Association of PET/CT and VATS findings with histology analysis in the study of pleural effusions.

INTRODUCTION: Histological analysis of the pleura obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is the best diagnostic technique in the study of neoplastic pleural effusions. This study evaluates the relationship between Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) and VATS findings, the result of the first pleural biopsy, and the final diagnosis of malignancy or non-malignancy. METHODS: Prospective study of consecutive patients with pleural effusions undergoing PET/CT and VATS from October 2013 to December 2023. The following variables were recorded: PET/CT score (nodular pleural thickening, pleural nodules with standardized uptake value (SUV) > 7.5, lung mass or extra pleural malignancy, mammary lymph node with SUV > 4.5 and cardiomegaly); VATS data (drained volume, visceral and parietal pleural thickening, nodules or masses, septa, plaques, fluid appearance, trapped lung, and suspected diagnosis of the procedure), as well as the histological study of the first pleural biopsy (benign or malignant) and the final diagnosis of benign or malignant pleural effusion. A logistic regression study of the variables was performed. RESULTS: 95.8% of the patients with PET/CT and pleuroscopy not suggestive of malignancy had non-malignant histological findings, while 93.2% of the patients with PET/CT and pleuroscopy suggestive of malignancy had malignant histological findings. PET/CT, pleuroscopy, and the result of the first pleural biopsy showed a significant association with the final diagnosis of pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between PET/CT findings, VATS and pleural histology.

Diagnóstico y evolución de los pacientes con derrames pleurales idiopáticos / Diagnosis and outcome of patients with idiopathic pleural effusions

Introducción No se ha determinado la evolución de los pacientes con derrames pleurales idiopáticos con un seguimiento a largo plazo. Métodos Entre octubre de 2013 y junio de 2021 se hizo un seguimiento prospectivo de todos los pacientes con derrame idiopático mediante exploración clínica y estudios de imagen al cabo de 1, 3 y seis meses y cada seis meses durante un mínimo de un año. Resultados Veintinueve pacientes fueron diagnosticados de derrame idiopático y objeto de seguimiento. Durante el seguimiento se detectó un mesotelioma en dos pacientes al cabo de siete y 18 meses; en uno de ellos se observó líquido pleural teñido de sangre y el otro refirió una pérdida de peso de 10%. En ninguno de los pacientes con derrame que cubriera menos de dos tercios del hemitórax y sin síntomas constitucionales ni aparición de líquido teñido de sangre se diagnosticó un mesotelioma. La mayoría de los derrames desaparecieron o mostraron una clara mejoría en los primeros seis meses. Conclusiones Los pacientes sin pérdida de peso y con derrames no hemáticos pequeños pueden beneficiarse de un tratamiento conservador y un seguimiento clínico-radiológico (AU)

Introduction Long-term follow-up course for patients with idiopathic pleural effusions has not been established. Methods From October 2013 to June 2021 all patients with idiopathic effusion were prospectively followed up with clinical examination and imaging at 1,3,6 and every 6 months for a minimum of 1 year. Results Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with idiopathic effusion and followed up. Mesothelioma was detected during the follow-up in two patients at 7 and 18 months, one of whom had blood-tinged pleural fluid and the other reported a 10% weight loss. Mesothelioma was not diagnosed in any of the patients with effusion covering less than two thirds of the hemithorax, and without constitutional symptoms or a blood-tinged fluid appearance. Most of the effusions resolved or showed a clear improvement in the first six months. Conclusions Patients without weight loss and with small, non-hematic effusions, may benefit from conservative treatment and clinical-radiological follow-up (AU)

Diagnosis and outcome of patients with idiopathic pleural effusions.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term follow-up course for patients with idiopathic pleural effusions has not been established. METHODS: From October 2013 to June 2021 all patients with idiopathic effusion were prospectively followed up with clinical examination and imaging at 1, 3, 6 and every 6 months for a minimum of 1 year. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were diagnosed with idiopathic effusion and followed up. Mesothelioma was detected during the follow-up in two patients at 7 and 18 months, one of whom had blood-tinged pleural fluid and the other reported a 10% weight loss. Mesothelioma was not diagnosed in any of the patients with effusion covering less than two thirds of the hemithorax, and without constitutional symptoms or a blood-tinged fluid appearance. Most of the effusions resolved or showed a clear improvement in the first six months. CONCLUSION: Patients without weight loss and with small, non-hematic effusions, may benefit from conservative treatment and clinical-radiological follow-up.

Finding the bubble: atypical and unusual extrapulmonary air in the chest.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiologic findings of extrapulmonary air in the chest and to review atypical and unusual causes of extrapulmonary air, emphasizing the importance of the diagnosis in managing these patients. CONCLUSION: In this article, we review a series of cases collected at our center that manifest with extrapulmonary air in the thorax, paying special attention to atypical and uncommon causes. We discuss the causes of extrapulmonary according to its location: mediastinum (spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumorrhachis, tracheal rupture, dehiscence of the bronchial anastomosis after lung transplantation, intramucosal esophageal dissection, Boerhaave syndrome, tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with esophageal tumors, bronchial perforation and esophagorespiratory fistula due to lymph-node rupture, and acute mediastinitis), pericardium (pneumopericardium in patients with lung tumors), cardiovascular (venous air embolism), pleura (bronchopleural fistulas, spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with malignant pleural mesotheliomas and primary lung tumors, and bilateral pneumothorax after unilateral lung biopsy), and thoracic wall (infections, transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, and subcutaneous emphysema after lung biopsy).

Nódulo pleural único: una forma de reacción paradójica tardía al tratamiento antituberculoso / Solitary pleural nodule: a late paradoxical reaction to antituberculosis treatment

Se presenta el caso de una mujer joven con antecedente de tuberculosis pleural y pulmonar previamente tratada, que acudió a nuestro hospital por dolor torácico y nódulo pleural único visualizado en radiografía simple y TC torácicas. Se realizó punción con aguja fina guiada por ecografía torácica de la lesión pleural con la que se obtuvo material de tipo inflamatorio para estudio con cultivo positivo para Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. El diagnóstico fue de reacción paradójica al tratamiento antituberculoso y fue tratada durante 6 meses más con resolución de la lesión pleural y el dolor torácico

We present the case of a young woman with a history of previously treated pleural and pulmonary tuberculosis referred to our hospital for chest pain and a single pleural nodule seen on plain chest films and chest CT. Cultures of inflammatory-type material obtained by US-guided fine-needle biopsy of the pleural lesion were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The diagnosis was a paradoxical reaction to antituberculosis treatment; after 6 more months of treatment, the pleural lesion and chest pain disappeared

Solitary pleural nodule: a late paradoxical reaction to antituberculosis treatment. / Nódulo pleural único: una forma de reacción paradójica tardía al tratamiento antituberculoso.

We present the case of a young woman with a history of previously treated pleural and pulmonary tuberculosis referred to our hospital for chest pain and a single pleural nodule seen on plain chest films and chest CT. Cultures of inflammatory-type material obtained by US-guided fine-needle biopsy of the pleural lesion were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The diagnosis was a paradoxical reaction to antituberculosis treatment; after 6 more months of treatment, the pleural lesion and chest pain disappeared.

Diagnóstico por imagen de la hipertensión portal / Imaging diagnosis of portal hypertension

La hipertensión portal (HTP) es una condición clínica definida por una presión hidrostática >5mmHg en el territorio venoso portal, siendo clínicamente significativa cuando es ≥10mmHg. A partir de este umbral pueden desarrollarse complicaciones, como sangrado de varices esofágicas, aparición de ascitis o encefalopatía hepática. Las técnicas de imagen tienen un papel importante como método no invasivo para determinar la presencia de HTP. En este artículo se analizan varios hallazgos radiológicos que pueden sugerir HTP y contribuir a definir su etiología, gravedad y posibles complicaciones

Portal hypertension is a clinical entity defined by a hydrostatic pressure greater than 5mm Hg in the portal territory, being clinically significant when it is greater than or equal to 10mm Hg. Starting from this threshold, complications can develop, such as the bleeding of esophageal varices, the appearance of ascites, or hepatic encephalopathy. Imaging techniques play an important role as a noninvasive method for determining whether portal hypertension is present. This article analyzes various imaging findings that can suggest the presence of portal hypertension and can help to define its etiology, severity, and possible complications

Imaging diagnosis of portal hypertension. / Diagnóstico por imagen de la hipertensión portal.

Portal hypertension is a clinical entity defined by a hydrostatic pressure greater than 5mm Hg in the portal territory, being clinically significant when it is greater than or equal to 10mm Hg. Starting from this threshold, complications can develop, such as the bleeding of esophageal varices, the appearance of ascites, or hepatic encephalopathy. Imaging techniques play an important role as a noninvasive method for determining whether portal hypertension is present. This article analyzes various imaging findings that can suggest the presence of portal hypertension and can help to define its etiology, severity, and possible complications.

Diagnóstico por imagen de rotura espontánea de quiste mediastínico del conducto torácico / Diagnostic imaging in spontaneous rupture of a thoracic duct cyst in the mediastinum

Los quistes mediastínicos del conducto torácico son extremadamente raros y pueden dar lugar a quilotórax por rotura espontánea o en el postoperatorio de estas lesiones. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de edad adulta con un quiste mediastínico del conducto torácico y quilotórax debido a rotura espontánea, no descrito previamente en la bibliografía de forma específica. Los hallazgos clínico-radiológicos, el manejo terapéutico y la anatomía patológica se describen, revisando la bibliografía respecto a esta entidad (AU)

Thoracic duct cysts in the mediastinum are extremely rare; they can give rise to chylothorax when they spontaneously rupture or after they are operated on. We present the case of an adult woman with a thoracic duct cyst in the mediastinum and chylothorax from its spontaneous rupture; to our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been specifically reported before. We describe the clinical and radiological findings, the therapeutic management, and the pathology findings, reviewing the literature for this entity (AU)

Diagnostic imaging in spontaneous rupture of a thoracic duct cyst in the mediastinum. / Diagnóstico por imagen de rotura espontánea de quiste mediastínico del conducto torácico.

Thoracic duct cysts in the mediastinum are extremely rare; they can give rise to chylothorax when they spontaneously rupture or after they are operated on. We present the case of an adult woman with a thoracic duct cyst in the mediastinum and chylothorax from its spontaneous rupture; to our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been specifically reported before. We describe the clinical and radiological findings, the therapeutic management, and the pathology findings, reviewing the literature for this entity.