title: [Anterior or Posterior Approach with Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Superior Sulcus Tumors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical resection for pancoast tumors remains challenging. There are only few reports explaining the use of VATS in the treatment of Pancoast tumors. The aim of this study is to assess whether the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the surgical treatment of Pancoast tumors was feasible and safe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between Janunary 2010 and June 2013, ten patients who were diagnosed as Pancoast tumors were recruited. Six patients were accepted for surgical treatment either through an anterior (n=3) or a posterior approach (n=3) combined with VATS. The observation index of this study included: Operation safety and mortality; The integrity of the tumor resection; General data of operation and postoperative complications; Tumor recurrence and metastasis at twelve months after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no perioperative deaths. The average time of operation time was 242 min. The radical en bloc resection of the involved chest wall were done in each patients. The average amount of blood loss was 308 mL and the average time of hospital stay was 14 d. Only one patient had postoperative pneumonia and recovered after use of antibiotics. There was none of severe postoperative complications. No patient developed a local recurrence or distant metastasis within twelve months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of VATS has practical value in the management of Pancoast tumors. It is useful to make an accurate extent of the resection of chest-wall and provides a better exposure. Anterior or posterior approach with VATS surgery can facilitate the safety management of Pancoast tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Qingchen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Mingjian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*