This purpose of this study was to examine clinical-pathologic factors--particularly smoking and brain metastases--in EGFR mutation positive (M(+)) lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) to determine their impact ...on survival in patients treated with first line EGFR TKI.
A retrospective review of EGFR mutation reflex testing experience for all ADC diagnosed at a tertiary Asian cancer centre from January 2009 to April 2013. Amongst this cohort, patients with advanced EGFR M(+) ADC treated with first line EGFR TKI were identified to determine factors that influence progression free and overall survival.
444/742 (59.8%) ADC reflex tested for EGFR mutations were EGFR M(+.) Amongst never-smokers (n=468), EGFR M(+) were found in 74.5% of females and 76.3% of males, and amongst ever smokers (n=283), in 53.3% of females and 35.6% of males. Exon 20 mutations were found more commonly amongst heavy smokers (> 50 pack years and > 20 pack years, Pearson's chi square p=0.044, and p=0.038 respectively). 211 patients treated with palliative first line TKI had a median PFS and OS of 9.2 and 19.6 months respectively. 26% of patients had brain metastasis at diagnosis. This was significantly detrimental to overall survival (HR 1.85, CI 1.09-3.16, p=0.024) on multivariate analysis. There was no evidence that smoking status had a significant impact on survival.
The high prevalence of EGFR M(+) in our patient population warrants reflex testing regardless of gender and smoking status. Smoking status and dosage did not impact progression free or overall survival in patients treated with first line EGFR TKI. The presence of brain metastasis at diagnosis negatively impacts overall survival.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a high diagnostic yield and low complication rate. Whilst it has been included in international guidelines for the ...diagnosis and staging of lung cancer, current results are mostly based on EBUS experts performing EBUS-TBNA in centres of excellence. The impact of simulation training on diagnostic yield, complications, scope damage and repair cost in a real-world teaching hospital is unclear.
A review of our hospital EBUS-TBNA registry from August 2008 to December 2016 was performed. A positive diagnosis was defined as a confirmed histological or microbiological diagnosis based on EBUS sampling. Complications were classified as major or minor according to the British Thoracic Society guidelines. In addition, we assessed the cost of repairs for scope damage before and after simulation training was implemented. Using CUSUM analysis, the learning curves of individual trainees and the institution were plotted.
There were 608 EBUS-TBNA procedures included in the study. The number of procedures performed by trainees who underwent conventional training was 331 and those who underwent simulation training performed 277 procedures. Diagnostic yield for trainees without simulation training was 88.2%
84.5% for trainees with simulation training (P=0.179). There was no statistical difference in the diagnostic yield between the groups of trainees (OR: 0.781, 95% CI: 0.418-1.460, P=0.438) after adjusting for risk factors. There was an increase in overall complications from 13.6% to 16.6% (OR: 2.247, 95% CI: 1.297-3.891, P=0.004) after introduction of the simulation training, but a trend to decrease in major complications 3.6% to 0.7% (P=0.112). The cost for scope repairs for the trainees without simulation training was SGD 413.88 per procedure
SGD 182.79 per procedure for the trainees with simulation training, with the mean difference being SGD 231.09 per procedure (95% CI: 178.40-640.60, P=0.268). CUSUM analysis showed an increasing learning curve for the trainees with simulation training after an initial competency period.
There was no statistical difference in diagnostic yield from EBUS-TBNA and cost of scope damage after simulation training was introduced into our training program. Interestingly, there was an increase in minor complications. CUSUM analysis can provide additional information on institutional learning curves. The value of simulation training in EBUS-TBNA remains uncertain.
Background American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) clinical practice guidelines on the evaluation of pulmonary nodules may have low adoption among clinicians in Asian countries. Unique patient ...characteristics of Asian patients affect the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary nodules. The objective of these clinical practice guidelines was to adapt those of CHEST to provide consensus-based recommendations relevant to practitioners in Asia. Methods A modified ADAPTE process was used by a multidisciplinary group of pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons in Asia. An initial panel meeting analyzed all CHEST recommendations to achieve consensus on recommendations and identify areas that required further investigation before consensus could be achieved. Revised recommendations were circulated to panel members for iterative review and redrafting to develop the final guidelines. Results Evaluation of pulmonary nodules in Asia broadly follows those of the CHEST guidelines with important caveats. Practitioners should be aware of the risk of lung cancer caused by high levels of indoor and outdoor air pollution, as well as the high incidence of adenocarcinoma in female nonsmokers. Furthermore, the high prevalence of granulomatous disease and other infectious causes of pulmonary nodules need to be considered. Therefore, diagnostic risk calculators developed in non-Asian patients may not be applicable. Overall, longer surveillance of nodules than those recommended by CHEST should be considered. Conclusions TB in Asia favors lesser reliance on PET scanning and greater use of nonsurgical biopsy over surgical diagnosis or surveillance. Practitioners in Asia are encouraged to use these adapted consensus guidelines to facilitate consistent evaluation of pulmonary nodules.
A 58-year-old woman with multiple proximal airway stenoses due to sarcoidosis failed to improve with steroid therapy. After bronchoscopic balloon dilation with adjunctive topical mitomycin C, there ...was symptomatic improvement and preserved patency of the airways one month later. However, the patient's effort tolerance gradually deteriorated subsequently, and a repeat bronchoscopy one year later showed recurrence of airway stenosis.
The application of lung volume reduction surgery in clinical practice is limited by high postoperative morbidity and stringent selection criteria. This has been the impetus for the development of ...bronchoscopic approaches to lung volume reduction. A range of different techniques such as endobronchial blockers, airway bypass, endobronchial valves, thermal vapor ablation, biological sealants, and airway implants have been employed on both homogeneous as well as heterogeneous emphysema. The currently available data on efficacy of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction are not conclusive and subjective benefit in dyspnoea scores is a more frequent finding than improvements on spirometry or exercise tolerance. Safety data are more promising with rare procedure-related mortality, few serious complications, and short hospital length of stay. The field of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction continues to evolve as ongoing prospective randomized trials build on earlier feasibility data to clarify the true efficacy of such techniques.
Pulmonary infiltrates are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients and remain a diagnostic challenge due to the broad range of etiologies that include infection ...and malignancy. Empiric therapy may be sub-optimal and can adversely impact outcome. Therefore, a confirmed diagnosis is necessary and flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be a useful diagnostic tool. Samples are obtained for microbiological and cytological testing, but the procedure carries risk of complications including the adverse events related to moderate sedation. A review of published literature on BAL in immunocompromised patients from the year 2000 was undertaken focusing on diagnostic yield, complication rate, mortality as well as factors impacting these outcomes. Studies in which the majority of patients were supported on mechanical ventilation were excluded. A total of 23 studies (7 prospective and 16 retrospective) met inclusion criteria. This covered 3,395 procedures in 3,192 patients with a mean age of 47.4 years; 60.3% male gender. Diagnostic yield ranged from 26% to 69% with no clear association between diagnostic yield and etiology of immunosuppression or clinical/radiological presentation. Post BAL modification of treatment as an indicator for clinical utility ranged from 11% to 84%; and complication rate ranged from 1% to 52%. No specific factors were associated with increased adverse event rate. This review provides a summary of the data on the use of BAL for diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients, highlighting the heterogeneity of patients, significant variation in findings reported and the need for more data to optimize patient selection.
Background. Conventional flexible bronchoscopy has limited sensitivity in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions and is dependent on lesion size. However, advancement of CT imaging offers ...multiplanar reconstruction facilitating enhanced preprocedure planning. This study aims to report efficacy and safety while considering the impact of patient selection and multiplanar CT planning. Method. Prospective case series of patients with peripheral lung lesions suspected of having lung cancer who underwent flexible bronchoscopy (forceps biopsy and lavage). Endobronchial lesions were excluded. Patients with negative results underwent CT-guided transthoracic needle aspiration, surgical biopsy, or clinical-radiological surveillance to establish the final diagnosis. Results. 226 patients were analysed. The diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy was 80.1% (181/226) with a sensitivity of 84.2% and specificity of 100%. In patients with a positive CT-Bronchus sign, the diagnostic yield was 82.4% compared to 72.8% with negative CT-Bronchus sign (p=0.116). Diagnostic yield was 84.9% in lesions > 20 mm and 63.0% in lesions ≤ 20 mm (p=0.001). Six (2.7%) patients had transient hypoxia and 2 (0.9%) had pneumothorax. There were no serious adverse events. Conclusion. Flexible bronchoscopy with appropriate patient selection and preprocedure planning is more efficacious in obtaining a diagnosis in peripheral lung lesions compared to historical data. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01374542.
Endoscopic management of emphysema Ernst, Armin; Anantham, Devanand
Clinics in chest medicine,
03/2010, Volume:
31, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Lung volume reduction surgery has proven benefits in emphysema. However, high postoperative morbidity and stringent selection criteria for suitable candidates are limitations in clinical practice. ...Endoscopic approaches to lung volume reduction have used a range of different techniques such as endobronchial blockers, airway bypass, endobronchial valves, biologic sealants, and airway implants to address the limitations of surgery. The underlying physiologic mechanisms of endoscopic modalities vary, and homogeneous and heterogeneous emphysema are targeted. Currently available data on efficacy of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction are not consistently conclusive, and subjective benefit in dyspnea scores is a more frequent finding than improvements on spirometry or exercise tolerance. The safety data are more promising, with rare procedure-related mortality, fewer complications than lung volume reduction surgery, and short hospital length of stay. The field of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction continues to evolve as ongoing prospective randomized trials aim to clarify the efficacy data from earlier feasibility and safety studies.
PDF
