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.

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.

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.