Raja M Flores

..Small studies suggest that fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography may improve staging. We analyzed our experience to determine more definitively the potential utility of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography...

..We conducted a large single-institution analysis to identify prognostic factors and assess the association of resection with outcome in a contemporary patient population...

..However, adequately powered well-balanced studies comparing VATS with open thoracotomy for lobectomy are lacking in the literature...

..We performed a multi-institutional study to increase statistical power to detect significant differences in outcome between extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication...

..We designed this clinical trial to test the feasibility of induction chemotherapy followed by EPP and RT in locally advanced MPM with the ultimate aim of improving survival...

..The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system groups N1 and N2 disease together as stage III. The goal of this study was to define the prognostic value of specific nodal stations...

..However, a well-balanced comparison of the two procedures is lacking in the literature...

..EPP in the pediatric population has not been reported in the literature. We report our experience of using EPP in children to treat a variety of malignancies that involve the pleural surface...

..Because mediastinal nodal metastasis is known to be associated with poor prognosis, we hypothesized that standard uptake value on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography might independently predict survival...

..The focus in stage III disease should remain on the ability to achieve macroscopic complete resection, rather than N2 disease. Patients with stage IV cancers have better survival if the lung is left in place...

..03). SUV of >4 and mixed histology are poor risk factors in malignant pleural mesothelioma. These findings suggest that FDG-PET can be used to stratify patients for treatment and clinical trials...

..This standardized three-incision technique utilizing a 4-cm utility incision without rib spreading may allow valid comparisons of conventional procedures in clinical trials...

..This experience supports additional studies of induction and multimodality therapy, especially with regimens such as cisplatin and pemetrexed which may be better tolerated and more effective...

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..We reviewed our experience with multimodality treatment for Masaoka stage IVA thymomas for feasibility and outcomes...

..Our objective was to identify the incidence and risk factors for the development of postoperative lung injury...

..In response, we investigated the pattern of recurrent disease and the incidence of second primary tumors after lobectomy by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy...

..Pneumonectomy plus chest wall resection should be performed only in highly selected patients...

..Determining this distinction with certainty, however, is challenging. We reviewed our experience with surgical resection of presumed SPLC to analyze outcomes and identify factors associated with prolonged survival...

..We reviewed our recent experience with the surgical management of thymic tumors and compared the outcomes and patterns of relapse between patients with thymic carcinoma and those with thymoma...

..To assess the utility of thoracoscopy in defining the extent of intrathoracic disease and survival outcomes in patients with moderate to large pleural effusions at the time of diagnosis of advanced ovarian carcinoma...

..This study evaluates the frequency of use and predictors of cancer-directed surgical intervention in a nontertiary-based population and the predictors for surgical intervention...

..We reviewed our experience to determine the frequency, management, and outcome of these complications...

..We reviewed a single institution's operative experience with these rare tumors...

..The objective of this study was to report the surgical findings and management of patients who underwent VATS in an update of our experience...

..CONCLUSION Plasma OPN levels are elevated in early-stage NSCLC. They are reduced after resection and appear to increase with recurrence. Plasma OPN may have utility as a biomarker in early-stage NSCLC...

..There is little experience with telerobotic assistance for video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy. We developed a technique for robotic assistance during video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy and report our initial results...

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..9; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients older than 80 years have increased mortality risk after esophagectomy, independent of comorbidity. Octogenarian status should be a consideration in the management of these patients...

..There is a need to identify reliable markers for malignant mesothelioma. Soluble mesothelin related peptides (SMRP) and osteopontin (OPN) have gained interest in recent years for this purpose...

..The average cost of VATS is substantially less than thoracotomy primarily because of a decreased length of stay. The cost of robotic assistance for VATS is still less than thoracotomy, but greater than VATS alone...

..We present a range of methods to approach surgical resection of tumors that have invaded the superior vena cava...

..Although classified as low-grade neoplasms, these tumors have a significant rate of recurrence and distant metastasis...

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..We describe repair in an adult by means of graft interposition using cardiopulmonary bypass. We give our rationalization for surgical repair and present the contrary view of conservative management...

..All previous reports describe excision without major esophageal resection. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman with a giant esophageal schwannoma that required total thoracic esophagectomy...

..To analyze the findings and impact on the management of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) before planned abdominal exploration in patients with suspected advanced ovarian cancer and moderate to large pleural effusions...

..Newer imaging modalities such as PET scan and combined PET/CT might provide greater information and warrant further study in the preoperative evaluation of pleural and chest wall tumors...

..Yet, despite the inherent biases in most studies, the data thus far illustrates significant survival advantages with both P/D and EPP and surgeons should consider these approaches in select patients...

..Use of the stapler expeditiously assists in removal of the specimen with minimal blood loss. In cases where large defects cannot be repaired primarily, a Gore-tex patch should be used...

..This describes the first reported case of spontaneous pericardial cyst resolution. In select cases a conservative management may be appropriate; however, larger studies are warranted to verify these findings...

..Questions about the safety of the surgery and its adequacy as a cancer operation remain hurdles for many surgeons...