The major thoracic vascular invasion of lung cancer

BACKGROUND: We actually investigated the surgical and pathological findings in cases which tumor invasion of the major thoracic vessels was suspected based on the preoperative Computed tomography (CT) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database of all patients, who underwent lung resection for lung cancer from 2012 to 2014. 387 patients underwent lung cancer surgery. Among these patients, we analyzed 30 patients in whom pulmonary artery (PA) invasion was suspected and 11 patients in whom pulmonary vein (PV) or left atrium (LA) invasion was suspected based on the preoperative CT findings. RESULTS: Among the 30 patients with suspected PA invasion, there were 9 patients in whom the tumor could be peeled off the PA in actual thoracotomy. Pathological invasion of the PA was observed in 6 of these patients. The positive predictive value of the preoperative CT findings was 20%. Among the 11 patients with suspected PV or LA invasion, there were 2 patients in whom the tumor could be peeled off the PV or LA in actual thoracotomy. Pathological tumor invasion of the PV or LA was observed in 4 of these patients. The positive predictive value of the preoperative CT findings was 36%. CONCLUSION: The positive predictive value of the preoperative CT findings for tumor invasion of the thoracic vessels was low. Therefore, surgical opportunities that offer the chance of a cure shouldn't be missed in advanced lung cancer patients because the tumor is located near the major thoracic vessels on preoperative CT.