Lobectomy for lung cancer with a displaced left B1+2 and an anomalous pulmonary vein: a case report

Abstract

Background: A displaced left B¹⁺² accompanied by an anomalous pulmonary vein is a rare condition involving complex structures. There is a risk of unexpected injuries to bronchi and blood vessels when patients with such anomalies undergo surgery for lung cancer.

Case presentation: A 59-year-old male with suspected lung cancer in the left lower lobe was scheduled to undergo surgery. Chest computed tomography revealed a displaced B¹⁺² and hyperlobulation between S¹⁺² and S³, while the interlobar fissure between S¹⁺² and S⁶ was completely fused. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) revealed an anomalous V¹⁺² joining the left inferior pulmonary vein and a branch of the V¹⁺² running between S¹⁺² and S⁶. We performed left lower lobectomy via video-assisted thoracic surgery, while taking care with the abovementioned anatomical structures. The strategy employed in this operation was to preserve V¹⁺² and confirm the locations of B¹⁺² and B⁶ when dividing the fissure.

Conclusion:  The aim of the surgical procedure performed in this case was to divide the fissure between S¹⁺² and the inferior lobe to reduce the risk of an unexpected bronchial injury. 3D-CT helps surgeons to understand the stereoscopic positional relationships among anatomical structures.

Background

Due to the development and spread of imaging technology, thoracic surgeons are able to obtain a precise understanding of the anatomical structures of patients’ lungs before surgery¹. Surgeons should plan surgical procedures using imaging modalities to avoid unexpected injuries to anatomical structures because the pulmonary anatomy exhibits numerous variations and anomalies. Herein, we report an exceedingly rare case involving a patient with a displaced B^1 + 2 accompanied by an anomalous V^1 + 2, which joined the left inferior pulmonary vein. We were able to safely perform left lower lobectomy using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) after preoperatively identifying these complex anatomical structures.

Case Presentation

A 59-year-old male with no history of smoking exhibited a slightly increased carcinoembryonic antigen level (5.6 ng/mL) during a health check. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor (maximum diameter: 13 mm) in the left lower pulmonary lobe (Fig. 1a). He was referred to our hospital with suspected left lower lobe lung cancer (cT1bN0M0 stage1A2). CT and three-dimensional CT (3D-CT), which was performed using the Fujifilm Synapse Vincent system (Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), revealed the following anatomical anomalies in the left lung: 1) a displaced B^1 + 2 running behind the main pulmonary artery, 2) an anomalous V^1 + 2 joining the left inferior pulmonary vein (Fig. 2b), and 3) hyperlobulation between S^1 + 2 and S³ with a completely fused interlobar fissure between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ (Figs. 1b and 1c). 3D-CT also indicated that the interlobar plane between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ ran perpendicular to the cranio-caudal direction because the volume of S^1 + 2 was relatively large (Fig. 2a). Bronchoscopy revealed that three bronchi branched from the left main bronchus (Fig. 1d).

We planned VATS for surgical diagnosis and treatment. Hyperlobulation between S^1 + 2 and S³ and a fused fissure between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ were observed (Fig. 3a). At first, we performed non-anatomical wedge resection of the lesion to achieve a rapid pathological diagnosis. The patient was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, and left lower lobectomy and systematic nodal dissection were performed.

The major pitfalls that we had to pay attention to during this surgery were as follows: 1) to avoid injuring the displaced B^1 + 2 running behind the main pulmonary artery and 2) to avoid cutting the anomalous V^1 + 2.

The inferior pulmonary vein was identified on the posterior side of the hilum, and the anomalous V^1 + 2 joined it (Fig. 3b). To prevent B^1 + 2 from being mistaken for B⁶, we distinguished B^1 + 2 from the distal section of B⁶ on the posterior side (Fig. 3c). The distal branch of A⁸ was identified using the interlobar fissure. After A⁸ was divided, we peeled away the pulmonary artery in the proximal direction to identify A⁶ and V^1 + 2, which ran near A⁶, and a branch of V^1 + 2, which ran between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ (Figs. 2b and 3d). This branch was used as a landmark when we divided the fissure between S^1 + 2 and the inferior lobe. Forceps were passed from the anterior to posterior side between a branch of V^1 + 2 and A⁶, and the largely fused fissure between S^1 + 2 and the inferior lobe was divided using a stapler. After dividing the fissure, A⁶ and A^9 + 10 were identified and divided. The inferior bronchus branched from the left main bronchus at the level of the branches of B³ + B^4 + 5 and the displaced B^1 + 2, which was located at a more proximal site than normal; therefore, we needed to peel away the bronchus while holding down the pulmonary artery and identified the station 11 lymph nodes. Forceps were passed from the anterior to the posterior side along the station 11 lymph nodes, and the incomplete fissure between S⁵ and inferior lobe was divided using the stapler. After dividing the fissure, the inferior bronchus was divided, which completed the lobectomy ND2a-2 procedure.

The operation time was 185 min, and 30 mL intraoperative blood loss occurred. Pathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as an invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma with a maximal diameter of 15 mm, and the pathological stage was p-T1aN0M0 stage I A1. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged from hospital 6 days after the surgery.

Discussion And Conclusion

In lung surgery, numerous variations in anatomical structures can be encountered, and they can cause serious complications if surgeons do not identify them preoperatively. Foster-Carter reported that bronchial anomalies are present in 0.64% of patients and classified them into displaced bronchi; i.e., bronchi that branch away from their normal positions, and supernumerary bronchi; i.e., excess bronchi that occur in addition to the normal bronchi². Eighty percent of displaced bronchi occur in the right upper lobe, and 11% are displaced B^1 + 2 arising from the left main bronchus³. In our case, a displaced left B^1 + 2 accompanied by an anomalous V^1 + 2 of the left pulmonary vein was seen, which is even rarer than the abovementioned variation. In addition, a case involving a displaced left B^1 + 2, in which there were accessory fissures between the segment containing the displaced bronchus and an incomplete fissure between the upper lobe and lower lobe, was reported⁴. Thus, in the present case we needed to consider how we should create a fissure. Three surgical cases involving displaced B^1 + 2, in which unexpected B^1 + 2 injuries occurred when a region of lobulation between S^1 + 2 and S6 was divided, even though two cases were recognized anomalies before surgery, have been reported (Table 1)^5–7. The injuries were caused by the displaced B^1 + 2 being misidentified as B⁶ when the fissure between S^1 + 2 and the inferior lobe was divided using a stapler. Since excision of the upper lobe was scheduled in both cases, the injuries did not have adverse effects on the surgical procedures. However, unexpected injuries to the upper lobe can be serious complications during lower lobectomy. The aim of the surgical procedure performed in the present case was to divide the fissure between S^1 + 2 and the lower lobe. It was necessary to take great care during this procedure because there was an anomalous V^1 + 2 that passed from S^1 + 2 to the inferior pulmonary vein in this case. In such cases, it is important to be aware not only of the existence of the anomaly, but also to understand the stereoscopic positional relationships between the pulmonary veins and bronchi. In the present case, 3D-CT revealed a displaced B^1 + 2 arising from the left main bronchus and running along the left edge of the main pulmonary artery. In addition, an anomalous V^1 + 2 was found to run between B^1 + 2 and B⁶ and the dorsal side of the inferior bronchus. The branch of V^1 + 2 running between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ was used as a landmark when dividing the fissure between S^1 + 2 and S⁶. By peeling away the distal part of V^1 + 2 using a posterior approach, we were able to clearly identify B⁶, B^1 + 2, and A⁶. These anatomical findings matched the preoperative 3D-CT findings¹.

In this case, 3D-CT helped us to share information across the surgical team, which allowed the surgeons to become familiar with the patient’s rare anatomical structures. It is imperative for surgeons to acquire complete information about patients’ pulmonary anatomies before surgery, including a full understanding of any rare anomalies or complicated anatomies, before performing lobectomy.

In conclusion, during left lower lobectomy for patients with displaced B^1 + 2, dividing the fissure between S^1 + 2 and S⁶ carries a risk of injuring a bronchus. 3D-CT helped us to obtain information about the patient’s anatomy, leading to an optimal preoperative assessment and appropriate strategic planning.

List of Abbreviations

CT: computed tomography

3D-CT: three-dimensional computed tomography

VATS: video-assisted thoracic surgery

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

The patient provided written informed consent.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

Not applicable

Authors' contributions

SS performed the data collection and wrote the manuscript.

SS and NK played major roles in the creation of the 3D-CT images.

HT and AT supported the writing of the manuscript.

All of the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable

References

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