• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3183-3186
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• 2013

Purpose: The 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual for esophageal cancer (EC) categorizes N stage according to the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), irrespective of the site. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of subcarinal LN metastasis in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 507 consecutive patients with ESCC was conducted. Potential clinicopathological factors that could influence subcarinal LN metastasis were statistically analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to evaluate the prognostic parameters for survival. Results: The frequency of subcarinal LN metastasis was 22.9% (116/507). Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor length (>3cm vs ${\leq}3cm$; P=0.027), tumor location (lower vs upper/middle; P=0.009), vessel involvement (Yes vs No; P=0.001) and depth of invasion (T3-4a vs T1-2; P=0.012) were associated with 2.085-, 1.810-, 2.535- and 2.201- fold increases, respectively, for risk of subcarinal LN metastasis. Multivariate analyses showed that differentiation (poor vs well/moderate; P=0.001), subcarinal LN metastasis (yes vs no; P=0.033), depth of invasion (T3-4a vs T1-2; P=0.014) and N staging (N1-3 vs N0; P=0.001) were independent prognostic factors. In addition, patients with subcarinal LN metastasis had a significantly lower 5-year cumulative survival rate than those without (26.7% vs 60.9%; P<0.001). Conclusions: Subcarinal LN metastasis is a predictive factor for long-term survival in patients with ESCC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1993

Background: Accurate staging of bronchogenic carcinoma is important in determining resectability and metastasis of tumor to the subcarinal nodes is generally believed to indicate poor prognosis. The technique of Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) has offered a safe & effective way to asscess mediastinal lymph node involvement in the staging of lung cancer. We performed TBNA in patients who were suspected lung cancer to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the TBNA. Method: TBNA of the subcarinal lymph node was performed at the time of initial diagnostic bronchoscopy in 60 patients with suspected lung cancer, and 42 cases of histologically proved bronchogenic cancer were analized. Results: The frequency of adequate samples by transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) was 81% and the positive rate of malignant cells by TBNA was 14.7%. There were no differences in positive rates by tumor cell types. In patients with thickened carina on bronchoscopy, the TBNA was positive in 33.3% as compared to 5.3% of normal carina on bronchoscopy, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In patients with enlarged subcarinal lymph node on chest CT, the positive rate of malignant cells (50.0%) was higher than that of normal sized subcarinal lymph node on chest CT (4.8%) (p<0.01). There were no specific complications in the TBNA procedure. Conclusion: TBNA is a relatively safe procedure and it offers the possibility of avoiding the cost and morbidity of surgical staging in patients especially whose carina is thickened on bronchoscopy and whose subcarinal LN was enlarged on chest CT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 1990

A total of 178 patients with primary lung cancer who had undergone complete resection of the tumor in combination with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy were reviewed at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Yonsei Medical Center from January 1980 through July 1989. Materials; 1. There were 45 men and 33 women ranging of age from 25 to 78 years with a mean age of 55.4 years. 2. Histological types were squamous carcinoma in 115 cases [64.6%] adenocarcinoma in 42 cases [23.6 %], bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in 9 cases [5.1%], large cell carcinoma in 8 cases [4.5 %] and small cell carcinoma in 4 cases [2.2%] Results were summarized as follows: 1. The size of primary tumor was not directly proportional to the frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. [P =0.0567] 2. The histologic types of the primary tumor did not related to the incidence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. [P >0.19] 3. The chance of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in the case with lung cancer located in right middle lobe[31.8%, N=22] and left lower lobe [31.4%, N=32] were the highest and the lowest was the one located in right lower lobe, while over all incidence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in this series was 25.4 % [N=55]. 4. The rate of mediastinal lymph node metastasis without evidence of regional and hilar lymph node metastasis was 13%. [N=23] The chance of mediastinal lymph node involvement without N1 lymph node metastasis was 16.3 % [N=17] in both upper lobes and 8.2 % [N=6] in both lower lobes. It was statistically significant that the tumors in the upper lobes had greater chance of the mediastinal lymph node metastasis without N1 than the tumors in the lower lobes. 5. In this series majority of the patients with lung cancer the mediastinal lymph node metastasis from the tumor in each pulmonary lobes usually occurs via ipsilateral tracheobronchial and paratracheal lymphatic pathway. Especially the lung cancer located in lower lobes can metastasize to subcarinal, paraesophageal and inferior pulmonary ligamental lymph node through the lymphatic pathway of inferior pulmonary ligament. It can be speculated that in some cases of this series otherwise mediastinal lymph node metastasis can also occur with direct invasion to the parietal pleura and to the mediastinal lymph node via direct subpleural lymphatic pathway .

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.922-929
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• 1994

This research represents an attempt to study the postoperative results among 32 patients who underwent complete resections of primary lung and involved mediastinal lymph nodes between January 1988 and June 1993. Ages ranged from 34 to 73 years with a mean age of 51.31 $\pm$ 8.17 years. There were 29 male patients[90.6%]. Left lung cancers were more frequent than right lung cancers. There were 19 cases of left lung cancers accounting for 59.4% of the total lung cancers. The difference, however, was insignificant. There was no T1 lesion. T2 and T3 lesions were 21[65.6%] and 11 cases[34.4%], respectively. As for cell type, squamous cell carcinomas were reported in 25 cases making up 78.1% of the cell types. Pneumonectomy was conducted on 20[62.5%] cases. Lobectomy and sleeve lobectomy were conducted on 12[37.5%] cases respectively. Mediastinal lymph node involvemednts were most frequent in subcarinal lymph node[9/13] among right lung cancers, while subaortic lymph noce[12/19] was most frequent among left lung cancers. Postoperative complications were reported in 18.9% of the total cases, including 2 cases each of paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and 1 case each of chylothorax and pyothorax. They were more frequent among patients who underwent pneumonectomy. The operative mortality stood at 3.1% with 1 patient who underwent pneumonectomy dying of pulmonary edema. The 1-year and 5-year survival rates were 50.8% and 30.1%, respectively. Patients treated with squamous cell carcinoma, involvement of single level mediastinal lymph node and lobectomy showed a higher level of survival. These fidings suggest that a long-term survival can be expected of a considerable number of N2 non-small cell lung cancer patients with a selective complete surgical resection of primary lung cancers involved mediastinal lymph nodes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.646-656
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• 2004

Background : The aim of this study was to elucidate the mediastinal lymphatic drainage of nonsmall- cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the frequency of enlarged mediastinal lymph node (LN) in 256 NSCLC patients with N2 or N3 diseases on CT scan, especially with respect to the location of primary tumor. Results : In 57 patients with right upper lobe (RUL) tumors, right lower paratracheal LN (89.5%) was the most commonly enlarged, followed by subcarinal LN (54.4%). In 61 patients with left upper lobe (LUL) tumors, left lower paratracheal (70.5%) and subaortic LNs (52.5%) were commonly enlarged. Subcarinal LN enlargement without ipsilateral superior mediastinal LN enlargement was rarely found in both upper lobe tumors; RUL 8.8%, LUL 6.6%. In patients with right or left lower lobe (RLL or LLL) tumors, the most commonly enlarged LN was subcarinal; 88.2%, 65.7%, respectively. In RLL tumors with both subcarinal and superior mediastinal LN enlargements, the frequency of ipsilateral superior mediastinal LN involvement was similar to that of bilateral superior mediastinal involvement. In LLL tumors with both subcarinal and superior mediastinal LN enlargements, bilateral superior mediastinal involvement was more frequent than ipsilateral superior mediastinal involvement. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that both upper lobe tumors are mainly drained directly to ipsilateral superior mediastinal LNs, and that both lower lobe lesions are drained to superior mediastinal LN via subcarinal LNs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.188-192
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• 2014

We present a case of an unusual infectious complication of a ruptured mediastinal abscess after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), which led to malignant pleural effusion in a patient with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. EBUS-TBNA was performed in a 48-year-old previously healthy male, and a mediastinal abscess developed at 4 days post-procedure. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed for debridement and drainage, and the intraoperative findings revealed a large volume pleural effusion that was not detected on the initial radiographic evaluation. Malignant cells were unexpectedly detected in the aspirated pleural fluid, which was possibly due to increased pleural permeability and transport of malignant cells originating in a ruptured subcarinal lymph node from the mediastinum to the pleural space. Hence, the patient was confirmed to have squamous cell lung carcinoma with malignant pleural effusion and his TNM staging was changed from stage IIIA to IV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.413-417
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• 1994

Adenoid cystic carcinoma usually grows in the trachea or near its bifurcation and causes obstruction of the air way. We recently experienced a 33 year-old male patient who had adenoid cystic carcinoma in the left main bronchus with the chief complaint of productive cough. On the bronchoscopy, the mass obstructed the left main bronchus completely and had nodularity and increased vascularity.The trachea was shifted to the left side and the lower lobe of the left lung was atelectatic on chest X-ray and computed axial tomogram.He underwent left tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy and lymph node dissection through bilateral thoracotomy. At first,we attempted left tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy through the left thoracotomy,however, it was very difficult to perform carinoplastic procedure after sleeve resection of 2.5cm of distal trachea and 1cm of proximal right main bronchus including whole left lung because of poor operative field and difficulty in the anastomosis of the right main bronchus to the distal end of the trachea without tension.Therefore after radical resection of the left lung we made right thoracotomy,through which we could anastomosed the distal trachea and right main bronchus with 4-0 PDS interrupted suture after mobilization of the right hilum without difficulty. The tumor was confirmed to be adenoid cystic carcinoma with metastasis to subcarinal lymph node histopathologically. Postoperative course was uneventful but he needed two bronchoscopic procedure to clear distal airway of the retained bronchial secretion. He was discharged at 14 days after operation with complete recovery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2019

Spontaneous regression of lung cancer is a very rare and poorly understood phenomenon. A 64-year-old man presented to Dong-A University Hospital with a shrunken nodule in the right lower lobe. Although the nodule showed a high likelihood of malignancy on needle aspiration biopsy, the patient refused surgery. The nodule spontaneously regressed completely in the next 17 months. However, the subcarinal lymph node was found to be enlarged 16 months after complete regression was observed. We pathologically confirmed metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma and performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemoradiation. Regardless of tumor size reduction, it is preferable to perform surgery aggressively in cases of operable lung cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.705-709
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• 1993

The mediastinoscopy was a well known useful diagnostic tool for detection of certain mediastinal tumors ,mediastinal lymph nodes invasion by bronchogenic carcinoma and metastatic cancer. A total of 33 cases of mediastinoscopies were reviewed, which were experienced at Chon Buk National University Hospital from August,1980 to October 1991. Mediastinoscopy was performed through anterior or parasternal approach in 18 cases, cervical approach in 14 cases and both in 1 case. In 12 cases which were used for preoperative stagig of lung cancer, 10 cases[83.3%] had the positive biopsy results at mediastinal nodes. In 11 cases for diagnosis of lymph nodes and masses with unknown lung lesion, small cell carcinoma revealed in 3 cases,squamous cell carcinoma in 2 , adenocarcinoma in 1 case and the others were had the negative biopsy results. In 10 cases for diagnosis of mediastinal tumors, lymphoma revealed in 2 cases, malignant thymoma in 2, sarcoidosis in 2, tuberculous granuloma in 1, mesothelioma in 1, metastatic cancer with unknown origin in 1 case. Thoracotomy was performed in 3 cases of lung cancers, 2 patients with negative biopsy results in preoperative staging and 1 patient with subcarinal lymph node involvement only. Bleeding complications during mediastinoscopy were developed in 2 cases, managed by anterior mini-thoracotomy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.651-656
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• 1996

We have experienced a case of sarcoidosis appearing asymmetrical diffuse interstitial lung lesions with multiple lymphadenopathy. This patient was a 57 year-old female who had been in good health until 2 months ago. At that time she noted the onset of an exertional dyspnea and weakness. Pulmonary function tests showed moderate obstructive pattern with mild decreased DLco. In the chest CT, multiple lymphadenopathy with small nodular lesions are scattered, and the impression was a metastatic lymph nodes with lymphangitic carcinomatosis. In bronchofiberscopy, we noted luminal narrowing by extrinsic compression in the right middle and lower lobe bronchi. And microscopic examination of by bronchofiberscopic biopsy showed chronic inflammation. Thus we performed subcarinal and tight supraclaviclar lymph nodes aspiration biopsy cytology, and that revealed class 0 and class 1, respectively. Finally, we performed an excisional biopsy for the right scalene lymph node, which revealed the specimen as a noncaseating granuloma. The angiotensin convecting enzyme level was overt two folds compared to normal value. And the patient had negative PPD skin test and hyperglobulinemia. After 18 weeks treatment with prednisone, the signs and symptoms which the patient clad suffered from, disappeared.