Hemoptysis as a rare manifestation of missed blunt thoracic aorta injury, a case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Blunt thoracic aorta injury is one of the most fatal injuries in multiple trauma patients and most of these injuries lead to death at the scene. Some patients remain undiagnosed because of the lack of specific symptoms for these injuries. Hemoptysis as a presentation of a neglected blunt aortic trauma is a very rare condition. In this study, we present a case with a 7-month delay in presentation and diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old man with a complaint of intermittent hemoptysis was presented to the clinic. He had a history of chest trauma following falling 7 months ago. His physical examination was unremarkable. On Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta was detected and the patient was treated urgently with a stent graft. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Blunt thoracic aorta injury may occur following deceleration traumas. Descending aorta is the most involved segment but other segments may be involved as well. Bleeding can be stopped by tamponading the aorta with its overlying pleura. In some cases, pseudoaneurysms are formed and may remain undiagnosed for a long time after index trauma. CTA is the most useful diagnostic study and when the diagnosis is made, urgent treatment is mandatory. Although endovascular repair has significantly lower mortality and morbidity, open surgical repair may be inevitable in some cases. CONCLUSION: Thoracic aorta injury should be suspected in any patient with severe deceleration trauma and CTA should be used promptly for the diagnosis and treatment of these potentially fatal injuries.

Surgical Treatment Options for Buerger's Disease (Experience with 315 Cases in Iran).

Background: Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) may be a rare peripheral vascular disease that sometimes affects young male smokers. This study presents surgical treatment options for 315 Buerger's patients during a period of 18 years from 2002 to 2020. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 315 newly diagnosed Buerger patients in a period of 18 years (by Census sampling) were evaluated. Data included age, sex, cigarette smoking status, clinical presentation, the affected limb (right or left, upper or lower extremities), and the performed therapeutic procedures such as angiography of limb arteries, amputation, sympathectomy, and vascular bypass surgery, which were collected in a data sheet. Vascular reconstruction was done if there were suitable inflow and outflow arteries. Sympathectomy was performed for the patients who were unsuitable for revascularization. All analyzes were performed using SPSSV.18 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Data are presented as frequency, mean ± variance (SD). Results: The mean age of patients was 42.6±9 years old, ranging from (26-75). There were 309 (98.1%) males and 6 (1.9%) females. The most common symptom was ulcer 252 (80%), and the most commonly involved arteries were the dorsal pedis (N=231; 73.4%) and posterior tibialis (N=225; 71.5%). Vascular bypass surgery, sympathectomy, and amputation were performed for patients who met surgical indications. Aortofemoral (N=9) and femoropopliteal (N=24) bypass procedures were done in 2.8% and 7.6% of patients respectively. Of nine patients who underwent aorto-femoral bypass procedure, 6 cases presented with leg claudication, 3 with an ulcer, and 3 with the Raynaud phenomenon. The digital loss rate was 9.6% (N=9) in toes and 1% (N=3) in fingers. Conclusion: As most of the Buerger patients have multi arterial involvement, bypass surgery or sympathectomy can't help treat these patients more than cigarette smoking or pharmaceutical therapy.

Protein C deficiency: Report of a challenging case with recurrent multiorgan thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Protein C deficiency is a rare disorder associated with an increased risk of developing abnormal blood clots. Mild and heterozygous cases are usually asymptomatic and may present with recurrent thrombosis. These recurrent thrombi are usually associated with ischemic stroke or concomitant thrombosis during pregnancy and recurrent miscarriage, but arterial thrombosis is relatively uncommon. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report, we introduce an interesting 21-year-old female patient with a protein C deficiency, which presented with a set of symptoms related to ischemia and thrombosis in several different systems, including the colon, brain, and lower extremities. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: With the diagnosis of ischemic colitis, she underwent medical treatment with hydration, antibiotics, anticoagulant, and GI rest. She was discharged with a suitable response to medical treatment and good general condition. One month later, the patient presented with right upper limb paresis and speech disorder, and at the same time, he had swelling of the left lower limb. The patient was diagnosed with DVT of the common femoral vein and protein c deficiency and treated appropriately with anticoagulant (heparin 1000 lU/h) and was discharged with oral rivaroxaban after symptoms improved. CONCLUSION: In young patients with ischemic colitis without a history of previous surgery, increased coagulation should be considered, including impaired fibrinolysis and impaired microcirculation and inflammatory processes. Protein C deficiency is one of several reasons for thrombotic disorders that should be considered in these people, especially if they have a history of DVT or other vascular thromboses.

Temporal and Geographical Trends of Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Golestan, Iran, 2004-2013.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer. We aimed to determine the incidence rates of thyroid cancer across a 10-year period (2004-2013) in Golestan, Iran. METHODS: We obtained the thyroid cancer data from Golestan Population-Based Cancer Registry (GPCR). Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were calculated and reported per 100000 person-years. The Joinpoint software was used to assess time trends, and average annual percent changes (AAPCs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: Of 326 registered patients, 83 (25.5%) were men and 243 (74.5%) were women. The mean age was 51.3 and 42.6 years for males and females, respectively. Overall, the ASR of thyroid cancer was 2.2 per 100000 person-year (AAPC = 2.76; 95% CI: -3.68 to 9.64). The test of co-incidence showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of thyroid cancer between men (1.3) and women (3.2) (P < 0.001). According to our results, the ASR of thyroid cancer in western parts of Golestan is higher, including Gorgan and Aliabad cities. CONCLUSION: Increasing trends in incidence rates of thyroid cancer were found in the Golestan province during the study period, especially in women. We found significantly higher rates of thyroid cancer in women. Geographical diversities were seen in incidence rates of thyroid cancer in the Golestan province. Our results may be helpful for designing further researches to investigate the epidemiological aspects of thyroid cancer in the Golestan province.

Sentinel ode apping in on-small ell ung ancer sing an ntraoperative adiotracer echnique.

OBJECTIVES: Lymph node metastases are the most significant prognostic factor in localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Identification of the first nodal drainage site (sentinel node) may improve detection of metastatic nodes. Extended surgeries, such as lobectomy or pneumonectomy with lymph node dissection, are among the therapeutic options of higher acceptability. Sentinel node biopsy can be an alternative approach to less invasive surgeries. The current study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of sentinel node mapping in patients with NSCLC using an intraoperative radiotracer techniques. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 21 patients with biopsy-proven NSCLC who were candidates for sentinel node mapping during 2012-2014. All patients underwent thoracoabdominal computed tomography, based on which they had no lymph node involvement. Immediately after thoracotomy and before mobilizing the tumor, peritumoral injection of 2mCi/0.4 mL Tc-99m- phytate was performed in 4 corners of tumor. After mobilization of the tumoral tissues, the sentinel nodes were searched for in the hillar and mediastinal areas using hand-held gamma probe . Any lymph node with in vivo count twice the background was considered as sentinel node and removed and sent for frozen section evaluation. All dissected nodes were evaluated by step sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E).The recorded data included age, gender, kind of pathology, site of lesion, number of dissected sentinel nodes, number of sentinel nodes, and site of sentinel nodes. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 22). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.52±11.46 years with a male to female ratio of 15/6. The left lower lobe was the most commonly affected site (30.09%). Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were detected in 11 and 10 subjects, respectively. A total of 120 lymph nodes were harvested with the mean number of 5.71±2.9 lymph nodes per patient. At least one sentinel node was identified in each patient, resulting in a detection rate of 95.2%. The mean number of sentinel nodes per patient was 3.61±2. Frozen section results showed 100% concordance with the results of hematoxylin and eosin staining. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, sentinel node mapping can be considered feasible and accurate for lymph node staging and NSCLC treatment.

The effect of iodopovidone versus bleomycin in chemical pleurodesis.

Background Malignant pleural effusion continues to be a common problem in patients with metastatic disease. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of bleomycin pleurodesis with povidone-iodine pleurodesis through a chest drain as palliative treatment for recurrent malignant pleural effusion. Methods Sixty cancer patients (36 males and 24 females) with recurrent malignant pleural effusion were enrolled in a prospective randomized trial. Thirty patients received povidone-iodine pleurodesis and 30 received bleomycin pleurodesis. Age, sex, side of the primary pathology, treatment outcome (recurrence and relapse time), and complications were analyzed. Results The mean age was 59.63 ± 7.68 years in the povidone-iodine group and 57.97 ± 9.27 years in the bleomycin group ( p = 0.452). The complications were identical in both groups: 2 (6.7%) patients had chest pain, 2 (6.7%) had fever, and one (3.3%) had hypotension. There was a good response to therapy in 20 (66.7%) patients in the bleomycin group and 25 (83.3%) in the povidone-iodine group ( p = 0.136). Conclusion The results of this study indicate that povidone-iodine should be considered as a selective chemical agent to perform pleurodesis in patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusion because it has the same effect but costs less than bleomycin.

Thymectomy for Nonthymomatous Myasthenia Gravis: Comparison of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic and Transsternal Thymectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Thymectomy considered as a standard procedure in treatment of all the steps of myasthenia gravis. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy is one of the minimally invasive procedures that because of the short duration of hospitalization, less postoperative pain, and scar after surgery, nowadays it is replaced the traditional methods of surgery for patients with myasthenia gravis, but there are still differences and concerns. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of two different techniques of surgery, VATS versus transsternal (TS) in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. METHODS: In this pilot study, 42 patients with myasthenia gravis and without a thymus tumor were evaluated based on Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America classification and drug consumption. Then, they randomly underwent two different techniques of surgery: VATS versus TS. Patients were evaluated based on preoperative and postoperative variables. RESULTS: Duration of intensive care unit stay and hospitalization has been reduced in patients who underwent VATS thymectomy operation technique. In addition, duration of surgical procedure has been reduced significantly in these patients. These patients have less blood loss during surgery compared with TS group. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America postoperative status in VATS thymectomy revealed that the number of patients with complete stable remission was higher and number of persons remained unchanged was lower in this group. CONCLUSIONS: VATS thymectomy is a safe and appropriate approach comparing with traditional methods such as TS thymectomy for patients with myasthenia gravis. This method has better results after surgery and can be used as a minimally invasive alternative method instead of TS thymectomy.

Effect of Diaphragm Plication in Thymoma Patients with and without Myasthenia Gravis.

BACKGROUND: Thymoma is the most common tumor of the anterior mediastinum that has the most effective treatment, as it can be completely resected. In patients with advanced stage, phrenic nerve involvement can be seen and suggested treatment for these patients is unilateral phrenic excision and diaphragm plication. However in patients with myasthenia gravis, there are concerns in relation to this method of treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of plication of the diaphragm on complications of phrenic nerve excision in thymoma patients with and without myasthenia gravis involving the phrenic nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 26 patients with thymoma; half of the patients had myasthenia gravis and the other half did not have myasthenia gravis. We performed diaphragm plication in 7 patients in each group with excision of phrenic nerve. Patients were evaluated based on preoperative and postoperative variables. RESULTS: The patients' age (P=0.943), sex (P=0.999), blood loss during surgery (P=0.919), need for transfusion during surgery (P=0.999), short term complications (P=0.186), need for tracheostomy (P=0.27) and mortality (P=0.09) differences were not significant. However, the average duration of ICU stay (P=0.001) and intubation in ICU (P=0.001) in patients who had myasthenia gravis was more than patients without myasthenia gravis. These values were less in patients with myasthenia gravis and diaphragm plication than patients with myasthenia gravis and no diaphragm plication. CONCLUSION: Excision of the phrenic nerve in patients with myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma and phrenic nerve involvement is appropriate.

Neglected foreign body aspiration mimicking bronchial carcinoma.

Foreign body aspiration can occur in any age group, but it is more commonly seen in children. In adults, there is usually a predisposing condition that poses a risk of aspiration. If aspiration occurs, prompt diagnosis and extraction of the foreign body is needed to prevent early and late complications. We report a rare case of neglected foreign body aspiration in a 45-year-old schizophrenic opium addicted patient, which resulted in an occlusive lesion in the bronchus, mimicking bronchial carcinoma.

Massive malignant pleural effusion due to lung adenocarcinoma in 13-year-old boy.

A 13-year-old boy with no risk factors for lung cancer presented with a massive left-sided pleural effusion and a mediastinal shift on chest radiography and computed tomography. A chest tube drained bloody pleural fluid with an exudative pattern. A pleural biopsy and wedge biopsy of the left lower lobe revealed mucinous adenocarcinoma in the left lower lobe wedge biopsy and metastatic adenocarcinoma in the pleural biopsy. The patient is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is planned after shrinkage of the tumor. Adenocarcinoma of the lung is very rarely seen in teenagers or children, especially in the absence of risk factors.

Outcome of repair of bronchial injury in 10 patients with blunt chest trauma.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial avulsion is a serious complication of blunt chest trauma, which can be easily missed on initial presentation of a patient with multiple injuries. Missing the diagnosis may increase the risk of mortality and morbidity. METHODS: We evaluated the outcome of 10 patients with bronchial injury following blunt chest trauma, who underwent bronchial anastomosis in Quaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran and Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2001 to 2012. There were 8 men and 2 women with a mean age of 23.1 ± 4.72 years. Associated injuries were ruled out in all cases. Demographic characteristics, anatomical location of the injury, mechanism of injury, complications of bronchial anastomosis, and one-year follow-up of the patients were studied. RESULTS: Eight patients had injury to the right main bronchus and 2 had injury to the left main bronchus. The time between surgery and diagnosis ranged from immediately to 6 months after injury. One death occurred in the operating room immediately after injury, due to asphyxia. The other 9 patients underwent successful anastomosis of the avulsed bronchus. There were 7 complications after repair, which were managed by a conservative approach. In one year of follow-up, one patient with residual stenosis underwent stent placement. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of major airway injury is an important factor in successful management and a favorable outcome. With improvements in surgical technique, regular follow-up, and effective management of complications, we can expect successful bronchial repair to save the lung, even with a late diagnosis.

Esophageal duplication cyst.

Esophageal duplication cyst is a rare congenital mediastinal cyst. Most of these cysts become symptomatic in childhood and only rare cases remain asymptomatic until adolescence. They may produce symptoms due to esophageal and respiratory system compression, rupture, and infection. A 25-year-old man presented with pulmonary infection and bronchiectasis that did not improve with medical treatment. A diagnosis of esophageal duplication cyst was made intraoperatively.

Glomus tumor of the trachea.

Glomus tumors of the trachea are rare and benign, but most become symptomatic, so they need intervention. A 21-year-old man was evaluated due to cough and hemoptysis. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy showed a polypoid mass above the carina. The tumor was removed completely by rigid bronchoscopy. The pathologic diagnosis was glomus tumor. After one year, because of recurrence of the tumor at the same site, the patient underwent reoperation, and resection and anastomosis of trachea through a right posterolateral thoracotomy was performed.

Video-assisted mediastinoscopic resection of mediastinal cyst (lymphangioma).

Mediastinal cysts account for 20% of all mediastinal masses. Symptomatic cysts need treatment, and surgical excision is the treatment of choice. One approach to resect them is video-assisted mediastinoscopy. An 80-year-old man with cough and dyspnea at rest was referred for evaluation. Chest computed tomography revealed a mediastinal cyst. Because of his symptoms, he was a candidate for surgery, and the cyst was resected by video-assisted mediastinoscopy through a cervical incision. Video-assisted mediastinoscopy is a safe and effective approach for complete resection of mediastinal cysts.