Diagnosis and prognosis of traumatic pulmonary psuedocysts: a review of 12 cases.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts or post-traumatic pneumatocoeles are a relatively rare-encountered condition occurring after trauma and an even rarer talked about subject. Most resolve within a few weeks, but if complicated by hematoma, may persist for months. This study intends to evaluate the resolution times of traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts and their clinical significance. METHODS: We report a case analysis of 12 cases from Hanyang University Guri Hospital dating from July 1997 through October 2004. RESULTS: The overall mean time for complete resolution was 85.6 days. The mean time for resolution for the uncomplicated traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts was 25.3 days (n=6) and the mean time for resolution for the complicated (blood filled) traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts was 145.8 days (n=6). When resolution times were compared according to size, those less than 2 cm showed a mean resolution time of 23.6 days (n=5) and those greater than or equal to 2 cm showed a mean resolution time of 129.9 days (n=7). CONCLUSIONS: Comparisons between completely blood-filled pseudocysts and uncomplicated pseudocysts have shown statistically significant differences in resolution times. Statistical significance has also been found between pseudocysts of sizes less than 2 cm and those greater than or equal to 2 cm. Conservative treatment is generally the rule; close follow-up and symptomatic treatment are necessary.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor causing thoracic outlet syndrome.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor (CFP) is a relatively rare benign mass lesion that generally involves the soft tissues. We report a case of CFP occurring in an extremely rare location. The patient is a 34-year-old woman presenting symptoms of numbness of her right upper extremity caused by a CFP in her thoracic outlet and we discuss its clinical significance with a review of the literature.

Rib xanthoma resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using a bone punch.

Xanthomas of the rib are extremely rare benign neoplasms, most commonly reported in soft tissue, but rarely in bone. We report a case of a 4-cm xanthoma of the rib resected by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and pulled through a 2-cm port incision around the patient's areola. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 8 other such cases, and none of which were removed by thoracoscopic surgery.

Clinical prognostic values of vascular endothelial growth factor, microvessel density,and p53 expression in esophageal carcinomas.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play a key role in tumor angiogenesis. The tumor-suppressor gene p53 has been thought to regulate VEGF. We investigated the effect of VEGF on esophageal carcinoma and the correlation between VEGF and p53. Tissue samples were taken from 81 patients with esophageal carcinoma after surgery. VEGF and p53 expressions were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Microvessels in the tumor stained for CD34 antigen were also counted. VEGF and p53 expressions were observed in 51.3% (41/80) and 51.9% (41/79), respectively. The microvessel density was 70.9+/-6.7 (mean+/-SE) in VEGF-positive group and 68.7+/-5.1 in VEGF-negative group. However, no correlation was noted between VEGF and p53 expression. Whereas the tumor size, nodal status, depth of invasions, and tumor stage were associated with poor overall survival, VEGF expression or p53 expression was not. These results indicate that VEGF and p53 are highly expressed in esophageal carcinomas. Since the VEGF expression is not correlated with the p53 expression, microvessel density or clinicopathological findings, further studies with other angiogenic molecules are needed to determine the role in esophageal carcinomas.