Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports

Our medical research library holds 6 studies published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports (2023–2026). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 5 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc
• Published: 2022 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2772-9931 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Solitary Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Rare Presentation. F. Wang, H. Wang. 2026;4(1):269-270. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

• Robotic Treatment of Postoperative Chylothorax. A. Fiorelli, A.C. Izzo, V. Di Filippo, et al. 2025;3(1):222-224. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  A high-output chyle leak developed in a 69-year-old man who had undergone pleurectomy and decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Conservative treatment was unsuccessful while a clear area of leakage could not be identified on lymphangiography. Right-sided robotic reexploration with ligation of the thoracic duct was successfully performed. The patient was discharged 6 days later, and no recurrence was observed.

  © 2024 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

• Prognostic Indicator for Pleural Mesothelioma. M. Yotsukura, Y. Yoshida, K. Nakagawa, et al. 2024;2(4):597-602. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Background: In malignant pleural mesothelioma), it is difficult to evaluate the degree of tumor progression using imaging findings. It is essential to develop an objective index that is independent of imaging findings and useful for assessing the degree of tumor progression and indications for surgery.

  Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 79 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy or pleurectomy/decortication at our institution between 1999 and 2022. The postoperative prognosis was evaluated based on clinical factors.

  Results: Of the 79 patients, extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 41 (51.9%), and pleurectomy/decortication was performed in 38 (48.1%). Univariate analyses identified that percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) < 80% (P < .01), rind-like growth pattern on computed tomography (P < .01), Glasgow Prognostic Score ≥ 1 (P < .01), and pathologic stage ≥ II (P < .01) were poor prognostic factors for overall survival. In the multivariate analysis, percent predicted FVC <80% (hazard ratio, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.23-6.18, P = .01) was found to be the only poor prognostic factor for overall survival after surgery. Pathologic stage was a less significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 0.95-3.53, P = .07). Two-year overall survival in patients with percent predicted FVC ≥80% and <80% was 76.6% ± 6.6% and 16.6% ± 7.5%, respectively.

  Conclusions: FVC is a strong predictor of postoperative survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma independent of imaging findings. FVC is useful for assessing tumor invasion and would help determining surgical indication.

  © 2024 The Author(s).

• The Role of Endobronchial Ultrasound for Mediastinal Staging in Mesothelioma. D. Steimer, P. Tramontozzi, P. Gedeon, et al. 2024;2(4):613-617. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Background: Invasive mediastinal staging is a crucial component of the preoperative evaluation for potential surgical candidates with pleural mesothelioma (PM). Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is less invasive than mediastinoscopy for staging; however, its accuracy in patients with PM remains undefined. We present our institutional experience with EBUS staging in patients with PM.

  Methods: Patients with PM who underwent EBUS for mediastinal staging between January 2017 and February 2021 (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA) followed by surgical resection were retrospectively reviewed. EBUS cytology was compared with final pathology reports for the corresponding lymph node removed at the time of pleurectomy to assess EBUS accuracy.

  Results: During the study period, 91 patients with PM met inclusion criteria. EBUS diagnostic yield was highest at nodal station 7 (84%) and lowest at station 4L (40%). There were 74 patients taken for surgical resection, and 41 patients had matching lymph nodes for analysis. In our series, EBUS had a sensitivity of 81%, a specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 90%, and a negative predictive value of 84%.

  Conclusions: EBUS is a reasonable alternative to mediastinoscopy for mediastinal staging in patients with mesothelioma.

• Salvage Pleurectomy/Decortication After Immunotherapy for Sarcomatoid Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. K. Kajiyama, A. Taira, M. Takenaka, et al. 2023;1(1):121-123. Case report PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Sarcomatoid malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor. Surgery may not be recommended, and chemotherapy is less effective. More recently, immunotherapy has become a new standard treatment of care for advanced MPM across all histologic subtypes. This reports describes a case of salvage lung-sparing surgery (pleurectomy with decortication) after immunotherapy with nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab for sarcomatoid MPM. The surgical specimen showed that a major pathologic response was achieved with immunotherapy. The present case indicates not only the feasibility of pleurectomy with decortication after immunotherapy but also pathologic evidence of the efficacy of immunotherapy, which provides insight into the treatment of advanced MPM.

  © 2022 The Author(s).

• Social Determinants of Health Impact on Survival of Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. A. Alnajar, S.A. Kareff, S.S. Razi, et al. 2023;1(4):548-552. PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Background: Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) have a high mortality risk, even after optimal management and accounting for differences in comorbidities. We aimed to assess the overall survival of patients with operable MPM based on social determinants of health (SDH). We hypothesized that an SDH score can predict patients with poorer overall survival despite optimal management.

  Methods: This study used a retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2017. Adult patients with clinical stage I-IIIA MPM were included. Based on patients' personal and geographic characteristics, we constructed an SDH score index that identifies patients of socioeconomic disadvantage by the following variables: income, education, geography, and hospital types within 250 miles. We performed a survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method as well as univariable and multivariable Cox regression models.

  Results: Higher composite SDH scores demonstrated worse outcomes. Overall increased disadvantage increased the risk of mortality by 21% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; CI, 1.12-1.30), with a higher increase of 57% for score ≥2 (HR,1.57; CI, 1.36-1.81). After accounting for age, stage, comorbidities, multimodal therapy, and hospital volume and type, the SDH score index remained statistically significant, with a 29% increased risk of mortality for score ≥2 compared with ≤1 (HR, 1.29; CI, 1.10-1.50). Curative surgery with chemotherapy reduced mortality risk by 29% (HR, 0.71; CI, 0.62-0.81) after adjustment for patients' SDH scores and other relevant factors.

  Conclusions: Various SDH factors affect survival outcomes independently of treatment modality and patient characteristics. This SDH composite score could help identify patients with socioeconomic disadvantages at risk for suboptimal survival outcomes.

  © 2023 The Authors.

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