Comparison of early recurrence in young-onset primary spontaneous pneumothorax following surgery using different covering methods.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax not only involves bulla resection via video-assisted thoracic surgery but also covers the lesion. Ideal treatment should minimize adhesions and reduce the recurrence rate. This study aimed to explore different covering methods and compare the frequency of early recurrence for each covering method. METHODS: We included 370 subjects with primary spontaneous pneumothorax < 25 years who were treated with video-assisted thoracic surgery from August 2012 to December 2022. Subjects were divided into three groups depending on how the treated lesions were covered. The P group included 162 subjects treated between April 2012 and June 2017 whose lesions were covered using polyglycolic acid sheets on the staple line of the bulla resection lesion. The O group included 93 subjects treated between July 2017 and July 2019 whose lesions were covered with oxidized regenerated cellulose over a polyglycolic acid sheet. The N group included 115 subjects treated between August 2019 and December 2022 whose lesions were covered with oxidized regenerated cellulose over a polyglycolic acid nano sheet. RESULTS: Recurrence rates were 3.7%, 8.6%, and 6.0% in the P, O, and N groups, respectively; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The adhesions were milder in the N group than in the P and O groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although both covering methods were effective in preventing recurrence, further studies involving further treatment modifications and longer-term follow-ups are required.

A component of high-grade fetal lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed as the cause of lymph node metastasis.

High-grade fetal lung adenocarcinoma (H-FLAC) is a rare type of tumor. There have been no reports demonstrating the degree of metastatic susceptibility of this tumor type. In this report, we describe a case in which 15% of the adenocarcinoma components were H-FLAC diagnosed as the cause of lymph node metastasis. A 75-year-old man presented with suspected primary lung cancer (clinical stage IIA, T2bN0M0) and underwent left upper lobectomy and superior mediastinal lymph node dissection. Postoperative histopathology revealed lung cancer with only lobar bronchial lymph node (#11) metastasis. Approximately 60% of the invasive adenocarcinoma showed a papillary morphology, 25% showed a lepidic morphology, and 15% showed a fetal morphology. The histomorphological and immunohistological features of #11 metastasis were similar to those of H-FLAC. Herein, we report a rare and important case of H-FLAC with proven lymph node metastasis, showing that even a small amount of H-FLAC tissue can cause metastasis.

[Inflammatory Polyp due to Peanut Aspiration, Needed to Differentiate from Malignant Tumor: Report of a Case].

The patient was in his 70s. He was addmitted to our hospital because of obstructive pneumonia for 3 months. Chest computed tomography( CT) showed a nodule at the base of the right B8, obstructing the basal branch, with consolidation of the peripheral lung. Bronchoscopy revealed the right basal trunk obstruction by a tumorous lesion. FDG-PET showed heterogeneous FDG uptake at the right hilum and the lower lobe suggesting malignancy, and a thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy was performed. Pathology showed a granulation-like nodule and a brown oval foreign body incarcerated in the peripheral bronchus, which was later revealed to be a peanut, and no obvious malignant findings were observed.

[Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma that Invades the Wall of a Cystic Lesion:Report of a Case].

Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) is a rare and special type of lung adenocarcinoma. We report a case of IMA presenting as a cystic lesion in the S10 of the right lung, diagnosed by surgical biopsy and treated with right lower lobectomy. The patient was a 60-year-old man who was found to have a 10-mm-sized frosted ground-glass opacity with a 10-mm-sized air space in the S10 of the right lung while undergoing follow-up after renal cancer surgery in 2018. The air space gradually enlarged and, in 2022, began to show a 40-mm-sized cyst, with partial wall thickening and nodularity on the caudal side. A thoracoscopic partial pneumonectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis of IMA, and a thoracoscopic radical resection of the right remaining lower lobe was performed. It is important to recognize that adenocarcinoma may occur in patients with thin-wall cavity, as in this case. Additionally, it is necessary to determine the treatment strategy based on the assumption that the tumor may extend to the entire cavity wall, even if it is thin-walled.

[Echinococcosis Detected by a Solitary Shadow in the Lung].

Here we report a rare case of pulmonary coin lesion due to echinococcosis. An woman in her 60s who has no symptom was found a nodular shadow of the left lung incidentally. Since the nodule was enlarging, surgical treatment was done. Pathologically, it was diagnosed as an echinococcosis of the lung. It was pulmonary solitary echinococcosis without any lesion in other organs.

Parietal pleural small holes found in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax associated with relatively mild chest wall flatness: a retrospective study.

Background: During surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax, parietal pleural small holes (PPSHs) are occasionally found around the apex of the intrapleural space; however, this has not been well recognized. Additionally, chest wall flatness is usually observed in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) and PPSHs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PPSH and evaluate the characteristics of patients with PPSH. We also investigated the degree of chest wall flatness in patients with PPSHs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax at our department between April 2014 and May 2021. A propensity-matched analysis was used to compare the characteristics of patients with and without PPSH. Results: A total of 490 patients were enrolled in this study. PPSH was found in 45 of 297 (15.2%) patients with PSP and one of 193 (0.5%) patients with secondary pneumothorax. PSP was independently associated with the presence of PPSH after adjusting for age and sex [primary/secondary, odds ratio (OR) =34.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.7-250.9; P<0.001]. Among patients with PSP, the flatness of the chest wall in patients with PPSH was not as severe as that in patients without PPSH {thoracic anteroposterior diameter (APDT) to transverse diameter (TDT) ratio; with PPSH: median =0.517 [interquartile range (IQR) =0.480-0.554] vs. without PPSH: median =0.487 (IQR =0.463-0.529; P=0.031)} after propensity score matching. Conclusions: PPSH is found in a non-negligible proportion of patients with PSP, and patients with PPSHs show a relatively mild flat chest among patients with PSP. Clinicians should be aware of PPSH, and further understanding of this condition may contribute to a better understanding of PSP.

[Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Incidentally Found at Chest Trauma;Report of a Case].

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) is usually diagnosed at the incidence of pneumothorax. A 65-year-old male fell from the stairs in his house and was injured. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed fractures of right 1st rib and sternum and hematoma in mediastinum. Irregular shaped pulmonary cyst on the interlobar, mediastinal and diaphragm surface were found by chest CT. White-toned papules were observed from right nosewing to the neck. By biopsies, it was diagnosed fibrofolliculomas. Genetic analysis showed substitution in the folliculin gene confirming the diagnosis of BHDS.

[Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Incidentally Found at Surgery for Idiopathic Hemopneumothorax;Report of a Case].

We suspected Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHDS) from intraoperative findings of emergency operation for idiopathic hemopneumothorax. A 34-year-old man was delivered to our center due to sudden chest pain and dyspnea. Under the diagnosis of hemopneumothorax, emergency operation was performed. During surgery, multiple thin wall lung cysts of 2 to 5 mm in size were observed on the surface of all lung lobes. BHDS was suspected, but the surgery was limited to hemostasis and resection of pulmonary cyst since the diagnosis had not been established. Postoperative chest computed tomography (CT) revealed irregular shaped pulmonary cyst on the interlobar, mediastinal and diaphragm surface. Genetic analysis showed deletion in the folliculin gene confirming the diagnosis of BHDS.

Insufficient initial treatment but good recovery after diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis is an infrequent invasive bacterial disease. Although multiple different clinical features of actinomycosis have been described, pulmonary actinomycosis (PA) is a rare but challenging diagnosis and complete cure to make. Here we report the case of a 41-year-old Asian woman who had a mass-like consolidation in the right middle lung field. The lung lesion was exacerbated after initial treatment. After diagnosis of PA, thoracoscopic resection combined with intravenous and oral penicillin made a good recovery.

[Assessment of Surgical Treatment for Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to assess retrospectively our treatment strategy for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis(CPA). PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 2002 to 2015, 11 patients underwent pulmonary resection for CPA in our hospital. Six patients were diagnosed simple pulmonary aspergilloma (SPA) and 5 were chronic progressive pulmonary aspergillosis(CPPA). Clinical characteristics, preoperative treatment, postoperative treatment, surgical procedure, postoperative complication, recurrence, and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Two patients of SPA and 5 of CPPA were treated with antifungal agents preoperatively. Two patients required wedge resection and 4 required lobectomy in SPA. Five patients required lobectomy in CPPA. All patients were treated with antifungal agents postoperatively. One patient presented recurrent disease in both SPA and CPPA. All patients has been alive. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of CPA leads good results in selected patients. The treatment with surgery with perioperative antifungal treatment is thought to be important based on our experience.

[Bronchial Foreign Body Removed by Bronchotomy from the Anterior Side of the Pulmonary Hilum；Report of a Case].

Although many bronchial foreign bodies can be extracted by flexible bronchoscopy, it is sometimes difficult because of size and form of foreign bodies. A 78-year-old man who had been bedridden for 1 year presented to another hospital due to fever and hemoptysis. Chest X-ray showed a dental crown in the left inferior lobe bronchus. Although flexible bronchoscopic extraction was attempted 3 times, the dental crown could not be removed because it was tightly stuck in the bronchus. Open thoracotomy was performed on the next day in our hospital. After dissection of a severe adhesion, we reached the left inferior lobe bronchus from the anterior side of the pulmonary hilum and extracted the crown through a transverse incision of the bronchus. The patient was discharged 7 days after surgery without any complications. Surgical extraction of a bronchial foreign body can be managed safely even in bedridden patients suffering from a brain infarction.

[Thymoma with Hemorrhage and Necrosis Presenting with Fever and Chest Pain;Report of a Case].

A 53-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for treatment of fever and chest pain. Chest computed tomography showed an anterior mediastinal cystic tumor 39×57 mm in size surrounded by fat with edema and left pleural effusion. After one course of antibiotic administration, the edema of fat surrounding the tumor disappeared and the patient underwent scheduled tumor resection with thymectomy through a median sternotomy. Postoperative pathological examination revealed a thymoma of type AB according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification associated with hemorrhage and necrosis. Cases of thymoma with hemorrhage or necrosis may lead to atypical presentations such as fever, acute chest pain, pleural effusion, and spontaneous regression. Clinicians should be aware of these unusual presentations of chest pain and fever due to thymoma, and consider the possibility of a differential diagnosis of an anterior mediastinal tumor.

[Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis].

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is associated with hematopoietic disorders, with intrathoracic EMH being a rare presentation. We report a case of posterior mediastinal EMH masses in 63-year-old male with congenital hemolytic anemia. Multiple paravertebral masses with dense soft parts and well defined borders, but without accompanying calcification or bone erosion were identified on a chest computed tomography (CT) scan during an examination for another disease. A left-posterior mediastinal mass was resected using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Post-operative pathological examination showed that the tumor was covered completely by a capsule, and composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic tissue including erythroblasts and myeloid cells. Based on these findings we diagnosed intrathoracic EMH.

[Complete resection of a posterior mediastinal tumor after preoperative identification of artery of Adamkiewicz].

The thoracolumbar spinal cord receives its blood supply primarily from the artery of Adamkiewicz (AA), a branch of thoracolumbar intercostal arteries. Aortic cross-clamping during operation for descending aortic aneurysms can cause paraplegia due to spinal cord ischemia secondary to low blood flow through the AA. A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with a left posterior mediastinal tumor measuring 66 mm. The tumor was adjacent to the thoracic aorta between Th10 to Th12 vertebral levels. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) imaging revealed 2 AAs originated from the 10th and 11th left intercostal arteries just near the tumor. The patient underwent a left thoracotomy and the 2 intercostal arteries were carefully dissected from the encapsulated tumor. Complete resection was safely achieved with preservation of the AAs. Pathology revealed a schwannoma. There were no complications. In performing thoracic surgery for posterior mediastinal tumors, it is important to identify the AAs preoperatively and preserve them.

Spontaneous thymic hemorrhage in an adult.

Spontaneous thymic hemorrhage in a normal thymus in neonates and infants has been reported in the literature. Only one case of spontaneous thymic hemorrhage in an adult has been reported to our knowledge. We herein report the case of an adult who had a cardiac operation 26 years previously and who was on anticoagulation. He experienced acute hemorrhage in a normal thymus, and this was not thought to be attributable to an accidental cause such as trauma or to hypertension.

[Evaluation of long-term results in patients who underwent reconstruction of thoracic wall with curved metal plates].

Between 1992 and 2011, 22 patients underwent surgery of reconstruction of thoracic wall with curved metal plates for multiple rib fracture and resection of thoracic wall tumor. They were divided into 2 groups according to original disorders. Twelve cases of group A accepted surgical stabilization of traumatic multiple rib fractures with the metal plates fixed on the fractured ribs as an external brace. Ten patients of group B were suffered from thoracic wall tumors, including 1 fibrous dysplagia, 1 chondroma, 5 invasive lung cancer, 2 rib metastases and 1 primary chest wall cancer. After the resection of tumors, an average of 3.2 ribs were removed, the defects of full thickness chest wall were reconstructed using a combination of a polypropylene mesh and the metal plates. In both groups, there were no displacement of the plates and allergic reaction. Only 2 patients needed removal of the fixed plates due to pyothorax caused by pneumonia after crushing thoracic injuries. The long metal reconstruction plates with many perforations were very useful for reconstruction of chest wall because they were long enough to cover the whole length of widely resected chest defects and moderately soft enough to be appropriately bent or twist by hand at the time of operation. Moreover long-term result of the reconstructed chest wall was safe and satisfactory without severe complication.

[Prognostic factors of resected metastatic lung tumor originated from renal cell carcinoma].

We performed retrospective analysis of 22 cases who received pulmonary resection of metastases originated from renal cell carcinoma between 1997 and 2011. Patients comprised 18 men and 4 women with a mean age of 63 years (range, 39~79). The total pulmonary resection was 30 times, lobectomy was performed 5 times and wedge resection was 25 times. The 5-year overall survival was 35% and 10-year overall survival was 26%. Prognostic factors were histology of renal cell carcinoma (G1, 2 group vs. G3 group; 2-year survival rate was 69% and 20% respectively, p=0.023) and disease-free interval (less than 24 months vs. more than 24 months; 5-year disease-free survival rate was 22% and 75% respectively, p=0.019) in univariate analysis. Only disease-free interval showed significant difference (p=0.037) in multivariate analysis. This study demonstrated that aggressive surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma leads to the good prognosis, especially in cases with a long disease-free interval.

The cervical anterior approach for the resection of superior posterior neurogenic tumor: a case report.

Many approaches for resection of the superior mediastinal tumors have been reported. We introduce an approach, which we call the cervical anterior approach. This approach is only cervical and does not require a sternotomy. Merits of this approach include the ability to remove the tumor without opening the mediastinal or parietal pleura, as well as obviating draining the thoracic cavity. The tumor is also directly visible, and the surgeon can avoid injury to the great vessels. This approach is recommended when the tumor is located superior to the third thoracic vertebra level, when it borders the great vessels, and when it does not border the trunk of the brachial plexus or nerve root. This approach is easy and safe for surgical procedures.