title: Therapeutic modalities for Pancoast tumors.
abstract: A Pancoast tumor, also called a pulmonary sulcus tumor or superior sulcus tumor, is a tumor of the pulmonary apex. It is a type of lung cancer defined primarily by its location situated at the top end of either the right or left lung. It typically spreads to nearby tissues such as the ribs and vertebrae. Most Pancoast tumors are non-small cell cancers. The growing tumor can cause compression of a brachiocephalic vein, subclavian artery, phrenic nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, vagus nerve, or, characteristically, compression of a sympathetic ganglion resulting in a range of symptoms known as Horner's syndrome. Pancoast tumors are named for Henry Pancoast, a US radiologist, who described them in 1924 and 1932.The treatment of a Pancoast lung cancer may differ from that of other types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Its position and close proximity to vital structures may make surgery difficult. As a result, and depending on the stage of the cancer, treatment may involve radiation and chemotherapy given prior to surgery. Surgery may consist of the removal of the upper lobe of a lung together with its associated structures as well as mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Surgical access may be via thoracotomy from the back or the front of the chest and modification. Careful patient selection, improvements in imaging such as the role of PET-CT in restaging of tumors, radiotherapy and surgical advances, the management of previously inoperable lesions by a combined experienced thoracic-neurosurgical team and prompt recognition and therapy of postoperative complications has greatly increased local control and overall survival for patients with these tumors.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagopoulos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikolaos
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Livaditis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vasilios
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Koletsis
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Efstratios
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexopoulos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panagiotis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Prokakis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christos
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Baltayiannis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nikolaos
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Hatzimichalis
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Antonios
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikogiannis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kougioumtzi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Machairiotis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsiouda
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Machairiotis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madesis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vretzakis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolettas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Patras University School of Medicine, Patra, Greece ; 2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece ; 3 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 4 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 5 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 6 Internal Medicine Department, "Theagenio" Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 7 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 8 Anesthesiology Department, University of Larisa, Larisa, Greece ; 9 Anesthesiology Department, "Saint Luke" Private Clinic of Health Excellence, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece.
authors.forename: Dougenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitrios
keywords: Pancoast; lung cancer; therapy