2024 Latin America Conference on Lung Cancer (LALCA) - Posters-PP01.03: Intrapulmonary Lymph Node Dissection for Early Lung Cancer in Latin America, Results from a Survey

PP01.03: Intrapulmonary Lymph Node Dissection for Early Lung Cancer in Latin America, Results from a Survey

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A survey conducted in July 2024 among thoracic surgeons across 15 Latin American countries examined current practices regarding intrapulmonary lymph node (IPLN) dissection during early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgeries. The study aimed to assess staging practices, crucial for determining appropriate treatment courses like adjuvant therapies.<br /><br />The survey included responses from 175 thoracic surgeons. Findings showed that 96.6% routinely performed some form of lymphadenectomy in lung cancer surgeries, with only a small fraction, 1.7%, never incorporating this procedure. However, despite the high rates of lymphadenectomy, IPLN dissection was notably less common: 53.1% of surgeons never carried it out, and 20% did so only occasionally. <br /><br />The dissection methods varied: 37.1% conducted systematic lymph node dissections, while 30.3% completed lobe-specific dissections. Additionally, a minority engaged in systematic (27.4%) or randomized sampling (3.4%). For those performing IPLN dissection, the majority (69.5%) were carried out by the surgeon themselves, with others relying on pathologists (26.8%).<br /><br />Interestingly, there was a split in whether these dissections were performed on fresh (57.3%) or fixed specimens (42.7%). The survey highlighted a non-standardized approach to lymphadenectomy, with Argentina and Colombia having the highest participation rates in the study. The researchers emphasized the need for standardization to enhance staging accuracy and improve treatment offerings. Acknowledgments were extended to survey participants and the Thoracic Oncology Unit at the CTIC for their support.

Asset Subtitle

Stella Martinez

Keywords

thoracic surgeons

Latin America

intrapulmonary lymph node dissection

non-small cell lung cancer

lymphadenectomy

systematic lymph node dissection

lobe-specific dissection

staging practices

treatment standardization

survey study