2025, Volume 18, Issue 8, pp 794 – 803

Preoperative and postoperative imaging features in thoracic surgery: insights from a single-center study

Issues

Special Issues

Authors and Affiliations

* Corresponding author Liviu Oltean, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; E-mail: liviu@sofimar.ro

Abstract

Thoracic surgery encompasses a broad spectrum of procedures with varying levels of risk. Preoperative imaging plays a critical role in evaluating anatomical pathology, but its predictive value for postoperative complications remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess whether specific radiologic features identified before surgery can predict key adverse outcomes, including ICU admission, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 227 adult patients who underwent thoracic surgeries, including lobectomy, esophagectomy, thymectomy, and mediastinotomy, between 2019 and 2024. Preoperative imaging findings from chest radiographs, CT, PET-CT, MRI, and bronchoscopy were coded and analyzed. Outcomes included ICU admission, in-hospital mortality, and hospitalization duration. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess associations between imaging features and outcomes. Non-parametric tests and visual network plots were also applied. Common imaging findings included emphysema (29.1%), pleural effusion (12.8%), and nodules/metastases (7.9%). ICU admission occurred in 15% of patients, and in-hospital mortality occurred in 7.5%. Certain radiologic features, such as mediastinal lymphadenopathy (OR = 2.03) and nodules/metastases, showed a trend toward increased ICU admission. Conversely, features like bronchogram and no abnormalities were associated with a lower risk. Visual network analyses supported these trends. Preoperative imaging features, particularly those related to mediastinal or tumor burden, may offer predictive value for identifying patients at elevated postoperative risk. Incorporating radiologic markers into preoperative assessment could improve surgical planning and triage for intensive monitoring.

Keywords

About this article

PMC ID: PMC12467458
PubMed ID: 41020082
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2025-0121

Article Publishing Date (print):
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

Issues

Special Issues