus using condoliase has been approved as a novel intradiscal treatment for LDH. To date, no evidence has been reported regarding its effectiveness in the treatment of postoperative rec-LDH. A 25-year-old man with a history of LDH in L4/5, who underwent transforaminal full endoscopic lumbar discectomy when he was 17 years old, complained of severe pain radiating to his left leg since 1 month. The straight leg-raising test was limited to 25° on the left side. Lumbar T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed intracanal, left-sided transligamentous disc herniation at L4/5 with high-signal intensity. Because the conservative treatment with oral analgesics and selective left L5 nerve root block failed, the patient requested intradiscal condoliase injection instead of revision surgery. There were no adverse events reported after the condoliase treatment, and the pain radiating to the left leg improved within 2 weeks. A lumbar MRI performed 2 months after treatment revealed that the disc herniation had significantly decreased in size. The straight leg-raising test examined 3 months after treatment was negative. In this case, the disc herniation was of the transligamentous type and showed a high-signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI which could be suitably treated by condoliase injection therapy. This case report is the first to suggest that intradiscal condoliase injection could be a useful and novel conservative treatment option to treat postoperative rec-LDH.
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