[Ectopic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone-Producing Pulmonary Carcinoid Presenting as Cushing's Syndrome after Intrapleural Hyperthermic Chemotherapy].

The patient was a woman in her 70's was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest roentgenogram at an annual medical checkup. Since preoperative examinations suggested lung cancer in the right middle lobe, thoracoscopic right middle lobectomy was planned. However, pleural dissemination was detected at surgery and we changed the treatment plan to the intrapleural hyperthermic chemotherapy. During the postoperative course, facial edema, hypokalemia, and hyperglycemia developed, and the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was suggested based on an increase in serum level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, and was confirmed by a dexamethasone suppression test. Intrapleural hyperthermic chemotherapy was likely to collapse the ACTH-producing tumor leading Cushing's syndrome.

Postoperative Lung Torsion With Retained Viability: The Presentation and Surgical Indications.

BACKGROUND: We review our experience with postoperative lung torsion with retained viability. METHODS: A total of 2165 patients underwent pulmonary resection (lobectomy or segmentectomy) at our institution between 1 January, 1986, and 31 March, 2017. Eight (0.3%, six males and two females: median age, 68 years) had lung torsion with retained viability. RESULTS: The right upper lobe was resected in seven patients, while the left upper segment was resected in one patient. The lung torsion with retained viability was the right middle lobe in seven patients and the left lingular segment in one patient. A bronchoscopic examination was performed in four patients to diagnose the pulmonary torsion; however, it demonstrated no specific findings. Subsequently, computed tomography (CT) was performed in all the patients, and lung torsion was diagnosed in all the patients based on the CT findings. None of the patients showed any symptoms when lung torsion was diagnosed in them. The diagnosis of pulmonary torsion was made at a median of 4 days (range, 1-22 days) after the initial surgery. Six patients underwent detorsion of the affected lung, while one patient had a lobectomy, and one patient received conservative management. The lungs of all patients in which detorsion was performed adequately re-expanded. Frequent pneumonia in the viable torsed lung was diagnosed as a cause of death in the one patient who received conservative management. CONCLUSION: The timely decision to follow a surgical approach for lung torsion with retained viability can lead to a satisfactory outcome.

Thirteen cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis in a single institution in Okinawa Island.

Pulmonary dirofilariasis is an infection caused by Dirofilaria immitis, which is an endemic parasite in Japan. We experienced 13 surgical cases of pulmonary dirofilariasis in our hospital. Of the 13 patients, 61.5% were men. The responsible lesions were located in the right lung in all cases, and 76.9% of them were in the lower lobe. Histologically, 12 cases showed necrotic nodules with peripheral granuloma with worms inside the pulmonary artery. One case did not show a necrotic nodule but showed only thickening and hyalinization of the pulmonary artery wall with a degenerated worm inside. Eosinophils were found histologically in all cases. Thirteen cases of dirofilariasis in one institution seem to be the largest number in Japan, based on previous reports. One reason for this increased prevalence may be the hot and humid climate of our prefecture considering the ecology of the mosquito as a vector. Elastic staining and eosinophils in peripheral granulomatous areas can contribute to the diagnosis when the worms are degenerated.

[A case of long-term survival of postoperative brain metastasis of small cell lung cancer effectively treated with chemotherapy, whole brain radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery].

A 63-year-old woman underwent right upper lobectomy for small cell carcinoma. She received a total of 2 courses of carboplatin and etoposide infusion as adjuvant therapy. One year after the operation, because of elevated serum Pro GRP levels and a metastatic brain tumor revealed by CT, 4 courses of IP therapy (irinotecan 60 mg/m(2), day 1, 8, 15 and cisplatin 60 mg/m(2), day 1, every 4 weeks) and whole brain radiotherapy (2 Gy f, 5 f/week, total 40 Gy) were given. A complete response was obtained, but a tumor relapse occurred ten months after the last chemotherapy. We then performed a stereotactic radiosurgery (marginal dose: 22 Gy, maximum dose 44 Gy), and one month later MRI showed the tumor had shrunk markedly. FDG-PET showed no intensive uptake, suggesting that there was no remaining viable tumor. No severe side effects were observed during these treatments. Currently, the patient has been alive with good performance status and no signs of relapse.

In situ transmission electron microscopic observations of redox cycling of a Ni-ScSZ cermet fuel cell anode.

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of a Ni(O)-Sc2O3-stabilized ZrO2 (ScSZ; 10 mol% Sc2O3, 1 mol% CeO2, 89 mol% ZrO2) anode in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) have been performed at high temperatures under a hydrogen/oxygen gas atmosphere using an environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM); the specimens were removed from cross-sections of the real SOFC by focused ion beam milling and lifting. When heating the NiO-ScSZ anode under a hydrogen atmosphere of 3 mbar in ETEM, nano-pores were formed at the grain boundaries and on the surface of NiO particles at around 400°C due to the volume shrinkage accompanying the reduction of NiO to Ni. Moreover, densification of Ni occurred when increasing the temperature from 600 to 700°C. High-magnification TEM images obtained in the early stages of NiO reduction revealed that the (111) planes of Ni grew almost parallel to the (111) planes of NiO. In the case of heating Ni-ScSZ under an oxygen atmosphere of 3 mbar in ETEM, oxidation of Ni starting from the surface of the particles occurred above 300°C. All Ni particles became polycrystalline NiO after the temperature was increased to 800°C. Volume expansion/contraction by mass transfer to the outside/inside of the Ni particles in the anode during repeated oxidation/reduction seems to result in the agglomeration of Ni catalysts during long-term SOFC operation. We emphasize that our in situ TEM observations will be applied to observe electrochemical reactions in SOFCs under applied electric fields.

The Presence of Coexisting Lung Cancer and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterium in a Solitary Mass.

BACKGROUND Whereas non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease can mimic lung cancer as a solitary pulmonary nodule or mass, the coexistence of lung cancer and NTM pulmonary disease in a single nodule or mass is rare. We report such a rare case, highlighting that during a bronchoscopes examination which comprises taking a transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), bronchial brushing, and bronchial lavage, a positive mycobacterium culture result for sputum or bronchial lavage fluid does not exclude the possibility of a concomitant lung cancer. CASE REPORT An 87-year-old male was referred to our institution for evaluation of an abnormal shadow on a chest x-ray scan. He had been previously healthy with no symptoms and an unremarkable medical history. A contrast-enhanced CT scan showed a cavitating mass measuring 20×40 mm with a thick ring-enhancing irregular wall in the left lower lobe. Although the TBLB of the lesion showed no malignant cells, sputum acid-fast bacilli smear and culture of the bronchial lavage fluid yielded positive results. An NTM infection, instead of lung cancer was suspected to have caused the mass because a Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction showed negative results. However, we performed the surgery because NTM pulmonary disease and lung cancer cannot be differentiated. The results of a pathological examination of the mass showed an adenocarcinoma, and M. avium complex was detected in the cancer tissue culture. CONCLUSIONS Physicians should suspect the co-existent lung cancer and NTM infection in patients with solitary lung masses that yield a positive mycobacterium culture result for sputum or bronchial lavage fluid.

Comparison of GLUT-1, SGLT-1, and SGLT-2 expression in false-negative and true-positive lymph nodes during the 18F-FDG PET/CT mediastinal nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Although positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-d-glucose integrated with computed tomography (CT), (18F-FDG PET/CT), has recently improved the mediastinal nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), this method can show false negativity. We immunohistochemically investigated the expression of glucose transporters (GLUT-1, SGLT-1, and SGLT-2) in false negative and true positive mediastinal nodes via 18F-FDG PET/CT. METHODS: We investigated patients with clinically-diagnosed N0/pathological N2 diseases and patients with clinically-diagnosed N2/pathological N2 disease. The patients who were included in this study were evaluated using 18F-FDG PET/CT followed by surgical resection between January 2004 and December 2015. The expression of GLUT-1, SGLT-1, and SGLT-2 in the metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes, and clinicopathological variables such as primary tumor size, lymph node size, histological type, and SUVmax of the primary lesion, were compared between false negative nodes and true positive nodes. RESULTS: The total number of PET false negative metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes was 22 in the 17 patients who were clinical N0/pathological N2, and the number of PET true positives was 15 in the 11 patients who were clinical N2/pathological N2. GLUT-1 expression was positive in five false negative nodes and 10 true positive nodes. SGLT-2 expression was positive in 12 false negative nodes and one true positive node, whereas both false negative and true positive nodes showed no SGLT-1 staining. Univariate analysis showed that the reduced expression of GLUT-1 (P = 0.015), and overexpression of SGLT-2 (P = 0.004) were the significant causative factors for false negative nodes. Multivariate analysis also showed that the reduced expression of GLUT-1 (P = 0.012) and overexpression of SGLT-2 (P = 0.006) were the significant causative factors for false negative nodes. CONCLUSION: It suggests that the reduced expression of GLUT-1 and overexpression of SGLT-2 are associated with false-negative lymph node metastases in NSCLC.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Arising from a Bronchogenic Cyst of the Diaphragm.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchogenic cysts may rupture or become infected, and malignant degeneration may occur. Although various types of malignant degeneration have been described, only a few reports of mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising from a bronchogenic cyst have been published. We report such a case. CASE: A 77-year-old female was referred to our institution for evaluation of left chest pain. A computed tomography scan showed an enhancing 65 × 70 mm mass of the left diaphragm. Based on the intraoperative findings of an intradiaphragmatic tumor involving the lower lobe of the left lung, the resection of the tumor with the wedge resection of left lower lobe and partial resection of the left diaphragm was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed a mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising from a bronchogenic cyst of the diaphragm with the presence of fibrous adhesion to the lower lobe. CONCLUSION: We believe that complete resection of any bronchogenic cyst is justified.

[A case of postoperative multiple pulmonary metastases of non-small-cell lung cancer successfully treated with S-1].

We report a case of postoperative multiple pulmonary metastases of NSCLC successfully treated with S-1. A 72-year-old man underwent rt. lower lobectomy + ND 2 a by VATS. The histopathological examination showed squamous cell carcinoma, pT4 (satellite nodules in same lobe) N0M0. Multiple pulmonary metastases appeared 3 months after operation. We started combination chemotherapy with S-1 and CBDCA. S-1 (100 mg/body) was administered on days 1-21. CBDCA (AUC=5.0) was administered on day 8. Multiple pulmonary metastases almost disappeared after 2 courses of combination chemotherapy. After 6 courses of combination chemotherapy with S-1 and CBDCA, we then converted to S-1 only. Every cycle was repeated every 5 weeks. One year later, there was no sign of disease progression. S-1 is considered to be effective and safely administered in patients with NSCLC.

Lingular segment torsion following a left upper division segmentectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous publications regarding lung torsion have reported lobar torsion after lobectomy. On the other hand, torsion of the remaining segment after segmentectomy is extremely rare. We herein report a rare case of lingular segment torsion following a left upper division segmentectomy. CASE: A 68-year old female underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy of the left upper division. She underwent chest radiography immediately after the initial surgery, which revealed complete expansion on the operated side. Routine chest radiograph findings on postoperative day 1 demonstrated atelectasis on the operated side, although she did not have any symptoms. Chest computed tomography was conducted because a follow-up chest radiograph on postoperative day 5 showed no improvement, and she was diagnosed with torsion of the lingular segment. We performed an exploratory thoracotomy. Based on intraoperative findings, the lingular segment was found to have a 90° clockwise torsion along the pedicle axis, although the segment was viable. We straightened the kinked lingular segment and affixed the lingular segment to the left lower lobe. The postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Although lobectomy is the most common cause of lung torsion, physicians should check for lung segment torsion when performing segmentectomy.

The long-term prognosis of induction chemotherapy followed by surgery for N2 non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective case series study.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term prognosis of induction chemotherapy followed by surgery for N2 non-small lung cell cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data and assessed the prognosis of 31 N2-NSCLC patients who underwent induction chemotherapy followed by surgery at our institution between January 1999 and December 2013. Potential prognostic factors, such as age, gender, tumor histology, tumor marker levels, tumor size, the number of N2 lymph nodes, the time from the last induction chemotherapy to the date of surgery, induction chemotherapy, RECIST response, downstaging status, pathological stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, and EF, were analyzed. RESULTS: The chemotherapy regimens of 30 of the 31 patients included a platinum agent. Complete resection was performed in 96.7% of the cases. Pathological downstaging was induced in 9 (29%) of the 31 patients. The median follow-up period was 7.89 years. The median DFI was 13.9 months. The recurrence rate was 74.2%. The 5-year OS was 56.9%. Univariate analyses revealed that none of the factors significantly affected OS, while the tumor histology had a significant effect on the DFI. CONCLUSION: Although the recurrence rate in our study was similar to previous studies, our survival data were much better than those of past reports. Although the tumor histology was the only factor that had a significant association with DFI in the current study, the possibility of bias exists.

A rare case of congenital bronchoesophageal fistula in an adult.

INTRODUCTION: When congenital bronchoesophageal fistulas exist without atresia of the esophagus, the diagnosis can be delayed, although symptoms may occur early following fistula development. Therefore, while they are usually found in infants, they can be extremely rarely found in adults. We herein report a rare case of bronchoesophageal fistula without atresia in an adult. CASE: An 69-year-old male presented to the outpatient clinic with a decades-long history of cough with expectoration immediately after taking food, especially liquids. Computed tomograph, esophagoscopy, and esophagography revealed the fistulous communication between the mid-esophagus and right lower lobe bronchus, with consolidation in the right lower lobe. We performed right lower lobectomy with the closure and excision of the fistula. The histopathology of the fistula revealed the mucosa to be lined by stratified squamous epithelium. There was no evidence of inflammation, granuloma, or carcinoma. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, despite the benign nature of this malformation, if left untreated, it can cause long-term debilitating respiratory symptoms associated with the fistula. Therefore, the diagnosis should be considered in the evaluation of recurrent lung infection.

Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Coexisting with Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Review of Relevant Cases from the Literature.

A 45-year-old man had an abnormal shadow in the right lung field on an annual screening chest X-ray. He was diagnosed with Stage IA (cT1bN0M0) lung cancer. Initially, we did not notice an anomalous vein on non-contrast computed tomography. However, we found that the right upper lobe bronchus branched from the lateral wall of the right main bronchial orifice, above the level of the common right upper lobe bronchus. Therefore, the bronchus was thought to be a tracheal bronchus. We carefully reevaluated the patient using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography. This technique showed that the anomalous right superior pulmonary vein drained into the azygos vein along the superior vena cava. These findings confirmed a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection of the right upper lobe. We performed video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for definitive treatment for lung cancer and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. No hemodynamic problems occurred in the postoperative course.

Giant pedunclated lipoma of the esophagus: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Although Esophageal lipoma is extremely rare and pathologically benign, surgical excision of the lipoma is recommended when symptomatic or uncertain biological behavior. In general, some of the esophageal lipoma has a stalk. The pedunclated non-invasive tumor can be removed by stalk ligation, which is either endoscopic or surgical approache. Therefore, the preoperative evaluation is essential. We herein present a case of a huge esophageal lipoma. CASE REPORT: A 82-year-old man, with a wet cough and dyspnea for 6 months, who had the huge mass that almost completely occupied the esophageal lumen, was referred to our institution for the treatment.We diagnosed the mass as non-invasive tumor that has a stalk at the close to the esophageal orifice, by the CT image using air injection into esophageal lumen. We performed excision of the pedunclated huge mobile mass by esophagotomy via right thoracic approach with use of endoloop. Pathological examination showed a lipoma. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, an adequate preoperative evaluation to identify the correct origin of the stalk is mandatory for a successful treatment. In order to do the adequate preoperative evaluation and successful surgery, our diagnostic method of CT image can be effective.

Analysis of gastrointestinal metastasis of primary lung cancer: Clinical characteristics and prognosis.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal metastasis of lung cancer is low. The aim of the present study was to analyze the frequency and clinical characteristics of metastases to the gastrointestinal tract by retrospectively assessing the clinical records of 2,066 patients with lung cancer. A total of 7 patients (0.33%) were diagnosed with gastrointestinal metastasis, including 4 patients with adenocarcinoma, 1 patient with large cell carcinoma and 2 patients with pleomorphic carcinoma. Furthermore, 3 of the patients presented with small bowel metastases, 2 with gastric metastases, 1 with large bowel metastasis and 1 with metastasis of the appendix. The mean time between the diagnosis of the lung tumors and the identification of gastrointestinal metastasis was 13.5 months (range, 3-49 months). The mean time between the identification of the gastrointestinal metastasis and mortality was 100.6 days (range, 21-145 days). In conclusion, the prognosis of patients with recurrence in distant organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, may be worse than patients with recurrence in distant organs, excluding the gastrointestinal tract, particularly those with symptomatic gastrointestinal metastasis. Therefore, the presence of clinical gastrointestinal metastasis may be life threatening; comprehensive evaluations are required to detect and monitor gastrointestinal metastasis during follow-up.

Lung Cancer Detected 5 Years after Resection of Cancer of Unknown Primary in a Mediastinal Lymph Node: A Case Report and Review of Relevant Cases from the Literature.

We report the rare and interesting case of a primary lung cancer detected 5 years after cancer of unknown primary (CUP) of a mediastinal lymph node (LN) was resected. A 40-year-old male was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary in a mediastinal lymph node after resection of the mediastinal tumor. Five years after resection of the CUP in mediastinal LN, a small, abnormal nodular shadow in left upper lobe was detected by chest CT. This pulmonary tumor was diagnosed as a lung adenocarcinoma. The pathological and immunohistological findings of the resected pulmonary tumor resembled those of the LN resected 5 years before. We speculated that the pulmonary lesion represented primary lung cancer that enlarged later than the metastatic mediastinal LN. This case illustrates the importance of careful observation and long-term follow-up in patients treated for CUP of a thoracic LN.

Novel approach for a pulmonary bronchogenic cyst: a report of a case.

We present a case of a bronchogenic pulmonary cyst in a 48-year-old patient. We performed [corrected] mucoclasis using argon laser photocoagulation following resection of mucosa, closure of some drainage bronchus, and covering of the inner surface by the intrapulmonary bronchogenic cyst with an [corrected] absorbable vicryl mesh. At [corrected] 4-year [corrected] follow-up, the patient had no signs of recurrence.

Repeated Localized Treatment for Endobronchial Metastasis of Thymic Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial metastases derived from nonpulmonary tumors are uncommon, although a variety of malignant tumors have been reported to be associated with endobronchial metastasis. We herein report a case of repeated bronchoscopic resection of endobronchial metastasis of a thymic carcinoma. CASE REPORT: A 59-year-old woman was diagnosed with primary thymic carcinoma, Masaoka stage IVA, in May 2009. In June 2013, she developed dyspnea. A chest CT scan revealed left upper lobe atelectasis, and a polypoid lesion was noted in the left upper bronchus on bronchoscopy. A pathological examination of the lesion revealed metastatic thymic carcinoma, and bronchoscopic resection was performed for symptom relief. However, the lesion was partially resected, based on the operative findings, which showed the peripheral part of B3 to be the origin of the polypoid lesion and bronchoscopy could not be used to reach this site. Although the patient underwent repeated partial bronchoscopic resection of the polypoid lesion due to the symptoms of dyspnea caused by regrowth of the polypoid metastatic thymic cancer in the left upper bronchus, she remains alive with an excellent performance status and no evidence of widespread or other metastases for more than 5 years after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that this case was successfully managed with repeated partial bronchoscopic resection because thymic cancer tends to be a slow-growing tumor. Therefore, it is worth resecting endobronchial metastatic thymic carcinoma repeatedly in such cases, even if the resection is partial.

Endobronchial electrocautery wire snare prior to wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy for central-type lung cancer: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Occasionally, it is difficult to design an appropriate treatment plan for central-type lung cancer. We present the usefulness of combined treatment with a bronchoscopic electrocautery wire snare prior to wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy for patients with central-type lung cancer. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 64-year-old man, who was a long-term corticosteroid user, complicated with left obstructive pneumonia. Chest CT scan showed total atelectasis of the left lung due to obstruction of the left main bronchus by an endobronchial tumor, which protruded from the left lower lobe. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of c-T3N0M0 Stage IIB. Endobronchial tumor resection of the left main bronchus was initially performed, which resulted in an improvement of the patient's symptoms; the patient's pulmonary function was evaluated and bronchial extension of the tumor was also observed. He subsequently underwent elective bronchoplastic left lower lobectomy and lymphadenectomy, with no recurrence 2 years after surgery. DISCUSSION: A variety of therapeutic bronchoscopic intervention are available for the treatment of advanced central-type lung cancer. The effectiveness of endobronchial electrocautery using the snare wire has been reported for the treatment of respiratory tract tumors, which allowed planning of the following treatment procedure. CONCLUSION: The combination of a bronchoscopic electrocautery wire snare and bronchoplastic surgical procedure was useful for the treatment of central-type lung cancer such as in our case.

Lung adenocarcinoma with coexisting pulmonary cryptococcoma.

A 73-year-old female was referred to our hospital in June 2000 for the evaluation of an abnormal shadow in the left upper lobe of her lung and two other shadows in the left lower lobe. A computed tomography examination revealed an ill-defined tumor with ground glass opacity in the left upper division segment, suggesting a primary lung adenocarcinoma, and two well-defined nodules in the left lower lobe, suggesting metastatic carcinomas. A transbronchial lung biopsy of the tumor in the upper division segment confirmed the presence of an adenocarcinoma but failed to provide a histological diagnosis for the nodules in the lower lobe. A partial resection of the left lower lobe using video-assisted thoracoscopy revealed granulomatous tissue with no signs of malignancy. A curative resection of the adenocarcinoma in the left upper division segment was therefore performed. Histologically, the resected specimens obtained from the left lower lobe were diagnosed as cryptococcomas. The patient was diagnosed as having a stage IA lung adenocarcinoma and two cryptococcomas. The patient is presently well and has not experienced any recurrences or relapse for 3 years since the resection.