Over the course of 2013, many important studies have been published affecting the care of thoracic surgery patients. Novel chemotherapeutics are being developed to target specific tumor mutations. The utilization of robotic-assisted surgery continues to expand within this exciting field as well. Improved data on endobronchial ultrasound staging and sublobar resections for non–small cell lung cancer as well as postoperative surveillance after esophagectomy have also been reported. This review summarizes important publications of the past year influencing the practice of thoracic surgery today.
SwansonSJMillerDLMcKennaRJ. Comparing robot-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy with conventional video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy and wedge resection: results from a multihospital database (Premier) [published online November7, 2013]. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.09.046.
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CornwellLDBakaeenFGLanCKW. Endobronchial ultrasonography-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy for preoperative nodal staging of lung cancer in a veteran population. JAMA Surg. 2013;148:1024-1029.
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SmithCBSwansonSJMhangoGWisniveskyJP. Survival after segmentectomy and wedge resection in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol. 2013;8:73-78.
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LiuSVSubramaniamDCyriacGCAbdul-KhalekFJGiacconeG. Emerging protein kinase inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer [published online December20, 2013]. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. doi:10.1517/14728214.2014.873403.
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ShawATKimDWNakagawaK. Crizotinib versus chemotherapy in advanced ALK-positive lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:2385-2394.
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SudoKTaketaTCorreaAM. Locoregional failure rate after preoperative chemoradiation of esophageal adenocarcinoma and the outcomes of salvage strategies. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:4306-4310.
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SarkariaISRizkNPFinleyDJ. Combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy using a four-arm platform: experience, technique and cautions during early procedure development. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2013;43:e107-e115.
