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The video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy which is newly developed technology represents an important option for lung cancer due to less morbidity and mortality compare with open lobectomy. Although the total hospitalization costs were similar, CNY46,799.70 in VATS lobectomy group vs CNY45,321.98 in open group (P=0.478), the proportion of material cost in VATS was higher (44% vs. 37%, P<0.001). Meanwhile, although the consumable material cost proportion is higher in VATS group, the total hospitalization cost will not increase due to cost-savings in medicine and treatment costs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Oesophageal cancer is common in China. There is a lack of treatment strategies for metastatic oesophageal cancer (MEC) after radical surgery on the primary tumour. Cryoablation is an attractive option because tumour necrosis can be safely induced in a minimally invasive manner. This study assessed its therapeutic effect in MEC after failure of radical surgery. Methods: One hundred and forty patients met the inclusion criteria between May 2003 and March 2011. Comprehensive cryotherapy of multiple metastases was performed on 105 patients; 35 received chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) was assessed according to therapeutic protocol, pathological type, treatment timing, and number of procedures. Findings: No severe complications occurred during or after cryoablation. The OS of patients who received comprehensive cryoablation (44±20months) was significantly longer than that of those who underwent chemotherapy (23±24months; p=0.0006). In the cryotherapy group, the OS for squamous cell carcinoma (45 ±19months) was longer than that for adenocarcinoma (33±18months; p=0.0435); the OS for timely cryoablation (46 ±19months) was longer than that for delayed cryoablation (33±20months; p=0.0193); the OS for multiple cryoablation (50±17months) was longer than that for single cryoablation (37±20months; =0.0172); and the OS for cryoimmunotherapy (56±17months) was longer than that for cryoablation alone (39±19months; p=0.0011). Interpretation: Comprehensive cryotherapy could have advantages over chemotherapy in the treatment of MEC and, in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, supplementary immunotherapy and timely and multiple cryoablation could be associated with a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]