Should we continue to offer extrapleural pneumonectomy to selected mesothelioma patients? A single center experience comparing surgical and non-surgical management.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains an incurable disease for which the optimal therapeutic approach remains an extremely debated issue. Though not yet clearly defined, a subset of patients may benefit from a surgery-based multimodal treatment plan, beyond what would be expected with non-surgical therapies only. Indeed, despite some disappointing results on the feasibility of a multimodality treatment (chemotherapy ± surgery and post-operative radiation therapy) based on a lung sacrificing surgery (extrapleural pleuropnemonectomy) have been recently reported, the question concerning the role of extrapleural pneumonectomy in selected mesothelioma patients is still unanswered.

Is (18)F-FDG PET useful in predicting the WHO grade of malignancy in thymic epithelial tumors? A meta-analysis.

Aim: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on the role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) in predicting the WHO grade of malignancy in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of studies published up to March 2014 was performed. Data on maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in patients with low-risk thymomas (A, AB, B1), high-risk thymomas (B2, B3) and thymic carcinomas (C) according to the WHO classification were collected when reported by the retrieved articles.

Functional imaging evaluation in the detection, diagnosis, and histologic differentiation of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) have distinct pathologic characteristics. Typical carcinoids are indolent neoplasms with a good prognosis, whereas atypical carcinoids have a less indolent behavior. Both are optimally treated with complete surgical excision.

Ectopic mature cerebral tissue in the nasal cavity incidentally detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Herein we describe a rare case of neuroglial heterotopia (ectopic mature cerebral tissue) incidentally detected by F-FDG PET/CT. A 52-year-old female patient underwent F-FDG PET/CT for metabolic characterization of a left pulmonary nodule. F-FDG PET/CT revealed increased radiopharmaceutical uptake corresponding to the pulmonary nodule pathologically described as adenocarcinoma.

PET/CT assessment of neuroendocrine tumors of the lung with special emphasis on bronchial carcinoids.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) arise from bronchial mucosal cells known as enterochromaffin cells which are part of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. The pathological spectrum of pNETs ranges from low-/intermediate-grade neoplasms such as bronchial carcinoids (BCs), also known as typical or atypical carcinoids, to high-grade neoplasms as large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer. The tumor biology of pNETs still represents a matter of open debate.

A systems medicine clinical platform for understanding and managing non- communicable diseases.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are among the most pressing global health problems of the twenty-first century. Their rising incidence and prevalence is linked to severe morbidity and mortality, and they are putting economic and managerial pressure on healthcare systems around the world. Moreover, NCDs are impeding healthy aging by negatively affecting the quality of life of a growing number of the global population.

"Dry" pleural mesothelioma successfully diagnosed on endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA).

The acquisition of histologic material is obligatory in order to establish the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In particular, tissue acquisition in cases of "dry" MPM (focal pleural thickening without pleural effusion or mediastinal lymph node involvement) is usually performed via a thoracoscopic pleural biopsy. In contrast, the techniques for performing echoendoscopic (transbronchial or transesophageal) needle aspiration of pleural lesions have only rarely been reported due to the theoretical limitations of tissue acquisition in such cases.

Which is the best strategy for diagnosing bronchial carcinoid tumours? The role of dual tracer PET/CT scan.

Bronchial carcinoids (BC) are rare well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumours (NET) sub-classified into typical (TC) and atypical carcinoids (AC). A correct pathological identification in the pre-operative setting is a key element for planning the best strategy of care, considering the different biological behavior of TC and AC. Controversial results have been reported on the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in BC.

Thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: proposal for a predictive score of postoperative myasthenic crisis.

Objectives: Thymectomy plays an important role in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). This study aimed to explore predictors of postoperative myasthenic crisis (POMC) after thymectomy and to define a predictive score of respiratory failure.

Methods: The clinical data of 177 patients with MG undergoing thymectomy from January 1995 to December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

Thymoma and inter-relationships between clinical variables: a multicentre study in 537 patients.

Objectives: In thymomas, the roles of Masaoka-Koga stage, histology and the presence of myasthenia gravis (MG) have been considered fundamental for patient management and outcomes. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated several clinical variables, with the aim of outlining their relationships and clinical/prognostic significance in resected thymoma patients.

Methods: A retrospective search of our surgical database for patients operated on for thymoma in six Italian high-volume thoracic surgery centres between 2000 and 2011 was conducted.

Diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign pleural lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign pleural lesions.

Methods And Materials: A comprehensive literature search of studies published through June 2013 regarding the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in the differential diagnosis of pleural lesions was carried out. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed.

Diagnostic performance of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the assessment of pleural abnormalities in cancer patients: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic performance of Fluorine-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the assessment of pleural abnormalities in cancer patients.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of studies published through June 2013 regarding the role of (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in evaluating pleural abnormalities in cancer patients was performed. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed.

Surgical treatment in patient with non-small-cell lung cancer with fissure involvement: anatomical versus nonanatomical resection.

Objective: Despite the intense debate concerning the prognostic impact of fissure involvement (FI) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, no specific surgical strategies have been yet recommended when this condition occurs. In this setting, we report our monocentric 10-years experience to investigate this issue.

Methods: From January 2000 to January 2010, the clinical data of 40 non-small-cell lung cancer patients with FI undergoing curative resection were retrospectively reviewed.