Pleural Solitary Fibrous Tumors-A Retrospective Study on 45 Patients.

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to study the type, the clinical presentation, and the best diagnostic methods for pleural solitary fibrous tumors (PSFTs), as well as to evaluate which is the most appropriate treatment, especially as PSFTs represent a rare occurrence in the thoracic pathology. Material and Method: A retrospective study was conducted on a group of 45 patients submitted to surgery between January 2015 and December 2019. In most cases, the diagnosis was established through imaging studies-thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan with or without contrast-but also using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans when data from CT scans were scarce. All patients were submitted to surgery with curative intent. Results: Most patients included in this study were asymptomatic, with this pathology being more common in patients over 60 years of age, and more common in women. The occurrence of malignant PSFT in our study was 17.77% (8 cases). All cases were submitted to surgery with curative intent, with a single case developing further recurrence. In order to achieve complete resection en bloc resection of the tumor with the chest wall, resection was performed in two cases, while lower lobectomy, pneumectomy, and hemidiaphragm resection, respectively, were needed in each case. Postoperative mortality was null. Conclusion: Thoracic CT scan remains the most important imagistic investigation in diagnosing. MRI is superior to thoracic CT, especially in cases that involved the larger blood vessels within the thorax, spinal column, or diaphragm. Complete surgical resection is the gold standard in treatment of PSFT, and the prognosis in benign cases is very good.

Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava - Accidental Finding.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The presence of the superior left vena cava represents a rare anomaly of the thoracic venous system. CASE REPORT: An asymptomatic case of this type of anomaly, discovered as an accident during investigations for a different pathology (superior left pulmonary lobe tumor), is presented. A 56-year-old, heavy smoker was admitted in our clinic with a tumoral mass in the left superior pulmonary lobe discovered during a routine chest x-ray. Physical and clinical examination was normal. However, transthoracic echography noted a coronary sinus enlargement, which led to the suspicion of a thoracic venous anomaly. Contrast chest computed tomography pointed out a venous anomaly at the level of the left hemithorax originating from the cervical region, crossing the aortic arch and draining in the coronary sinus. During the examination, contrast substance was not detected in the right superior vena cava, either early or late during the computed tomography. During surgery the presence of a persistent left superior vena cava was observed, coming from the cervical region, crossing lateral to the aortic arch and draining in the coronary sinus. CONCLUSION: The presence of an enlarged coronary sinus should warn the surgeon about the possibility of a thoracic venous anomaly. Identifying a persistent left superior vena cava is important due to its clinical implications, especially during certain procedures such as mounting central venous lines, cardiac cannulation or implantation of cardiac stimulators.

Sixty tracheal resections--single center experience.

This study evaluates the clinical outcome following surgery of our patients for the last seven years. Between 2001 and 2008 we performed tracheal resections in 60 patients. There were 46 cases of postintubation stenosis and 14 tumors. The range of resected rings was 1-8. The maximal resection length performed in our series (4 cm) was achieved using only basic releasing maneuvers such as anterior dissection of the trachea and cervical flexion. Emergency tracheal resection with no complications was performed in 12 patients who presented with severe dyspnea due to very tight stenosis. One patient died during the surgical intervention from a stroke. There were two postoperative deaths, both in patients with tracheo-esophageal fistula. As major complications we mention one patient with restenosis who underwent revision surgery. Among the patients with malignant tumors we had one local epidermoid carcinoma recurrence 18 months after surgery and the two patients with thyroid cancer who died six and nine months later. Basic releasing maneuvers allow a good length of the trachea to be resected with no complications. We consider that emergency tracheal resection can be performed with success. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most frequent histological type in our series.