What is Segmentectomy: Overview, Benefits, and Expected Results

What is‌ Segmentectomy?



Segmentectomy is ⁤a type of partial lobectomy, where only ‌one anatomic segment of a lobe of the lung is removed instead of the whole lobe.‍ It is an ‍option offered to patients instead of‍ lobectomy when ‍only a part of the lobe has been affected or when the patient is not fit enough to go‍ through a full lobectomy. Segmentectomy aims at sparing ⁢the patient from further complications and to‍ preserve the ⁤lung​ function instead of completely eliminating a ​part of the lung.



Overview



Typically, doctors‌ suggest segmentectomy for ⁣patients who have tumors located ‍in one piece of the lung, as defined by segmental boundaries. Segmentectomy is comparable to lobectomy, which is intended to⁣ remove the whole lobe‌ of the lung affected​ by ⁢the tumor, however, it‌ offers no significant side effects.



Surgeons can choose between different techniques of segmentectomy, such as: thoracoscopic segmentectomy, open thoracotomy segmentectomy, robot-assisted segmentectomy, image-guided segmentectomy, segmental pneumonectomy and sleeve⁢ resection. All of these methods are applied to treat many⁣ types of⁤ lung cancer, such as ⁤non-small-cell lung cancer, small-sized ground glass opacities, adenocarcinoma, lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma tumor, or bronchioloalveolar ‍carcinoma.‌



Benefits



When considering the surgery, the primary goal ⁣is to best preserve the lung and the patient’s lung function, but ‍there ​are also some other notable advantages of segmentectomy instead of lobectomy.



• Less Invasive

Segmentectomy is a less invasive procedure, which means that the ⁤chances of complications are lower than that of lobectomy. Additionally, ​the operation involves​ a shorter hospital stay, with patients‌ typically, only needing to remain in the hospital for 1-2 days before being allowed to ⁤go home.



• Shorter Recovery

Due to segmentectomy’s less-invasive nature, the recovery stage is shorter and more ​relaxed​ since no part of the​ lung is removed. Patients are able to resume to regular activity‌ much sooner than when a lobectomy is performed.



• Minimal ⁤Risk of Residual Disease

In some cases, patients who have not ⁢been completely diagnosed, can have segmentectomy instead of lobectomy to assess the residual disease and plan for further treatment​ if needed. Segmentectomy presents minimal risk of residual disease and can provide more accurate information to‌ devise a treatment plan.



• Oncologically Comparable‍

The ​outcomes and long-term survival rates of lobe-sparing segmentectomy techniques⁤ are comparable to traditional lobectomy, which makes segmentectomy a great option for patients. The probability of local recurrence is low in both methods. ‍



Expected Results



The expected results from a segmentectomy depend on​ a few factors, such as patient’s overall health, any pre-existing conditions, tumor staging, and‍ the presence of any metastases.⁤ Segmentectomy outcomes may⁣ present some minor post-surgical complications, such as fever, atelectasis, or‌ pleural effusion, however,‍ these are treatable and usually minor.



Most lung cancer chemotherapy treatments are usually not necessary after segmentectomy and the patient has⁢ the same chance of survival when compared to those who had undergone a full lobectomy procedure. Adjuvant chemotherapy is‌ only suggested if the tumor is stage II or higher, and patients who undergo more extensive resections compared to ⁢segmentectomy, have better ⁢outcomes after ⁢chemotherapy treatment.



Segmentectomy, as a possible alternative to full lobectomy, offers more control to the surgeons since they can manage the tissue removal and preserve the lungs’ function without negatively affecting the patient’s‍ overall health. When performed on the right patient,‌ it is a safe and successful operation with‍ great outcomes and a shorter recovery process. However, it is always necessary to talk to your ⁣doctor‍ and ask ⁢about the best possible treatment options for your situation.



The decision to proceed with segmentectomy depends⁢ on the overall health ⁢of the patient and the size, and origin of ​the tumor. ‍With ‍the help of ⁣modern technology and imaging tests, surgeons can accurately assess the localization of the tumor and decide if segmentectomy or ‍any other procedure is the best treatment for ⁢the patient.



Conclusion



Segmentectomy‌ is an option that ‌is offered to patients instead of a lobectomy when the tumor is localized in ​one segment of the lobe. The procedure is less invasive ⁤and ‌involves a shorter hospital stay, with​ some minor post-surgical complications and great long-term survival rates. The⁤ decision to proceed⁤ with segmentectomy depends on the ⁢overall ⁣health of ⁤the⁤ patient and​ the size, and origin of the tumor, as well as the probability of local recurrence.

Definition & Overview

Segmentectomy is the surgical procedure of removing a part of an organ as treatment of several types of tumour and cancer. During this process, the cancer tissue and part of the normal tissue surrounding it are removed to stop the spread of disease. This procedure is also called segmental resection, tumourectomy, wide excision, or quandrantectomy. In some instances, a segmentectomy is also performed on a gland.

This procedure is typically performed when the growth of cancer tumours or cells is localized in certain areas and there are no indications of metastasis. The excision of healthy cells surrounding the tumour typically provides higher chances of preventing the recurrence of cancer.

Who Should Undergo and Expected Results

Segmentectomy can benefit patients with the following conditions:

• Lung cancer – The procedure can be recommended for those who are unsuitable to undergo a procedure that removes the entire lung lobe and are deemed to be more appropriate candidate for wide excision of the said organ to preserve adequate pulmonary functions. Segmentectomy is most effective if performed during the initial stages of the disease and in cases wherein the cancer cells have not yet spread to other lung tissues. Patients with benign lung lesions and masses can also undergo this procedure to prevent the progression of their conditions.

• Breast cancer – Women diagnosed with breast cancer may also consider segmentectomy as a breast-conserving surgical option. In some cases, the term segmentectomy is used if only a small segment of the breast is removed; removing a bigger part of it is called quadrantectomy. However, both procedures remove the identified tumour cells and its surrounding tissue.

• Liver cancer – Patients diagnosed with liver cancer, especially those with hepatocellular carcinoma, are also advised to undergo segmentectomy to preserve as much liver function as possible.

A segmentectomy is a major surgical procedure that requires several days of hospitalisation. Postoperative physical therapy is also advised to encourage healing.

As for the expected results, the procedure has a good success rate for removing localised tumours and cancers. Several studies report higher survival rate with retention of organ functions, up to a certain degree. Prognosis following this procedure is heavily dependent on the severity of the disease, the location of the tumour cells, general health of the patient, and metastasis of cancer to nearby body parts.

How is the Procedure Performed?

Prior to surgery, the location of the tumour cells is identified with the use of advanced imaging techniques such as CT scanning and MRI.

At the start of the procedure, the patient is placed under general anaesthesia.

For segmentectomy of the lungs, the surgeon makes several incisions in the thoracic area for the insertion of the thoracoscope and other surgical instruments. After locating the tumour, the surgeon proceeds to remove the diseased tissue with surrounding healthy cells. Affected blood vessels and bronchia structures are also cut and closed off. Most surgeons also remove any nearby lymph nodes to reduce the chances of recurrence. After all diseased tissues have been taken out, the chest cavity is cleansed with aseptic distilled water. The incisions are then closed with sutures and the specimens collected are sent to a pathology laboratory.

The same concept applies to segmentectomy of the liver. The tumour cells are excised along with a margin of healthy cells around it. The nearby lymph nodes are removed, as well. Some surgeon often used laparoscopy for this procedure, reporting reduced blood loss and shortened hospital stay compared to the open or traditional approach.

In removing cancer cells from the breast, a surgeon often marks the location of tumour cells and proceeds to make an incision. There are several detailed techniques on how to remove the affected cell and the resection margin is decided based on the exact location and depth of the tumour. Removal of tumour cells located close to the skin surface would sometimes require adjacent tissue transfer to fill any cavity left by the surgical procedure.

Possible Risks and Complications

As in any major surgical procedure, segmentectomy comes with a number of possible risks and complications. These include:

• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Significant bleeding
• Bacterial infection in the surgical site
• Pneumonia (for patients who underwent segmentectomy of the lungs are also at risk of developing
• Gas emboli
• Necrosis of the skin and fat cells (particularly for patients who had the procedure as treatment of breast cancer)
• Tumour recurrence, especially if the tumour cells were not completely removed.
  
  

References:

• Leshnower BG, Miller DL, Fernandez FG, Pickens A, Force SD. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy: a safe and effective procedure. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 May. 89(5):1571-6.

• Swanson SJ. Video-assisted thoracic surgery segmentectomy: the future of surgery for lung cancer?. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Jun. 89(6):S2096-7.

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