[Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome with repeated pneumothorax; report of a case].

A 36-year-old man had been treated by thoracoscopic bullectomy because of left pneumothorax at another hospital. 2 weeks post-surgery, he was transferred to our hospital because of recurrent left pneumothorax. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple, irregular-shaped pulmonary cysts of various sizes predominating in the apex of both lungs. Thoracoscopy showed diffuse multiple thinwalled small cysts on the visceral pleura. Small cyst with air leakage was sutured and other cysts were cauterized. He was diagnosed as having Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome by DNA sequence analysis of his FLCN gene.

Prevention of alveolar air leakage after video-assisted thoracic surgery: comparison of the efficacy of methods involving the use of fibrin glue.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriate condition of use of the fibrin glue plus polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet combination to obtain the optimal sealing effect. METHODS: 126 consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) were divided into groups as follows: fibrin glue sprayed on the PGA sheet placed over the pleural defect (Method I); fibrinogen and thrombin solutions sprayed separately on the PGA sheet soaked in thrombin and placed over the pleural defect after rubbing of fibrinogen solution on the area (Method II); fibrin glue sprayed on the PGA sheet placed over the pleural defect after rubbing of fibrinogen solution on the area (Method III). Method II and Method III were also examined in an animal model. RESULTS: Postoperative air leakage was more effectively prevented by Method III than by the other two methods (p < 0.05). In the experimental study, a significantly higher seal-breaking pressure was obtained for Method III than for Method II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Method III was the most effective for preventing alveolar air leakage.

[Adenocarcinoma of the lung in a young adult].

We report a case of 24-year-old young man with lung adenocarcinoma. The patient had been treated malignant lymphoma when he was 5 years old. The patient was pointed out a tumor shadow of the right lung at his 2008 health check, but he did not receive further examination. He was again pointed out a same tumor at his 2009 health check. Plain chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a nodule in S8 of right lung. A diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma was established by the cytology specimens obtained with bronchoscopic examination. The patient underwent right lower lobectomy with systematic lymph node dissection. Pathological stage was pT2N2M0 stage IIIA. Lung cancer patients aged under 30 years old are rare. Lung cancer should be considered even in young patients with abnormal chest shadows.

[A case of bronchocentric granulomatosis associated with Aspergillus that was difficult to differentiate from lung cancer].

We encountered a case of suspected bronchocentric granulomatosis (BCG) occurring in a COPD patient. Chest CT on admission showed a nodular shadow with indentation and a notch-like opacity in right S(3)a. Based on these findings, lung cancer was suspected. As we could not establish a definitive diagnosis, video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed. The histological findings of the resected specimen demonstrated BCG with clustering of fungal hyphae in the bronchioles. As the lesion was resected completely, we did not give additional treatment with an antifungal agent. It is difficult to differentiate BCG from lung cancer preoperatively. However, considering the homogeniecity of the nodule, it may be able to differentiate this type of lesion from lung cancer based on the feature. We report a rare case of a solitary nodule caused by BCG with Aspergillosis.

Localization of chyle leakage site in postoperative chylothorax by oral administration of I-123 BMIPP.

The authors present a 71-year-old woman who had a right chylothorax after right upper lobectomy for lung cancer. As the chylothorax was considered to be due to thoracic duct injury at the time of operation, lymphoscintigraphy was performed by oral administration of I-123 beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). After visualization of the stomach and intestine, abnormal accumulation of the radiotracer was found initially around the right pulmonary hilum and then spread laterally in the upper pleural cavity, indicating chyle leakage in the region of the right pulmonary hilum. Scintigraphic finding was well correlated with the subsequent thoracoscopic observation, showing chyle leakage from a lymphatic tributary near its confluence to the thoracic duct at the level of the azygos continuation. The disruption site was ligated by video-assisted-thoracoscopic-surgery procedure with successful termination of the chyle leakage. Lymphoscintigraphy by oral administration of I-123 BMIPP is thought to be a useful method for localization of chyle leakage in patients with chylothorax induced by thoracic surgery.

[Case with double primary cancers occurring synchronously in both the lung and jejunum diagnosed according to TTF-1 expression].

A 47-year-old man was diagnosed as having adenocarcinoma of the lung (T4N0M0) in August 2002. He received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In June 2003, he complained of lower abdominal pain with palpable mass in the left lower abdomen. On abdominal CT, we recognized a mass measuring 50 mm, which we considered a mesenteric lymph node. As the mass gradually grew and pain increased, we performed lymph node resection. The lymph node was near by the Treitz' ligament, and a tumor measuring 30 mm was observed in the jejunum. Therefore, we performed jejunectomy. Pathological examination of the lesion demonstrated adenocarcinoma. The differential diagnosis between small intestine metastasis and primary small intestine cancer was difficult. As adenocarcinoma of the jejunum was negative for TTF-1 in immunohistochemical staining and adenocarcinoma of the lung was positive, we diagnosed this patient as having primary jejunal cancer. We report this rare case of double cancer involving the lung and jejunum.

[A case of Mycobacterium avium pulmonary disease accompanied with pleural effusion].

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infection is seldom complicated with pleural involvement. We report a very rare case of M. avium pulmonary disease accompanied with pleural effusion. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of cough and low-grade fever. A chest radiograph and computed tomograph showed centrilobular nodules in the right middle lobe and left lingula, and right pleural effusion. The patient had had a right spontaneous pneumothorax 50 days before his admission. The sputum smear was negative for acid fast bacilli. The smear of pleural effusion was positive for acid fast bacilli, the level of adenosine deaminase in the effusion was markedly elevated, and pleural effusion was positive for M. avium as assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The pleural biopsy specimen showed fibrous change without granuloma, while the transbronchial biopsy specimen showed noncaseous epithelioid granulomas. We considered that the pneumothorax was caused by the spread of pulmonary M. avium infection to the visceral pleura with its perforation.

[A case of M. fortuitum lung disease with small-cell lung cancer].

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow found on chest radiography. Chest radiographs and chest CT on admission showed a bulla with a niveau and infiltration in the right upper lobe. Smear of sputum and bronchial lavage were negative for acid-fast bacilli. Despite treatment with meropenem and clindamycin, the infiltrating shadow worsened. Since bronchial lavage and sputum culture were positive for M. fortuitum, these drugs were replaced with minocycline and imipenem. Thereafter, the shadow on the chest radiograph improved. After discharge, outpatient treatment with clarithromycin and levofloxacin was continued. After 4 months, the residual tumor shadow in the right upper lobe gradually grew. When a CT-guided transcutaneous needle lung biopsy was undertaken, malignant cells were found. Right upper lobectomy was performed. Pathological examination of the lesion demonstrated small-cell lung cancer. If a lesion does not change after nontuberculous mycobacteria treatment, the physician should consider other lesions such as lung cancer.

[Successful treatment of weekly paclitaxel for a patient with recurrent lung cancer].

A 44-year-old man with recurrent lung cancer was readmitted to the hospital for chemotherapy. He was first treated by chemotherapy of CDDP + etoposide, after which the chemotherapy was changed to a regimen of weekly paclitaxel because of his desire to work. He could then be discharged from the hospital and return to his work. No side effects of this frequent schedule on his immune function were noted. He is now doing well and working. The regimen of weekly paclitaxel seemed to be effective in improving QOL because that regimen allowed him to work.

Pulmonary actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces cardiffensis.

We herein present the first case of pulmonary actinomycosis caused by Actinomyces cardiffensis (A. cardiffensis). A computed tomography (CT) examination revealed a nodule with cavitation in the left upper lobe of the lung. One month later, the lesion had almost disappeared, but a new nodule with peripheral consolidation had appeared in the right middle lobe. Because organizing pneumonia was suspected, prednisolone was begun and improvement was seen. However, two months after the initiation of corticosteroid administration, a chest CT scan showed a lung abscess. The patient underwent surgical resection of the abscess. A. cardiffensis was identified by an amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis of a pus sample.

Prognostic implication of lymphatic vessel invasion in stage IB (pT2aN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To clarify the prognostic factors for recently revised stage IB non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Twenty-six specimens of completely resected stage IB (pT2aN0M0) non-small cell lung cancer were studied. Clinicopathological profiles of the 26 patients, including age, sex, smoking status, tumor size, histology, pleural invasion, and lymphatic and blood vessel invasion, were assessed. Correlation between tumor recurrence and these factors was assessed by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Lymphatic vessel invasion was the only statistically significant factor for postoperative tumor recurrence as assessed by multivariate analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a 5-year recurrence-free rate of 77.8% in 26 patients with no lymphatic vessel invasion compared with 28.6% in those with lymphatic vessel invasion. CONCLUSION: Lymphatic vessel invasion of cancer cells was indicated as an independent prognostic factor in revised stage IB non-small cell lung cancer.

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis-like foci detected by high resolution computed tomography.

We report a case of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis-like foci (PCH-like foci), presenting as multiple ground-glass opacities (GGOs) on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The patient underwent a left lingual segmentectomy to make a definite diagnosis of these GGOs on chest CT. Histological findings were similar to PCH; however, there were no clinical symptoms or findings of pulmonary hypertension. Accordingly, PCH-like foci was diagnosed.

Sentinel node navigation surgery using indocyanine green in patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential use of sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) using indocyanine green (ICG) in lung cancer. METHODS: The subjects were 38 patients with stage cN0 lung cancer. After thoracotomy, we injected 5 ml ICG and 400 U hyaluronidase around the tumor, and identified the stained lymph nodes (LNs) intraoperatively by inspection. Postoperatively, we measured ICG concentrations in the dissected LNs. Lymph nodes with an ICG concentration of more than 1.5 times the mean were defined as sentinel nodes (SNs). RESULTS: There were 30 pN0, 6 pN1, and 2 pN2 cancers. The tumor size ranged from 11 to 75 (mean 31 +/- 15) mm. Sentinel nodes were identified by inspection in 7 (18.4%) of the 38 patients. Lymphatic mapping with ICG concentration was successful in 38 (100%) of 38. One SN was found in 18 patients and two SNs were found in 20. The SN predicted the status of metastasis of all LNs in 37 (97%) of 38. Metastases were identified in the SN alone in 5 (62.5%) of 8. There was one false negative, caused by a metastatic LN being occupied by tumor cells. CONCLUSION: These findings support the efficiency of SNNS for clinically node-negative lung cancer.