Annual General Meeting of the Irish Thoracic Society - IJMS | Irish ...

51
SESSION
SESSION FIVE ONE
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE IRISH THORACIC SOCIETY • 11 - 12 November 2005 • WESTWOOD HOUSE HOTEL, GALWAY
RESULTS (µgm-3) PRE BAN POST BAN % CHANGE T VALUE
Ave PM2.5 35.5 5.8 -83.6% -3.54
Ave PM10 72.1 45.5 -36.9% -1.88
(Ave) Max PM2.5 95.2 12.6 -86.8% -4.34
(Ave) Max PM10 165.3 97.8 -40.9% -2.53
Outdoor PM2.5 5.98 5.17 -13.55% NS
Outdoor PM10 24.14 19.95 -17.36% NS
Benzene (26 bars) 18.75 3.72 -80.20% -5.53
Benzene (all bars) 17.91 4.10 -77.10% -6.42
The study demonstrates a significant reduction in
particulates (PM2.5 and PM10) and benzene levels
in public houses following the introduction of the
smoking ban. The only source of particles which
changed over the monitoring period at all venues
was the banning of smoking; all other sources of
airborne particulates such as cooking remained
unchanged. The study indicates that the smoking
ban has lead to a significant reduction in indoor
particulate and benzene levels in Dublin bars.
Conclusions
The smoking ban has successfully reduced the
particulates (PM2.5 and PM10) and benzene exposure
levels in Dublin pubs, thus indicating that ETS was
the major contributor to these indoor exposure levels
particularly the smaller particles. The continued high
rate of compliance with the smoke-free legislation
in public houses is conducive to better air quality for
both staff and patrons.
5.5
Positron emission tomography (PET) staging of nodal
disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged
as a valuable staging modality in Non-small cell
lung cancer (NSCLC). It can help in identifying local
regional spread as well as distant spread outside
the thorax. We evaluated our experience of PET
scanning as a staging tool in detecting lymph node
involvement in potentially resectable NSCLC patients.
Between February 2004 and August 2005, PET scan
was performed on 62 patients with NSCLC who
were candidates for surgical resection. Cervical
mediastinoscopy was performed for patients with
nodal-positive scan. The efficacy of PET scanning
in detecting N1 and N2 disease were analysed by
comparing prospective results of PET scanning with
the histopathological results of mediastinoscopy
and systemic lymph node dissection obtained during
lung resection.
In this study, all patients with nodal positive disease
on PET scanning had mediastinoscopy. The sensitivity
and specificity of PET scanning in detecting nodal
involvement were 45% and 95% respectively. Positive
predictive value in nodal disease was 82% and
Negative predictive value was 78%.
PET scanning plays a major role in staging NSCLC
patients. Patients with nodal positive disease on PET
scanning should have a cervical mediastinoscopy
to define the exact nature of nodal involvement.
Mediastinoscopy remains the gold standard for
detecting mediastinal involvement.
N Al-Sarraf,
K Doddakula, R Aziz,
E McGovern, V Young
Dept of Cardiothoracic
Surgery, St James’s
Hospital, Dublin
52 IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE • VOLUME 174 • NUMBER 4 • SUPPLEMENT 3