Surgery on pancoast tumours. Casuistic of a cardiothoracic surgery center

The authors' objective is to report their experience in the treatment of this rare and challenging condition.

Retrospective study including all patients diagnosed with Pancoast tumour submitted to surgery, between April 2006 and July 2015. Data concerning the patients submitted to resection surgery with curative intent and statistical analysis.

The sample consists of nine patients, five of which underwent diagnostic thoracoscopy and the other four, resection surgery with curative intent. The mean age was 61,5 ± 13.5 years, with predominance of the male gender (n=3). The most common presenting symptom was omalgia irradiating to the ipsilateral arm (n=3). Three patients underwent induction chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with tumour downstaging and all patients were submitted to superior lobectomy with en bloc resection of the invaded structures. The surgical approaches chosen where Dartevelle (n=2) and Shawn-Paulson (n=2). A complete resection was achieved in all patients and no cases of major complications and perioperative mortality were registered. Only non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) were registered. Two mortality cases were documented before the five years follow-up.

The results obtained are accordant with those registered on the literature. Portuguese data on this matter are scarce and the authors hope that the publication of this article will raise awareness and enhance knowledge regarding the management of Pancoast tumours.