Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery involving a bronchotomy in the removal of a bronchial foreign body: A novel case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Bronchial foreign body aspiration is a life-threatening emergency. Largely, the published literature focuses on the removal of foreign bodies by bronchoscopy, while the surgical removal of endobronchial foreign bodies is rarely reported on. Thus, we presented a case of a bronchial foreign body that was successfully removed by a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) bronchotomy, after multiple failed bronchoscopic attempts. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old male patient presented with a 2-month duration of a persistent cough and low-grade fever after undergoing dental treatment. Bronchoscopy revealed a dental crown surrounded by granulation tissue in the right basal bronchus. The patient was referred to our department for open surgery after undergoing multiple unsuccessful extractions. The bronchial foreign body was removed by a VATS bronchotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 2 days postoperatively without any complications. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Most aspirated tracheobronchial foreign bodies can be removed through bronchoscopy; nonetheless, certain aspirated foreign bodies may require surgical intervention. Furthermore, the indications for bronchotomies encompass the failure to remove the foreign body despite repeated attempts, due to immobility, with or without distal bronchial placement. Thoracoscopy is beneficial in providing superior visualization, with an increased likelihood of post-bronchotomy recovery. CONCLUSION: VATS bronchotomy is a safe and effective alternative for the removal of bronchial foreign bodies without sacrificing the functioning of the lung parenchyma.

A case of multifocal sclerosis angiomatoid nodular transformations of the spleen occurring after partial splenic infarction with transcatheter arterial embolization for splenic artery aneurysm.

A 48-year-old woman underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for a splenic artery aneurysm, which resulted in a partial splenic infarction in the middle lobe. Five years after TAE, a 20-mm diameter mass in the noninfarcted area of the spleen was detected on imaging, which grew to 25 mm in diameter after 6 months. MRI after gadolinium administration showed a 35 × 34 mm mass within the superior pole and 15 × 12 mm mass within the inferior pole. The patient underwent laparoscopic splenectomy and had an uneventful postoperative recovery. No evidence of recurrence was observed during the 2-year follow-up period after surgery. The mass was pathologically confirmed to be sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen. While some studies hypothesize that SANT is a response to vascular injury or trauma, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of SANT occurring after procedures directly affecting splenic blood flow. Additionally, multifocal SANTs are reported to be very rare, accounting for only 4.7% of all reported SANTs of the spleen. We highlight a rare course of SANT of the spleen and discuss the possible relationship between blood flow abnormalities and the appearance of SANT.

Radiological features and surgical management of lung abscess directly extending into the chest wall: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: We presented an extremely rare case of lung abscess following bronchoscopy associated with lung cancer that extended directly into the chest wall. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old man with adenocarcinoma underwent bronchoscopy. Eight days after the biopsy, the patient presented with chills and anterior chest wall pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a gas-containing lung abscess, measuring 10 cm in the left upper lobe and subcutaneous emphysema. The coronal view of the CT indicated a continuous passage of air from the lung abscess to the subcutaneous emphysema beneath the pectoralis muscle. Surgical debridement of the subcutaneous abscess was performed, resulting in drainage of a large volume of purulent material. We confirmed that the lung abscess had directly extended to the chest wall, leading to a decision to perform segmentectomy of the upper division of the left lung. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Lung abscess associated with lung cancer is a rare, life-threatening complication, which may lead to significant delays in the commencement of oncological treatment and potentially worsen long-term outcomes. In the present case, surgical findings confirmed a lung abscess extending directly to the chest wall. Surgical therapy is the treatment of choice for this rare condition, providing rapid focus control. Therefore, prompt initiation of surgical therapy is essential when conservative measures prove ineffective. CONCLUSION: Lung abscesses may extend into the chest wall during differential diagnosis of infectious diseases of the chest wall. Successful treatment of this rare condition depends on prompt surgical intervention.

Radiological features of intrathoracic chronic expanding hematoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: We present a relatively rare case of intrathoracic chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) after thoracic surgery for lung cancer. CEH is often difficult to distinguish from malignant tumors because of its large size and slow progressive enlargement. In this report, we describe the radiological features of CEH in detail. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old man who underwent a left upper lobectomy for lung cancer at 46 years of age presented with hemosputum. Computed tomography revealed a large mass with central low attenuation. Calcification was detected in peripheral lesions of the mass. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass with mixed low and high signal intensities. Based on the clinical course, the patient was diagnosed with an intrathoracic CEH. A left posterolateral thoracotomy was performed with the patient in the lateral position, and a mass encased in a tough capsule was resected. The postoperative histopathological findings were consistent with CEH. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: CT of intrathoracic CEH shows a lesion with heterogeneous content, a thick wall, and calcifications. However, differentiation from malignant tumors is difficult using CT alone. MRI is a good diagnostic modality for CEH and often shows a mixture of low- and high-intensity areas on T2-weighted images. In addition, the patient's medical history is important because most cases of CEH have a history of trauma or surgery. CONCLUSION: To diagnose intrathoracic CEH, it is essential to consider the patient's clinical course and MRI findings.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Although pleomorphic adenoma is the most common type of parotid gland tumor, its occurrence in the trachea is rare. Here, we describe a successfully resected pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea in a woman with severe respiratory failure that had been preoperatively misdiagnosed as asthma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with symptoms of worsening dyspnea and subsequent loss of consciousness. She had a history of progressively worsening wheezing and stridor over the course of 2-years and had been diagnosed with asthma. Arterial blood gas sample analysis indicated type II respiratory failure. A chest computed tomographic scan revealed a tumor in the trachea, which was almost completely obstructing the lower tracheal lumen. The tumor was located just above the carina. To alleviate airway constriction and achieve complete resection, carinal resection with reconstruction was performed. The postoperative diagnosis was pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Pleomorphic adenoma is a rare tracheal tumor that may present with obstructive airway symptoms that mimic asthma. CONCLUSION: Tracheal tumors should be considered in patients with chronic respiratory symptoms that do not improve with medication.

[Analysis of Prognostic Factors Considering Absolute Lymphocyte Count of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients with Eribulin Mesylate Therapy-A Retrospective Study in a Single Institution].

Recently, a study for eribulin mesylate(ERI), which is a useful drug for metastatic and recurrent breast cancer, reported that the absolute lymphocyte count(ALC)before administration is a useful prognostic factor. We retrospectively examined whether the results were reproducible in the patients with ERI. We examined the effect of ERI on the overall survival(OS)in 21 patients with HER2-negative metastatic and recurrent breast cancer who underwent treatment with ERI at our hospital. The clinical benefit ratio(CBR)was 57.1%. The median time to treatment failure(TTF)was 5.8 months and median OS was 19.9 months, showing a positive correlation between the TTF and OS. The factors that significantly prolonged the OS in univariate analysis were the TTF(<3 months vs ≥3 months, p<0.001), NLR(<3 vs ≥3, p=0.037), and ALC(<1,000/ µL vs ≥1,000/µL, p=0.008). In the multivariate analysis, TTF and ALC were the prognostic factors. The ERI outcome at our institution was good regardless of the subtype. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that TTF and ALC were factors that prolonged OS, and patients who received ERI for >3 months had good OS. Long-term administration of ERI was assumed to affect the immune microenvironment and prolong OS. Additionally, our data showed that the lymphocyte count before ERI administration is a simple and useful prognostic factor.

An adult case of a retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst with the imaging changes over time.

BACKGROUND: Adult cases of retroperitoneal isolated enteric duplication cyst (IEDC) are rare, with only 17 case reports in the relevant literature. We herein present a case, which was characterized by changes in intra-cystic density on computed tomography (CT), which was safely resected by laparoscopic surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 60-year-old male who received abdominal CT to investigate the cause of increased serum CA19-9 levels. CT revealed a unilocular cystic mass located in the lower right retroperitoneum. The size increased from 5 to 10 cm in three and a half years and the CT value decreased from 101 Hounsfield Units (HU) to 20 HU. We performed laparoscopic surgical resection, because the possibility that the enlargement of the lesion represented malignant transformation could not be denied. The large cystic mass firmly adhered to the appendix and its mesentery via the retroperitoneum, the appendix was resected en bloc with the cystic lesion. Microscopically, it had no communication with the appendix, and had an intestinal wall structure of muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria. The final pathological diagnosis was IEDC in the retroperitoneal space. There was no histological evidence of malignancy. CONCLUSION: When we encounter a retroperitoneal cystic lesion, we should consider the possibility of malignancy to determine the treatment strategy and perform a careful operation without breaking the cyst wall, irrespective of the preoperative diagnosis.

Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index is a significant predictive factor for posthepatectomy bile leakage.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: It is known that preoperative nutritional status can influence patient outcomes after hepatectomy. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is a useful parameter to reflect patient outcomes undergoing gastro-intestinal surgery. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate relationships of nutritional parameters, demographics, and surgical records with postoperative outcomes in a cohort study. METHODS: Curative hepatectomy was performed for 182 patients at the University of Miyazaki between 2015 and 2018. Each preoperative level of albumin, prealbumin, lymphocyte, total cholesterol, or the comprehensively calculated Onodera's PNI was examined as a nutritional parameter. RESULTS: The mean PNI was 39.6 ± 5.1, with PNI below 40 observed in 91 (50.0%) patients. Nutritional parameters were not different among patients with various liver diseases. Serum albumin or prealbumin level was significantly correlated with each hepatic parameter (p < 0.01). Prealbumin and total cholesterol levels were significantly correlated with postoperative prothrombin activity (p < 0.05). Albumin or prealbumin levels and PNI were significantly lower in patients with posthepatectomy complications, particularly bile leakage in comparison those without such complications (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic analysis showed that albumin level was an independent risk factor for complications after hepatectomy (risk ratio [RR]: 1.33) and that lymphocyte count was an independent risk factor for bile leakage (RR: 1.28) (p < 0.05). The cut-off level of albumin was approximately 3.8 mg/dL and that of lymphocyte count was 1,320/mm3. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative PNI reflected perioperative liver functional status. It was a predictive parameter for postoperative complications, particularly biliary leakage.