• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.166-172
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• 2004

When compare with blebectomy or bullaectomy simply and pleurodesis together in treatment of primary spontaneous pnevmthorax, the later has been realized as the method that can reduce the recurrent rate after surgical operation. Therefore, in this study, we compared the merits and demerits of the clinical result of chemical pleurodesis that use Talcum powder in pleurodesis and mechanical pleurodesis that use apical pleurectomy and analyzed the reappearance rate etc. Material and Method: The Pleurodesis through the apical pleurectomy and talc powder insufflation had been used as secondary procedure after blebectomy of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2002. This study consisted of a retrospective review of 68 patients who were treated with apical pleurectomy, and 84 patients treated with talc powder insufflation. We compaired the apical pleurectomy and talc powder insufflation in terms of age, sex, cause of operation, number of used autosuture staple, tine duration of procedure after blebectomy, severity of pain and complication after operation, postoperative air leakage period, duration of chest tube insertion, hospitalization, and recurrence rate of pneumothorax. Result: Time required for secondary procedure was longer in apical pleurectomy than talc powder insufflation. Postoperative pain was more severe in talc powder insufflation than apical pleurectomy. Otherwise there was no significant difference between two methods. Conclusion: Although Talc powder insufflation is more convenient than apical pleurectomy, the difference is not large and, the severity of postoperative pain is worse in talc powder insufflation. Therefore apical pleurectomy can be recommended for the secondary surgical procedure after blebectomy of primary spontaneous pneumothorax can be recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.316-319
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• 2012

Background: The standard operative treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is thoracoscopic wedge resection, but necessity of pleurodesis still remains controversial. Nevertheless, pleural procedure after wedge resection such as pleurodesis has been performed in some patients who need an extremely low recurrence rate. Materials and Methods: From January 2000 to July 2010, 207 patients who had undergone thoracoscopic wedge resection and pleurodesis were enrolled in this study. All patients were divided into two groups according to the methods of pleurodesis; apical parietal pleurectomy (group A) and pleural abrasion (group B). The recurrence after surgery had been checked by reviewing medical record through follow-up in ambulatory care clinic or calling to the patients, directly until January 2011. Results: Of the 207 patients, the recurrence rate of group A and B was 9.1% and 12.8%, respectively and there was a significant difference (p=0.01, Cox's proportional hazard model). There was no significant difference in age, gender, smoking status, and body mass index between two groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that the risk of recurrence after surgery in PSP is significantly low in patients who underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection with parietal pleurectomy than pleural abrasion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.317-320
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• 2020

Pulmonary carcinoids are relatively rare tumors with low metastatic potential. Pleural carcinomatosis of a bronchial carcinoid has only been reported in 4 cases. Due to the rarity of this condition, there are no guidelines for its treatment or management. We report a case of atypical carcinoid with local recurrence and pleural metastases treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy and total pleurectomy with photodynamic therapy after non-radical wedge resection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.405-412
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• 2022

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive pleural malignancy, and despite all multimodal treatment modalities, the 5-year overall survival rate of patients with MPM is less than 20%. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the surgical and prognostic outcomes of patients with MPM who received multimodal treatment. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, the records of patients who underwent surgery for MPM between January 2010 and December 2020 at our department were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Sixty-four patients were included in the study, of whom 23 (35.9%) were women and 41 (64.1%) were men. Extrapleural pneumonectomy, pleurectomy/decortication, and extended pleurectomy/decortication procedures were performed in 34.4%, 45.3%, and 20.3% of patients, respectively. The median survival of patients was 21 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 20.2%. Advanced tumor stage (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; p=0.04), right-sided extrapleural pneumonectomy (HR, 3.1; p=0.02), lymph node metastasis (HR, 1.8; p=0.04), and incomplete multimodal therapy (HR, 1.9; p=0.03) were poor prognostic factors. There was no significant survival difference according to surgical type or histopathological subtype. Conclusion: Multimodal therapy can offer an acceptable survival rate in patients with MPM. Despite its poor reputation in the literature, the survival rate after extrapleural pneumonectomy, especially left-sided, was not as poor as might be expected.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.593-597
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• 1987

Mesothelioma is a primary tumor of the pleura. There are two forms of mesotheliomas; diffuse form and localized form. The majority of localized mesotheliomas are benign, but the tumor with pedicle recur at 20% after removal of it. Malignant localized fibrous mesothelioma is differential diagnosed pathologically and clinically with diffuse mesothelioma. Symptoms of localized mesothelioma are generally related to the size of the tumor. We presented one case of malignant localized fibrous mesothelioma. The patient was 32 years old female and chief complaints were dyspnea and dry cough. Sputum cytology and needle lung biopsy were not able to diagnose definitely the tumor. Explothoracotomy was carried out for definite tissue biopsy. At the time of operation, huge adult head size mass was in the right thoracic cavity. The surface of the mass was nodular, multilobular and had hard consistency. Pedicle was formed above first rib and its diameter was 4.5cm. There was no adhesion except to RUL. Frozen biopsy suggested mesothelioma. Extirpation of the mass, right upper lobectomy. and partial pleurectomy were carried out.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.404-408
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• 2010

Background: Pleural symphysis is regarded as an important treatment option in reducing recurrence rates after surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. However, there is much debate over the best method for achieving pleural symphysis. We retrospectively compared apical pleurectomy (AP) with mechanical pleural abrasion (MPA). Material and Method: Between January 2000 and December 2007, 83 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax. In addition to wedge resection of bullae, MPA was performed in 21 patients (group A) and AP in 62 patients (group B). Result: There were no significant differences in age, gender and site of pneumothorax between the two groups. Operative time was $97{\pm}44$ minutes in group A and $77{\pm}18$ minutes in group B (p>0.05). The mean amount of pleural drainage through the chest tube on the first postoperative day was $156{\pm}87 cc$ in group A and $147{\pm}87 cc$ in group B (p>0.05). There was no mortality or significant morbidity in all patients with the exception of reoperation for bleeding in two patients in group B. In the postoperative course, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in the rate of residual air space, air leak and indwelling time of chest tube, and hospital stay. Mean follow up time was $31.7{\pm}25.3$ months, and the recurrence rate of pneumothorax was 9.5% (2/21) in group A and 6.5% (4/62) in group B, without statistical significance. Conclusion: AP was no more advantageous than MPA in terms of operative time, postoperative course and prevention of recurrent pneumothorax. Therefore, complete resection of bullae and existence of residual bullae are more important factors in reducing the incidence of recurrent pneumothorax than pleural symphysis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the multimodality treatment with neoadjuvant intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for resectable clinical T1-3N0-1M0 malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Materials and Methods: A total of eleven patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy between March 2016 and June 2018 were reviewed. Patients received 25 Gy in 5 fractions to entire ipsilateral hemithorax with helical tomotherapy. Results: All of patients were men with a median age of 56 years. Epithelioid subtype was found in 10 patients. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pemetrexed-cisplatin regimen. Ten patients (90.9%) completed 25 Gy/5 fractions and one (9.0%) completed 20 Gy/4 fractions of radiotherapy. IMRT was well tolerated with only one acute grade 3 radiation pneumonitis. Surgery was performed 1 week (median, 8 days; range, 1 to 15 days) after completing IMRT. Extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 4 patients (36.3%), extended pleurectomy/decortication in 2 (18.2%) and pleurectomy/decortications in 5 (63.6%). There was no grade 3+ surgical complication except two deaths after EPP in 1 month. Based on operative findings and pathologic staging, adjuvant chemotherapy was delivered in 7 patients (63.6%), and 2 (18.2%) were decided to add adjuvant radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 14.6 months (range, 2.8 to 30 months), there were 3 local recurrence (33.3%) and 1 distant metastasis (11.1%). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant entire pleural IMRT can be delivered with a favorable radiation complication. An optimal strategy has to be made in resectable MPM patients who would benefit from neoadjuvant radiation and surgery. Further studies are needed to look at long-term outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.544-547
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• 1997

We have experienced a case of pleural aspergillosis. A 50 year old female complained of malaise, anorexia, coughing with sputum, and right sided pleuritic chest pain of two weeks' duration. About ten years ago, she had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with medication. Chest radiography showed right pyopneumothorax with cavitation in the rig t upper lung and Chest computed topography revealed right loculated pyopneumothorax with cavity formation suggesting bronchopleural fistula. Decortication and wedge resection with pleurectomy were performed. The postoperative course was satisfactory and has been in good condition up to now. Pleural aspergillosis is a very rare and potentially life-threatening disease, but we have had good results without significant complications by treatment with systemic antifungal drugs and surgical operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 1985

During the period of seven years from Jan. 1976 to Jan. 1983, one hundred cases of pulmonary tuberculous residual lesions were resected at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Paik Hospital in Seoul, Korea. During the period of this study, 1764 patients were admitted with the diagnosis of pulmonary and/or pleural tuberculosis in the medical and surgical department as a primary or associated conditions. Among these 1764 patients, one hundred selective cases were operated. The results were as follows; l. Extents of the disease by the predominant clinical pictures were: totally destroyed lung; 18, destroyed lobe; 6, cavitary lesion with or without positive sputum; 35, bronchiectasis; 7, bronchostenosis with atelectasis; 2, empyema with or without BPF; 20, pleural thickening; 4, tuberculoma; 3, bullous cyst with tuberculosis; 5 cases, or per cent [Table 1]. 2. Male and female ratio was 1.2:1 or 55 and 45 per cent. Age distribution ranged 15 and 55 with average of 33 years [Table 2]. 3. Type of procedures were: pleuropneumonectomy; 15, pneumonectomy; 25, lobectomy; 37, bilobectomy; 6, lobectomy plus segmentectomy; 3, pleurectomy; 14 cases, or percent, Site of resections were: right; 58 and left; 42 cases, or per cent [Table 3]. 4. Incidence of complications were 10 per cent and the mortality was 4 per cent. The causes of morbidity were analyzed. The main causes of death were pulmonary insufficiency; 2, cardiac arrhythmia; 1, and hepatic insufficiency; 1 case or per cent [Table 4]. 5. Pathologic examinations of the resected pulmonary and pleuropulmonary lesions were observed by gross specimen, correlating with the pre-operative indications of the disease [Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].>br> 6. Anti-tuberculous chemotherapy was done for 6 to 18 months, post-operatively, in 80 patients. Of these 49 cases were need medication for 12 months [Table 5]. Except the four operative mortality and a case of post-operative recurrent buberculosis under medication, all the other 95 cases are well in activity and free from the disease at the moment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2001

Aspergillosis refers to an infection with any species from the genus Aspergillus. Pleural aspergillosis is an uncommon disease with less than 30 cases having been reported in the literature since 1958. The etiologic factors for this aspergillosis are preexisting pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchopleural fistula, pleural drainage, and a lung resection. Surgical removal of the aspergillus-infected pleura is the main treatment for managing this disease. We have experienced two cases of pleural aspergillosis as a complication of a preexisting chronic empyema. The chest radiographs showed a pyopneumothorax with cavitation and the chest computed tomographic scans revealed a loculated pyopneumothorax with cavity formation suggesting a bronchopleural fistula. A grossly purulent fluid was extracted by thoracentesis, and Aspergillus fumigatus was grown from a fungus culture of the fluid. A decortication, wedge resection with a pleurectomy and a pleuropneumonectomy were performed. The postoperative course was satisfactory and the patients have been in good condition up to now. Pleural aspergillosis is a very rare and potentially life-threatening disease. However, good result without significant complication were obtained by treatment with systemic antifungal agents and surgical removal.