[Video-assisted right pneumonectomy for small cell carcinoma]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) often presents with advanced disease, posing surgical challenges.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is increasingly explored for lung cancer resection.
• Right pneumonectomy is a major surgical procedure for extensive lung tumors.

Observation:

• A 54-year-old male presented with a 5-cm right hilar mass involving the pulmonary artery.
• Initial biopsy suggested squamous cell carcinoma; final pathology confirmed small cell carcinoma with nodal involvement.
• The patient underwent a successful video-assisted right pneumonectomy via a small lateral thoracotomy.

Findings:

• Pathological examination revealed small cell carcinoma with subcarinal lymph node metastasis.
• The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery, with reduced pain and earlier discharge compared to standard thoracotomy.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy and mediastinal radiation were administered without complications related to the VATS procedure.

Implications:

• Video-assisted pneumonectomy is a feasible and potentially advantageous approach for selected SCLC cases.
• Minimally invasive techniques like VATS may not impede the delivery of essential adjuvant treatments.
• This case highlights the potential for VATS to improve patient recovery and facilitate comprehensive cancer care in SCLC.