Is Pleurectomy/Decortication Superior to Extrapleural Pneumonectomy for Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma? A Single-Institutional Experience.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the outcome of pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) with that of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

METHODS: Patients with MPM underwent either P/D or EPP from August 2008 to December 2014. Various clinicopathological factors were analyzed to identify differences between the two procedures.

RESULTS: P/D was performed in nine patients and EPP in 30 patients. Most of the patients' background characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. The surgery time (680 vs. 586 min, p = 0.0034) and bleeding volume (4050 vs. 2110 mL, p = 0.002) were significantly greater in P/D than in EPP; however, grade ≥3 complications (44% vs. 33%, p = 0.54) and length of postoperative hospital stay (29 vs. 37 days, p = 0.26) were not significantly different. The median survival time and 2- and 3-year survival rates in all patients were 16.7 months, 28.5%, and 15.3%, respectively. The median survival time and 2- and 3-year survival in the P/D and EPP groups were 22.5 months, 43.8%, and 43.8% and 16.5 months, 24.0%, and 14.4%, respectively (p = 0.13).

CONCLUSION: Survival of patients with MPM remains poor despite multidisciplinary treatment. P/D is comparable with EPP and could be a safe and another surgical treatment for patients with MPM.