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CCTS Annual Report 2025

We are delighted to present the 2025 Annual Report of Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery (CCTS). The journal has continued to expand its global presence, with an international editorial board, diverse authorship and readership, and growing website pageviews.

AME and Wolters Kluwer aim to expand access to global medical research through new collaboration

The agreement broadens the reach of nearly 50 Open Access titles, contributing globally to over 5,000 articles

October 2, 2025 — Wolters Kluwer Health announced a new collaboration with AME Publishing Company, an Open Access publisher specializing in medical journals and books, headquartered in Hong Kong, China.

Comprehensive Lung Cancer Care: A Continuum

This Series on “Comprehensive Lung Cancer Care: A Continuum” is edited by Dr. Donna E. Maziak from Division of Thoracic Surgery, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada, and Dr. Patrick J. Villeneuve from D Division of Thoracic Surgery, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

The First Impact Factor for Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery: 0.4

We are pleased to announce that Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery (CCTS) has attained its first impact factor for the 2024 citation year: 0.4.

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery 2024 CiteScore Released: 0.7

We are pleased to announce that Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery (CCTS) has achieved its 2024 CiteScore: 0.7, ranking 418 out of 568 journals in the Surgery category and 105 out of 117 journals in the Physiology (medical) category. This milestone underscores our ongoing commitment to publishing impactful research in the field.

Reviewer of the Month (2025)

In 2025, CCTS reviewers continue to make outstanding contributions to the peer review process. They demonstrated professional effort and enthusiasm in their reviews and provided comments that genuinely help the authors to enhance their work.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding reviewers, with a brief interview of their thoughts and insights as a reviewer. Allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for their tremendous effort and valuable contributions to the scientific process.

Interviews with Outstanding Authors (2026)

In 2026, many CCTS authors make outstanding contributions to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.

Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspective and insightful view as authors.

Readers' Choice: Author Interviews

Welcome to Readers’ Choice: Author Interviews, our exclusive interview series where we connect with the authors behind the most-read papers published in our journal. In each feature, we dive into the inspiration, challenges, and discoveries that have captured the attention of our readers. Through these interviews, we aim to provide our readers with deeper insights into the work that is shaping the future of medicine and healthcare.

Interviews with Editorial Board Members

CCTS features a distinguished editorial board, the members of which continue to instill the power of their expertise for the journal’s development. By launching this column, we are glad to introduce to you some of them in the form of interviews, in which they will share their unique career experiences and perspectives. We believe their insights will shed light on the knowledge of related fields.

Interviews with Guest Editors

Over the years, a number of CCTS guest editors have made valuable contributions to the journal. This column features interviews with our guest editors, who graciously share their experience in scientific careers and provide insightful perspectives on the special series.

CCTS is officially indexed by Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)

On March 20th, 2024, a confirmation letter reached the editorial office of Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery (CCTS) (Figure 1) that the journal has been selected for inclusion in the Web of Science™ (WoS). Articles published in CCTS after 2022, beginning with Vol 4, will be included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), a product of WoS.

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Editorial Commentary

Tracheobronchoplasty for airway collapse: does the label matter?

Zander J. Williams, Giovanni Cenerini, Dylan Beinart, James H. Hull

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (27) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Endobronchial valve vs. lung volume reduction surgery, unconvinced

Ian A. Makey, Lana M Al-Botros

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (35) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

The importance of baseline variables for when comparing bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) vs. lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS)

Amit Kumar Mahajan

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (30) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Intraoperative imaging and margin control in sublobar resection: a new dimension of surgical precision

Agathe Seguin-Givelet

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (34) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Emergency conversions in robotic thoracic surgery: perspectives and the importance of preparation

Andrew Donaldson, Janani Reisenauer

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (36) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

A narrative review of diagnosis of lung cancer without a knife: challenges and opportunities

Rebecca T. Deitch, Rachit D. Shah

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (48) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Original Article

Outcomes and utilization of organs from hypoxemic donors in heart-lung transplantation: an observational study

Michael Keller, Ye In Christopher Kwon, Joshua Pei, Matthew Ambrosio, Motaz Al-Yafi, Vipul Patel, Rachit D. Shah, Vigneshwar Kasirajan, Zubair A. Hashmi

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (32) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Original Article

Real-world perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes after standardized thoracoscopy without access incision (TWAI) major pulmonary resections for non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort of more than 2,000 patients

Agathe Seguin-Givelet, Chloé Lafouasse, Akli Mekkar, Dominique Gossot, Guillaume Boddaert

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (33) Reporting Checklist Data Sharing Statement Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Original Article

Predictive factors for successful decannulation of the Montgomery T-tube in patients with complex airway stenosis during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary hospital in Lima, Peru

Ricardo Taipe Mallqui, Pamela Ampuero Porcel, Monica Perez Cuello, José Palacios León

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(30 April 2026)

PDF Full Text (128) Reporting Checklist Data Sharing Statement Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

The missing step in ERAS: eliminating routine opioid prescription after thoracic surgery

Cynthia Kassab, Min P. Kim

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (69) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Bringing stability to excessive central airway collapse: tracheobronchoplasty and the impact on distinct airway disorders

Jacob Schwartz, Zachary Greenstein, Mateus Fernandes, Kevin Shayani, Brenda Garcia, Sue Ting Lim

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (86) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Beyond the ventilator: rethinking donor ventilation duration in lung transplantation

Feng Wang, Masaaki Sato

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (47) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Lung volume reduction surgery vs. endobronchial valve revisited—another piece in the puzzle for good evidence

Wolfgang Jungraithmayr

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (63) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Case Report

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic outlet: case report and surgical approach

Danika E. Meldrum, Jonathan E. Williams, William R. Perry, Aristides Capizzano, Sonali Reddy, Robert Beaulieu, Chigozirim N. Ekeke

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (73) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Neoadjuvant therapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer—pros, cons and future promise: a narrative review

Amelia Wong, Lauren J. Antrim, Abigail Fong

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (329) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Single anesthetic pathways for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of lung cancer: a narrative review

Shamsh P. Shaikh, Balaji Mohanakrishnan, Ara A. Chrissian, Camilla Cobb, Alexander Leung

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (102) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Salvage surgery for initially unresectable advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitor: a narrative review

Haruaki Hino, Tomohiro Murakawa

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (71) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Surgical Technique

Pressurized intrathoracic aerosol chemotherapy (PITAC): a new surgical technique for treatment of metastatic pleural effusion and pleural metastasis

Dario Familiari, Francesco Monaco, Erica Milone, Rossana Rizzo, Elena Valenti, Flavia Antonella Nunnari, Rosario Marando, Ferdinando Macrì, Giovanbattista Musumeci, Antonio Macrì

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (124) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Original Article

Comparative postoperative outcomes of autologous fibrin sealant pleurodesis versus talc pleurodesis in patients with spontaneous pneumothorax: a prospective cohort study

Sara Parini, Danila Azzolina, Erika Passone, Fabio Massera, Esther Papalia, Giulia Bora, Federica Migliano, Guido Baietto, Ottavio Rena

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2026;

(28 February 2026)

PDF Full Text (113) Reporting Checklist Data Sharing Statement Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Editorial Commentary

Segmentectomy vs. lobectomy for occult N1 in non-small cell lung cancer—outcomes do not solely depend on surgical resection

Masaoki Ito, Hideki Ujiie, Yasuhiro Tsutani

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery

2025;

(30 December 2025)

PDF Full Text (202) Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

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Clinical Guideline

Clinical consensus on preoperative pulmonary function assessment in patients undergoing pulmonary resection (first edition)

Gening Jiang, Lei Zhang, Yuming Zhu, Chang Chen, Xiao Zhou, Jinming Liu, Peng Zhang, Hao Wang, Boxiong Xie, Haifeng Wang, Lei Jiang, Jiang Fan, Deping Zhao, Qiankun Chen, Liang Duan, Wenxin He, Yiming Zhou, Hongcheng Liu, Xiaogang Zhao, Xiong Qin, Yang Yang, Ye Ning, Dong Xie, Jie Dai

Published online: 10 July 2019

PDF Full Text (23288) Open Access

Review Article

Radiologic diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula in children

Ercan Ayaz, Mithat Haliloglu

Published online: 25 August 2022

PDF Full Text (16973) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Postoperative complications and long-term outcomes of tracheoesophageal fistula repair

Anastasia Almog, Augusto Zani

Published online: 25 August 2022

PDF Full Text (16622) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Management of empyema: a comprehensive review

Eiichi Kanai, Noriyuki Matsutani

Published online: 25 November 2020

PDF Full Text (12957) COI Form Chinese (1540) Open Access

Review Article

Thoracic outlet syndrome: which surgical approach?

Fabio Davoli, Guido Staffa, Angelo Paolo Ciarrocchi, Franco Stella

Published online: 25 February 2021

PDF Full Text (10624) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Current status and prospect of medical and surgical management for thoracic empyema

Mitsunori Higuchi, Hiroyuki Suzuki

Published online: 25 November 2020

PDF Full Text (9550) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Management of congenital isolated H-type tracheoesophageal fistula

Cigdem Ulukaya Durakbasa

Published online: 25 August 2022

PDF Full Text (9281) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Malignant tracheoesophageal fistula: diagnosis and management

Jahnavi Kakuturu, Ankit Dhamija, Alper Toker

Published online: 25 August 2022

PDF Full Text (8841) COI Form Open Access

Case Report

Mediastinal lymph node metastases in thyroid cancer: surgery without limits

Elena Marrama, Vittorio Aprile, Agnese Nesti, Diana Bacchin, Gabriele Materazzi, Marco Lucchi

Published online: 31 December 2019

PDF Full Text (8211) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Anesthetic management of tracheo-esophageal fistula

Filiz Uzumcugil

Published online: 25 August 2022

PDF Full Text (7111) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Flap reconstruction of the chest wall after oncologic resection

Juho Salo, Erkki Tukiainen

Published online: 25 February 2020

PDF Full Text (7046) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Surgical stabilization of flail chest after trauma: when, why and how to do it?

Debora Brascia, Giulia De Iaco, Angela De Palma, Michele Costantino, Marcella Genualdo, Rosatea Quercia, Angela Fiorella, Giulia Nex, Marcella Schiavone, Francesca Signore, Teodora Panza, Federico Rea, Giuseppe Marulli

Published online: 25 August 2020

PDF Full Text (6614) COI Form Chinese (1924) Open Access

Original Article

Surgery in large anterior mediastinal mass: case series of Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Ammar Ahmad, Narasimman Sathiamurthy, Benedict Dharmaraj, Narendran Balasubbiah, Diong Nguk Chai, Amiruddin Nik Mohamed Kamil, Muthukkumaran Thiagarajan

Published online: 25 May 2021

PDF Full Text (5806) Reporting Checklist Data Sharing Statement Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Prognostic factors of resected lung cancer with chest wall involvement

Antonio Mazzella, Mauro Loi, Marco Alifano

Published online: 25 February 2020

PDF Full Text (5007) COI Form Chinese (1262) Open Access

Original Article

Titanium mesh in chest wall stabilization and reconstruction: a single center experience

Pio Maniscalco, Nicolò Fabbri, Francesco Quarantotto, Nicola Tamburini, Giorgio Cavallesco

Published online: 25 May 2020

PDF Full Text (4898) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Atelectasis in one lung ventilation: the good, the bad, and the ugly: a narrative review

Jean S. Bussières, Edouard Marques

Published online: 14 September 2022

PDF Full Text (4832) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Original Article

Tracheal surgery: still a challenge or a reality for thoracic surgeons?—A 30-month single-centre experience

Massimo Osvaldo Jaus, Maria Giovanna Mastromarino, Giuseppe Cardillo

Published online: 25 May 2020

PDF Full Text (4643) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Postoperative management and acute complications after lung transplantation

Osama Haddad, Mathew Thomas

Published online: 21 May 2021

PDF Full Text (4537) COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Perioperative pain management for thoracic surgery: a narrative review of the literature

Ariane Clairoux, Rami Issa, Marie-Ève Bélanger, Robert Urbanowicz, Philippe Richebé, Véronique Brulotte

Published online: 20 October 2021

PDF Full Text (Video) (4317) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Review Article

Immunosuppression in lung transplantation: a narrative review

Benjamin J. Atkinson, Nirmal S. Sharma

Published online: 03 January 2023

PDF Full Text (4015) Reporting Checklist Peer Review File COI Form Open Access

Full Most Read article list >>

Original Article

Intercostal nerve cryoablation for postoperative analgesia following minimally invasive lung resection: a retrospective cohort study

Ian T. Winkeler, Alisa Khomutova, Susannah Oster, Ankit Dhamija

Published online: 28 April 2026

Journal highlight more

Current Challenges in Thoracic Surgery (ISSN: 2664-3278; Curr Chall Thorac Surg; CCTS) is an international peer-reviewed journal providing high-quality researches and information related to challenging issues on thoracic surgeries with an aim to improve current diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases. The journal focuses on current challenges, controversial issues and intractable situation of thoracic surgeries for pulmonary, tracheal, mediastinal, esophageal, and chest-wall diseases. It also dabbles in related specialties such as pulmonary medicine, transplantation, anesthesiology, pathology, imaging, biology, critical care medicine and nursing. More >>