Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42604191›Full record

ArticleJTCVS open2026

Is phrenic nerve-sparing worthwhile for phrenic-involved thymic epithelial tumors? A retrospective cohort study.

Junkan Zhu, Yongqiang Ao, Zhenyang Lin, Jiahao Jiang, Jian Gao, Yuansheng Zheng, Xifei Jiang, Wei Wu, Junzhen Liu, Rongkui Luo and 3 more

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Article in JTCVS open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Junkan ZhuDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yongqiang AoDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Zhenyang LinDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Xiamen Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, China.
Jiahao JiangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jian GaoDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yuansheng ZhengDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xifei JiangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Wei WuDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Junzhen LiuDepartment of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Rongkui LuoDepartment of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jihong DongDepartment of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Shuai WangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jianyong DingDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether phrenic nerve (PN) sparing offers a worthwhile trade-off between functional preservation and oncologic safety compared with resection in PN-involved thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), and to establish an objective tool for postoperative respiratory risk stratification. Methods: In this retrospective cohort of patients with TETs with PN invasion, 122 propensity score-matched cases were analyzed from 2016 to 2024. PN preservation or resection was determined intraoperatively based on the extent of invasion. The diaphragmatic elevation (DE) ratio was calculated as [(preoperative diaphragm-apex distance - postoperative distance)/preoperative distance] × 100% according to X-rays, and cutoff values were defined by respiratory complication risk. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared between the PN-sparing and PN resection groups. Results: Overall perioperative morbidity and recovery outcomes were comparable between the PN-sparing and PN-resection groups; however, tumor progression was significantly more frequent on the PN-sparing group (39.3% vs 23.0%), resulting in worse progression-free survival (PFS) ( Conclusions: PN resection improves PFS without increasing severe perioperative complications, although OS is comparable to that with PN-sparing.

Indexed as

phrenic nerverespiratory functionthymic epithelial tumor

Identifiers

PMID42604191
PMCPMC13477084

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