HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Joshua R. Sonett Mark J. Krasna Ziv Gamliel Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sonett, J. R. Articles by Gamliel, Z. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sonett, J. R. Articles by Gamliel, Z.

Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:316-320
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original Articles

Safe pulmonary resection after chemotherapy and high-dose thoracic radiation

^a Division of Thoracic Surgery, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
^b Division of Radiation Oncology, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
^c Division of Medical Oncology, Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Address reprint requests to Dr Sonett, Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 South Greene St, Rm N4W94, Baltimore, MD 21201
e-mail: jsonett{at}surgery2.umaryland.edu

Presented at the Forty-fifth Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Orlando, FL, Nov 12–14, 1998.

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 
Background. Pulmonary resection after high-dose thoracic irradiation is reported to be associated with a high morbidity and mortality, and has been considered to be prohibitive.

Methods. We report safe pulmonary resection in 19 consecutive patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy that included greater than 59 Gy thoracic radiation. The mean thoracic radiation dose was 61.8 Gy (range 59.5–66.5) and mean age was 52 years (range 36–72 years). Cell type was adenocarcinoma (6), squamous (7), and other non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (6). Sixteen of 19 patients received concurrent chemotherapy. Median time from end of treatment to surgical resection was 89 days (range 22–258 days). Surgical resection included 13 lobectomies and six pneumonectomies (four right, two left).

Results. A complete pathologic response was seen in 8 of 19 (42%) patients. Three patients required intraoperative transfusion of blood. Mean intensive care unit stay was 2.0 days (range 1–8 days), and mean length of stay (LOS) was 8.0 days (range 3–18 days). There were four postoperative complications; one bronchopulmonary fistula, one subarachnoid-pleural fistula, and 2 patients with prolonged atelectasis. There was no incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or operative mortality.

Conclusions. Pulmonary resection, including pneumonectomy, after chemotherapy and high-dose thoracic radiation may be performed safely with a low rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 
The results of surgical treatment alone for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIA) are well documented, with long-term survival rates of 8% to 30% with complete surgical excision [1–3]. These suboptimal results have led to the study of neoadjuvant therapy involving chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery. Three small prospective randomized trials utilizing neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery alone have been encouraging and have been the basis of further trials of neoadjuvant therapy [4–6]. In addition to these randomized trials, multiple nonrandomized studies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy ( 50 Gy) (1 Gy = 100 rad) followed by surgery have been performed with acceptable treatment complications and encouraging long-term results [7–11]. Currently, a phase III randomized trial (Intergroup Trial 0139) comparing definitive radiation therapy (> 60 Gy) and chemotherapy versus radiation therapy to 45 GY and chemotherapy followed by surgery is in progress. Definitive-dose radiotherapy (> 60 Gy) and chemotherapy have been shown to have a survival advantage over chemotherapy alone in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated nonoperatively [12, 13]. The use of curative intent radiation therapy (> 60 Gy) in a neoadjuvant setting, however, has been considered prohibitive in terms of surgical risk and has generally been considered a contraindication to surgery [14].

Ongoing clinical trials have enabled considerable experience to be gained in the surgical technique and postoperative care of patients undergoing pulmonary resection after neoadjuvant therapy. Advances in the delivery of external beam radiation have also improved the morbidity and collateral radiation effects of external beam radiation. Given these improvements in treatment techniques and therapeutic effects, our group began offering surgical resection to a select group of patients who were considered unresectable by standard techniques and were treated with definitive doses of radiotherapy (> 59 Gy). We retrospectively studied the results of consecutive patients undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy after receiving full-course radiotherapy with and without chemotherapy, and report the ability to safely resect these carefully evaluated and selected patients.

	Patients and methods

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 
Between March 15, 1997 and June 16, 1998, 19 consecutive patients, at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Baltimore Veterans Administrations Hospital, underwent pulmonary resection after having received greater than 59 Gy of continuous, external-beam thoracic irradiation. There were 12 men and 7 women, ages 36 to 72 years (mean 52 years). Histology included adenocarcinoma (six), squamous cell (seven), and six poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinomas. Twelve patients had poorly differentiated pathology. Preoperative clinical stage and therapy received are given in Table 1. Of 12 staged as N2, 6 were pathologically proven, while 6 were considered to have bulky radiographic evidence of N2 disease. Radiation treatment was based on computed tomography (CT) planning with three-dimensional conformation and a linear accelerator. All patients received between 59.4 and 66 Gy of external-beam radiotherapy. Mean total dose was 61.8 Gy. A dose of 45 Gy was delivered to the primary tumor, ipsilateral hilum, and 14.4 to 21.6 Gy to the mediastinum. Small-field boost was given to the primary, and no patients received hyperfractionated radiation. Six of the 19 patients received their chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at referring institutions. Patients received markedly different chemotherapy combinations, as the primary treatment center varied by referral patterns. Cisplatin and navelbine were used in 5 patients, cisplatin and etoposide in 5 patients, and carboplatin and paclitaxel in 10 patients. One patient who began with cisplatin and etoposide developed an allergic reaction and completed therapy with carboplatin (Patient no. 19). Sixteen of 19 patients received concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy; 8 of these patients received chemotherapy induction before concurrent therapy. Two patients received sequential chemotherapy and then radiotherapy. One patient had received 60 Gy of thoracic radiation 16 years before recurrence and received only chemotherapy on representation. The median time to deliver the therapy was 6 weeks. All patients were originally assessed to have tumor burden that was felt to be unresectable or were not willing or eligible candidates for national neoadjuvant protocols. Twelve patients had clinical evidence of N2 disease, 6 proven histologically by mediastinoscopy or transbronchial needle biopsy. Five patients were felt to have T4 invasion of the mediastinal structures. Four patients had T3 Pancoast tumors; 1 patient had T3M1 disease and brain metastasis treated with gamma knife. One patient, who had previously undergone a left upper lobectomy, presented with a right hilar T2N0 lesion that would require a pneumonectomy for resection. She was given chemotherapy in hopes of downstaging her tumor bulk so that a lobectomy rather than a pneumonectomy could be performed. She subsequently required a right pneumonectomy. Posttreatment clinical staging is given in Table 2.

Surgical procedures included complete resection of the primary with complete mediastinal lymph node dissections, and anatomic lung resections. After the first pneumonectomy, all pneumonectomy stumps were stapled and bolstered with an intercostal muscle flap or pericardial fat pad. Harvest of the intercostal muscle flap was performed at the start of the case to avoid damage to the vascular bundle with rib spreading. The fifth or six rib would be resected, before the pleural space was violated. The rib resection was performed without bovie electrocautery so that the vascular bundle would not be damaged. The muscle and vascular bundle would be detached anteriorly by sharp dissection, and the intercostal vascular bundle on the remaining (sternal side) would be tied; however, to maintain maximal blood flow to the newly created flap, the end of the muscle flap was not tied until before use. The bundles would be wrapped in gauze with normal saline and protected throughout the resection. At the time of buttressing, the flap was tied off distally and secured to the bronchus with two or three absorbable sutures, being careful not to ligate the vascular bundle.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 
Radiographic downstaging was observed in 15 of 19 patients (79%), while 3 of 19 had stable lesions (16%), and 1 patient had progression of disease. It should be noted that the patient who progressed had completed radiotherapy in 1979 and received only chemotherapy immediately before her resection. All patients reviewed in this study were surgically explored. Surgical procedures performed were as follows; lobectomy (seven), lobectomy with chest wall resection (six), and pneumonectomy (four right, two left). Thirteen of 16 patients were resected through a standard posterolateral thoracotomy. Three patients were resected through an anterior trap door approach. Eighteen of 19 patients had complete surgical resections. One patient had persistent, mediastinal adenopathy at the resection margin and microscopic positive margins at the bronchus after a pneumonectomy. Three patients required intraoperative blood transfusions, with a maximum of 2 U. Mean intensive care unit (ICU) time was 2 days (range 1 to 8 days), and mean total length of stay was 8 days (3 to 18 days). No adult respiratory distress syndrome or postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema was observed. All patients were discharged to home fully ambulatory; 1 patient has required long-term oxygen support.

Four postoperative complications were noted. One late broncho-pleural fistula occurred 1 month after a pneumonectomy. This patient had a positive margin and did not receive a pedicled intercostal muscle flap. He was treated with an eloeser flap. One patient who underwent a Pancoast resection, developed syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), which resolved with medical therapy. Two patients required repeat bronchoscopy and extended respiratory treatments because of recurrent atelectasis.

Pathologic response to therapy was significant with 8 of 19 patients (42%) having a complete pathologic response with no microscopic evidence of viable tumor. No patient with clinical N0 disease had pathologic adenopathy at the time of resection. Of note, 5 of 6 patients who had preoperative pathologic documentation of mediastinal adenopathy had a complete pathologic response of their lymphadenopathy (Table 2).

Disease recurrence has been noted in 6 of the 19 patients. Four of these were distant and two were local. Sites of recurrence have been; brain (three), bone (two), lung (one), mediastinum (one), and liver (one). Eleven of the patients are alive with no evidence of disease, and 1 is alive with disease. Three have died with no evidence of disease, and 4 died of disease. Mean and median overall survival was 19 months; survival was calculated from the date of diagnosis. The survival range was from 5 to 59 months, and median survival has not yet been reached in 6 patients.

	Comment

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 
Although the risk of pulmonary resection after complete-dose radiotherapy has been considered prohibitive, the literature supporting such a view either predates modern radiation therapy techniques and equipment or is limited by small patient numbers. Early trials of preoperative radiation therapy alone by Bromley and Szur (1955), Bleordan (1961), and Shields (1972) yielded no significant survival benefits but had markedly increased morbidity and an operative mortality rate as high as 22 percent [15–17]. Collectively, these trials were excellent in scope and size but may not presently reflect the improved techniques in radiation therapy and pre- and postoperative surgical care. Radiation therapy advances include computed tomography (CT)-based treatment planning, individually tailored blocks, lung factor correction for tissue inhomogeneity, and linear accelerators. These advances, collectively, have been documented to be more precise in targeting tumor volume and limiting toxicity [18–20]. After the results of these early trials, the majority of subsequent trials utilizing neoadjuvant therapy have limited preoperative radiation dosages to less than 50 Gy, doses not considered to have curative intent.

Modern trials utilizing greater than 50-Gy radiation therapy in a neoadjuvant protocol are limited to three trials with a collective operative patient accrual of 60 patients. The first trial by Yashar and associates in 1992 reported 31 patients who were resected after concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide (VP16) with 55 Gy of thoracic radiation [21]. They reported a complete pathologic response in 28% of the patients and a low overall mortality of 5.6%. This included radical pneumonectomies in 27 of 31 patients. Fowler and associates in 1993 reported an excessively high morbidity and mortality in a prospective single institution phase II trial that was stopped early, due to a high complication and mortality rate [14]. In 16 operative patients who received concurrent 5-FU, cisplatin, and etopiside with 60-Gy thoracic radiation, an overall mortality rate of 23% was reported. In 1994, Deutsch and associates reported similar results in 16 patients who received concurrent carboplatin and VP 16 with 60-Gy radiation, reporting a 19% overall mortality and a 33% mortality for those undergoing pneumonectomy [22].

Our results, although encouraging, must be viewed with caution because of the small and disparate patient population. Our series does substantiate, however, the ability to perform an anatomic lobectomy safely with low morbidity and mortality after high-dose thoracic irradiation. Our results also indicate the ability to perform an anatomic pneumonectomy with low morbidity and mortality after high-dose thoracic radiation therapy, results that were similar to those published by Yashar and colleagues [21]. Safe resection after high-dose neoadjuvant therapy must be attributed, to a large extent, to careful patient selection. In our series, resection was only performed if, after quantitative ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scan and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), a postoperative predicted FEV1 of > 40% and diffusion lung carbon monoxide (DLCO) of > 40% would result. Additionally, all patients were kept intravascularly depleted and great care was taken to avoid intraoperative blood loss that would warrant fluid and blood resuscitation. These perioperative practices may help explain our low rate of postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema, the major cause of morbidity in previous series. Finally, all our patients were treated in an era of improved delivery of radiotherapy, thus decreasing collateral damage to the mediastinum and contralateral lung, factors that might have increased their perioperative morbidity and mortality after pneumonectomy.

The ability to safely deliver curative intent chemotherapy and radiation therapy in a neoadjuvant setting may have biologic and clinical advantages. Large prospective clinical trials by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and South Western Oncology Group (SWOG) have demonstrated the ability to perform neoadjuvant therapy in a broad multi-institutional setting. These studies, even without high-dose radiotherapy, have demonstrated the ability to significantly downstage tumor burden preoperatively [7, 8]. Improved long-term survival in these patients appears to correlate with final pathologic stage; patients with a complete pathologic response have the best mean and long-term survival rates [7, 23]. Utilizing the best-proven medical therapy to produce the greatest degree of complete pathologic response preoperatively may further improve long-term outcomes. Our complete pathologic response rate of 42% is one of the highest reported to date and supports the theoretical advantage of utilizing the best medical therapy preoperatively.

The ability to utilize maximal medical and radiation therapy in a neoadjuvant protocol may as well have practical clinical benefit. In the future, patients with advanced local disease may be able to be treated uniformly, with maximal medical and radiation therapy, rather than being tracked early to operative versus nonoperative therapy. This may allow maximal therapy upfront, while still maintaining the ability to restage patients after induction therapy. Definitive pathologic restaging after neoadjuvant therapy may allow clinicians to better prognose the potential benefits of definitive resection.

Limitations of this study include the small and disparate patient population, the retrospective nature of the review, and single institution bias. Although all the patients received high-dose radiotherapy, the chemotherapy regimens and dose delivery in relation to the radiation therapy varied. However, 16 of the 19 (84%) patients did receive full, concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. To address these deficiencies, we have developed a prospective protocol of concurrent chemotherapy and high-dose radiotherapy, with subsequent surgical resection for patients with advanced non-small cell cancer who decline or are not eligible for national group neoadjuvant trials.

Pulmonary resection after chemotherapy and high-dose radiotherapy (60 Gy) may be performed safely with minimal morbidity and mortality. Lobectomy and pneumonectomy with complete lymph node dissections can both be performed in these carefully selected patients. Postoperative predicted FEV1, DLCO, and patient functional status should all be assessed carefully before proceeding with resection. Limited fluid administration and vascularized bronchial stump coverage may help limit morbidity and mortality. The use of neoadjuvant therapy in the treatment of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer continues to be promising, but its overall effectiveness needs to be validated in ongoing multi-institutional prospective clinical trials.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Patients and methods Results Comment References

 

1. Trovo M.G., Gigante M., Minatel E., Gobitti C., Franchin G. Combined modality treatment of locally advanced lung cancer. Tumori 1998;84:259-269.[Medline]
2. Rusch V.W. Resection of stage III non-small cell lung cancer following induction therapy. World J Surg 1995;19:817-822.[Medline]
3. Ginsberg R.J. Multimodality therapy for stage IIIA (N2) lung cancer. An overview. Chest 1993;103(Suppl 4):356-359.
4. Pass H.I., Pogrebniak H.W., Steinberg S.M., Mulshine J., Minna J. Randomized trial of neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg 1992;53:992-998.[Abstract]
5. Rosell R., Gomez-Codina J., Camps C., et al. A randomized trial comparing preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery with surgery alone in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med 1994;330:153-158.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
6. Roth J.A., Fossella F., Komaki R., et al. A randomized trial comparing perioperative chemotherapy and surgery with surgery alone in resectable stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1994;86:673-680.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
7. Sugarbaker D.J., Herndon J., Kohman L.J., Krasna M.J., Green M.R., Cancer and Leukemia Group B Thoracic Surgery Group. Results of Cancer and Leukemia Group B protocol 8935. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995;109:473-485.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
8. Rusch V.W., Albain K.S., Crowley J., et al. Surgical resection of stage IIIA and stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer after concurrent induction chemoradiotherapy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1993;105:97-106.[Abstract]
9. Milstein D., Kuten A., Saute M., et al. Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1996;34:1125-1132.[Medline]
10. Mathisen D.J., Wain J.C., Wright C., et al. Assessment of preoperative accelerated radiotherapy and chemotherapy in stage IIIA (N2) non-small-cell lung cancer. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;111:123-131.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
11. Faber L.P., Kittle C.F., Warren W.H., et al. Preoperative chemotherapy and irradiation for stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg 1989;47:669-675.[Abstract]
12. Dilllman R., Herndon J., Seagren S.L., Eaton W.L., Jr, Green M.R. Improved survival in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1996;88:1175-1177.[Free Full Text]
13. Einhorn L.H. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant trials in non-small cell lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg 1998;65:208-211.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
14. Fowler W.C., Langer C.J., Curran W.G., Keller S.M. Postoperative complications after combined neoadjuvant treatment of lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg 1993;55:986-989.[Abstract]
15. Bromley L.I., Szur L. Combined radiotherapy and resection of carcinoma of the bronchus. Cancer 1955;2:937-942.
16. Bloedorn F.G., Cowley R.A., Cuccia C.A., et al. Combined therapy. AJR 1961:175-179.
17. Shields T.W. Preoperative radiation therapy in the treatment of bronchial carcinoma. Cancer 1972;30:1388-1392.[Medline]
18. Houtte P.V. Radiation and chemotherapy induced lung toxicity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1986;18:647-649.
19. Byhardt R.W., Martin L., Pajak T.F., Shin K.H., Emami B., Cox J.D. The influence of field size and other treatment factors on pulmonary toxicity following hyperfractionated irradiation for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1993;27:537-544.[Medline]
20. Phlips P., Rocmans P., Vanderhoeft P., Van Houtte P. Postoperative radiotherapy after pneumonectomy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1993;27:525-529.[Medline]
21. Yashar J., Weitberg A.B., Glicksman A.S., Posner M.R., Feng W., Wanebo H.J. Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for stage IIIA carcinoma of the lung. Ann Thorac Surg 1992;53:445-448.[Abstract]
22. Deutsch M., Crawford J., Leopold K., et al. Phase II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy with thoracotomy in the treatment of clinically staged IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer 1994;74:1243-1252.[Medline]
23. Albain K.S., Rusch V.W., Crowley J.J., et al. Concurrent cisplatin/etoposide plus chest radiotherapy followed by surgery for stages IIIA (N2) and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol 1995;13:1880-1892.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. J. Cerfolio and A. S. Bryant When is it Best to Repeat a 2-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Scan on Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Have Received Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy? Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2007; 84(4): 1092 - 1097. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Witte and M. Hurtgen Lymph Node Metastases in a Pedicled Pericardial Fat Pad Flap Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2007; 84(4): 1378 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Robinson, J. C. Ruckdeschel, H. Wagner Jr, and C. W. Stevens Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer-Stage IIIA: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (2nd Edition) Chest, September 1, 2007; 132(3_suppl): 243S - 265S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D.T. Daly, H. C. Fernando, A. Ketchedjian, T. A. DiPetrillo, L. A. Kachnic, D. M. Morelli, and R. J. Shemin Pneumonectomy after high-dose radiation and concurrent chemotherapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer. Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2006; 82(1): 227 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Galetta, A. Cesario, S. Margaritora, V. Porziella, A. Piraino, R. M. D'Angelillo, M. A. Gambacorta, S. Ramella, L. Trodella, S. Valente, et al. Multimodality treatment of unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer: Interim analysis of a phase II trial with preoperative gemcitabine and concurrent radiotherapy J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 2006; 131(2): 314 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Cerfolio, A. S. Bryant, S. A. Spencer, and A. A. Bartolucci Pulmonary Resection After High-Dose and Low-Dose Chest Irradiation Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2005; 80(4): 1224 - 1230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. F. Kwong, M. J. Edelman, M. Suntharalingam, L. B. Cooper, Z. Gamliel, W. Burrows, P. Hausner, L. A. Doyle, and M. J. Krasna High-dose radiotherapy in trimodality treatment of Pancoast tumors results in high pathologic complete response rates and excellent long-term survival J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., June 1, 2005; 129(6): 1250 - 1257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Sonett, M. Suntharalingam, M. J. Edelman, A. B. Patel, Z. Gamliel, A. Doyle, P. Hausner, and M. Krasna Pulmonary Resection After Curative Intent Radiotherapy (>59 Gy) and Concurrent Chemotherapy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2004; 78(4): 1200 - 1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Miller, C. Deschamps, G. D. Jenkins, A. Bernard, M. S. Allen, and P. C. Pairolero Completion pneumonectomy: factors affecting operative mortality and cardiopulmonary morbidity Ann. Thorac. Surg., September 1, 2002; 74(3): 876 - 884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. De Giacomo, E. A. Rendina, F. Venuta, F. Francioni, M. Moretti, F. Pugliese, and G. F. Coloni Pneumoperitoneum for the management of pleural air space problems associated with major pulmonary resections Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2001; 72(5): 1716 - 1719. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Martin, R. J. Ginsberg, A. Abolhoda, M. S. Bains, R. J. Downey, R. J. Korst, T. L. Weigel, M. G. Kris, E. S. Venkatraman, and V. W. Rusch Morbidity and mortality after neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer: the risks of right pneumonectomy Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 2001; 72(4): 1149 - 1154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Siegenthaler, K. M. Pisters, K. W. Merriman, J. A. Roth, S. G. Swisher, G. L. Walsh, A. A. Vaporciyan, W. R. Smythe, and J. B. Putnam Jr Preoperative chemotherapy for lung cancer does not increase surgical morbidity Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 2001; 71(4): 1105 - 1112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Joshua R. Sonett Mark J. Krasna Ziv Gamliel Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sonett, J. R. Articles by Gamliel, Z. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sonett, J. R. Articles by Gamliel, Z.