Seudoquiste mediastinal y fistulización pleural, excepcional complicación de una pancreatitis / Mediastinal pseudocyst and pleural fistulization, exceptional complication of pancreatitis

Resumen Introducción: Las complicaciones torácicas secundarias a pancreatitis aguda son excepcionales y más aún la presencia de un pseudoquiste mediastinal. Caso Clínico: Hombre de 36 años. Consumidor de marihuana y alcohol. Historia de 6 meses de dolor abdominal y adelgazamiento de 20 kilos. Instalando en la evolución sintomatología respiratoria. Discusión: Se discuten las formas de presentación de esta entidad. Sus etiologías más frecuentes. Se hace énfasis en el rol de la imagenología así como en el análisis del líquido pleural. El enfoque terapéutico es conservador al inicio y en algunos pacientes es quirúrgico en la evolución; con diversas opciones.

Introduction: The thoracic complications secondary to acute pancreatitis are exceptional and even more so the presence of a mediastinal pseudocyst. Case report: 36 year old man. Marijuana and alcohol consumer. History of 6 months of abdominal pain and weight loss of 20 kilos. Installing respiratory symptomatology evolution. Discussion: The forms of presentation of this entity are discussed. Its most frequent etiologies. Emphasis is placed on the role of imaging as well as the analysis of pleural fluid. The therapeutic approach is conservative at the beginning and in some patients it is surgical during evolution; with several options.

Quiste Pleuropericárdico. Reporte de casos / Pleuro Pericardial Cyst

El quiste pleuro pericárdico es una lesión muy poco común que se produce por una alteración en la embriogénesis de la cavidad celómica primordialmente, aunque también puede ser adquirido. Su incidencia es infrecuente y su localización es esencialmente a nivel del ángulo cardiofrénico derecho. Presentación de casos. Se trata de tres pacientes de sexo femenino de la quinta y sexta década de la vida, con historia, tos, disnea y hallazgo incidental en la radiografía de tórax de lesión quística de localización mediastínica. Conclusiones. El quiste pleuro pericárdico es una entidad de diagnóstico generalmente incidental y su tratamiento es en principio conservador. La cirugía ya sea por toracotomía o videotoracoscopía se reserva para pacientes con indicaciones específicas

Pleuro pericardial cyst is a very rare injury that is caused by an alteraton in the embryogenesis of the coelomic cavity primarily, but can also be acquired. Its incidence is rare and its locaton is essentally level cardiophrenic right angle. Presentaton of cases. There are three female patents of the ffh and sixth decade of life, with history, cough, dyspnea and incidental fnding on chest radiograph of a mediastnal cystc lesion localizaton. Conclusions. Pleuro pericardial cyst is an entty generally incidental, diagnosis and treatment is conservatve. Surgery either by thoracotomy or VATS is reserved for patents with specifc indicatons

Enfermedad plauropulmonar complicada en el paciente pediátrico / Complicated pleuropulmonary disease in pediatric patients

Antecedentes: La neumonía tiene gran connotación en pediatría por su incidencia, gravedad potencial y elevada mortalidad. Las complicaciones se presentan hasta en 40% de los casos, principalmente la Enfermedad Pleuropulmonar Complicada (EPPC). Objetivo: Caracterizar clínica, radiológica y microbilógica- mente la EPPC en niños ingresados en sala de pediatría del Hospital Nacional Dr. Mario Catari- no Rivas (HNMCR) en un período comprendido entre Octubre del 2013 y Octubre del 2014. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal, realizado en niños con edad com- prendida entre 28 días y 18 años con diagnósti- co EPPC ingresados al Servicio de Pediatría. Fueron 21 niños hospitalizados con estos crite- rios. Los datos se recolectaron de cada expe- diente a través de un formulario que reunía información desde la hospitalización hasta el egreso del paciente. Resultados: El 62% eran mayores de 5 años. La relación hombre-mujer fue de 1:1. El 24% de los pacientes estaban desnutridos. Se diagnosticaron 5 tipos de EPPC, los más comunes fueron el empiema (n=6, 29%) y el pioneumotórax (n=5, 24%). Se cultivó el líquido pleural encontrando S. aureus y S. pneu- moniae en 44% y 22% respectivamente. El 36% de los cultivos fueron negativos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con EPPC fueron en su mayoría escolares y adolescentes eutróficos. No se encontró relación que indique la desnutrición como factor de riesgo para la EPPC. Existe una relación directamente proporcional entre el tiempo de inicio de los síntomas, y las formas más avanzadas de EPPC.

New frontier for intracardiac devices: endobronchial occlusion of bronchopleural fistula with CERA device.

We report on a 57-year-old patient suffering from advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the left lung, ultimately submitted to intrapericardial left pneumonectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Imaging examination showed a left bronchopleural fistula that needed to be occluded. Due to the patient's high surgical risk, endobronchial closure with intracardiac device was performed. The ASD CERA™ device (Lifetech Schenzhen, China) was chosen. The procedure was successful and the patient was discharge from the hospital 5 days thereafter. Endobronchial closure of bronchopleural fistulas with intracardiac devices is feasible and may become an excellent option for those very ill patients.

Thoracic endometriosis: first reported case in Puerto Rico and review of literature.

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue in extra uterine sites. It affects 5-15% of females during their reproductive years. Thoracic endometriosis syndrome is characterized by the presence of functional endometrial tissue within the pleura, the lung parenchyma or the airway. The overall prevalence of this condition is unknown due to a lack of epidemiological studies, variety of symptoms, signs and locations. We present the first reported case of recurrent catamenial pneumothorax in Puerto Rico and a review of recent literature.

Traumatic thoracobiliary (pleurobiliary and bronchobiliary) fistula.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic thoracobiliary fistula is a rare but serious complication. A series of thoracobiliary fistulas secondary to penetrating trauma and analysis of trends in management are presented. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with traumatic thoracobiliary fistula, treated from April 2008 to February 2010. There were 5 patients: 4 suffered gunshot wounds and 1 was stabbed. The mean injury severity score was 22. RESULTS: Initial treatment was insertion of a chest tube in all cases. One patient underwent damage-control surgery and hepatic packing, and 3 were managed with laparotomy, a perihepatic closed drain, and suture of the diaphragm. Two patients developed bronchobiliary fistulas and 3 had pleurobiliary fistulas. Diagnostic procedures involved determination of bilirubin in pleural effusion, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiography, hepatobiliary iminodiacetic scans, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Definitive treatment included sphincterotomy and stenting in 4 cases, pulmonary decortication in 5, fistulectomy in 2, hepatic suture in 2, perihepatic closed drain placement in 4, and suture of the diaphragm in 4. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic thoracobiliary fistulas are complex lesions. A multidisciplinary approach is required for a timely and successful outcome. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is very useful as the initial procedure to confirm the diagnosis and also for treatment.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the chest: current and new applications, with an emphasis on pulmonology.

The objective of the present review study was to present the principal applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest, including the description of new techniques. Over the past decade, this method has evolved considerably because of the development of new equipment, including the simultaneous interconnection of phased-array multiple radiofrequency receiver coils and remote control of the table movement, in addition to faster techniques of image acquisition, such as parallel imaging and partial Fourier acquisitions, as well as the introduction of new contrast agents. All of these advances have allowed MRI to gain ground in the study of various pathologies of the chest, including lung diseases. Currently, MRI is considered the modality of choice for the evaluation of lesions in the mediastinum and in the chest wall, as well as of superior sulcus tumors. However, it can also facilitate the diagnosis of lung, pleural, and cardiac diseases, as well as of those related to the pulmonary vasculature. Pulmonary MRI angiography can be used in order to evaluate various pulmonary vascular diseases, and it has played an ever greater role in the study of thromboembolism. Because cardiac MRI allows morphological and functional assessment in the same test, it has also become part of the clinical routine in the evaluation of various cardiac diseases. Finally, the role of MRI has been extended to the identification and characterization of pulmonary nodules, the evaluation of airway diseases, and the characterization of pleural effusion.

Ressonância magnética do tórax: aplicações tradicionais e novas, com ênfase em pneumologia / Magnetic resonance imaging of the chest: current and new applications, with an emphasis on pulmonology

O objetivo deste estudo de revisão foi apresentar as principais aplicações da ressonância magnética (RM) no estudo do tórax, incluindo a descrição de novas técnicas. Na ultima década, esse método teve grande evolução, com novos equipamentos, incluindo a interconexão simultânea de bobinas e a movimentação da mesa simultaneamente à aquisição das imagens, além do advento de novas técnicas rápidas de aquisição de imagem, tais como imagem paralela e aquisição parcial de dados, com ou sem utilização de apneia, somando-se ainda a introdução de novos agentes de contraste. Todos esses avanços fizeram com que a RM tenha ganhado espaço no estudo de diferentes patologias do tórax, incluindo as doenças pulmonares. Atualmente, a RM pode ser considerada a modalidade de escolha para a avaliação das lesões mediastinais, da parede torácica e dos tumores do sulco superior, mas também pode auxiliar no diagnóstico de doenças pulmonares, pleurais, cardíacas e da vasculatura pulmonar. A angiografia pulmonar por RM pode ser utilizada na avaliação de várias doenças vasculares pulmonares, e seu papel no estudo do tromboembolismo vem crescendo. A RM cardíaca, devido à possibilidade de avaliação morfológica e funcional em um mesmo exame, também já faz parte da rotina clínica na investigação de muitas patologias cardíacas. Por fim, o papel da RM vem sendo ampliado para a identificação e caracterização de nódulos pulmonares, avaliação das doenças das vias aéreas e caracterização dos derrames pleurais.

The objective of the present review study was to present the principal applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest, including the description of new techniques. Over the past decade, this method has evolved considerably because of the development of new equipment, including the simultaneous interconnection of phased-array multiple radiofrequency receiver coils and remote control of the table movement, in addition to faster techniques of image acquisition, such as parallel imaging and partial Fourier acquisitions, as well as the introduction of new contrast agents. All of these advances have allowed MRI to gain ground in the study of various pathologies of the chest, including lung diseases. Currently, MRI is considered the modality of choice for the evaluation of lesions in the mediastinum and in the chest wall, as well as of superior sulcus tumors. However, it can also facilitate the diagnosis of lung, pleural, and cardiac diseases, as well as of those related to the pulmonary vasculature. Pulmonary MRI angiography can be used in order to evaluate various pulmonary vascular diseases, and it has played an ever greater role in the study of thromboembolism. Because cardiac MRI allows morphological and functional assessment in the same test, it has also become part of the clinical routine in the evaluation of various cardiac diseases. Finally, the role of MRI has been extended to the identification and characterization of pulmonary nodules, the evaluation of airway diseases, and the characterization of pleural effusion.

Efeitos respiratórios da exposição ao talco industrial em ex-trabalhadores de mineração / Efectos respiratorios de la exposición al talco industrial en extrabajadores de minería / Respiratory effects from industrial talc exposure among former mining workers

OBJETIVO: Avaliar efeitos respiratórios tardios da inalação ocupacional de talco contaminado por asbesto. MÉTODOS: Análise de série de casos de 29 ex-trabalhadores de mineração de talco contaminado com asbestos provenientes de Carandaí, MG, atendidos no Centro de Referência Estadual de Saúde do Trabalhador de Minas Gerais em 2004-2005. Os ex-trabalhadores foram submetidos a anamnese clínico-ocupacional, radiografia de tórax e espirometria. Foi criado um escore de exposição que, multiplicado pela duração, originou um índice de exposição cumulativa ao talco. Para verificar a associação do índice de exposição cumulativa com a presença de alterações radiológicas, sugestivas de pneumoconiose e/ou alterações pleurais, foi ajustado um modelo de regressão logística exata. RESULTADOS: Todos os ex-trabalhadores eram homens, com média de idade de 48,2 anos. Nas radiografias de tórax foram encontradas alterações pleurais em três deles, opacidades parenquimatosas compatíveis com pneumoconiose em um e suspeita em seis. Alterações espirométricas ocorreram em três. A regressão logística apontou odds ratio de 1,059 (IC 95 por cento: 1,012;1,125) para o índice acumulado, ou seja, cada unidade no índice resulta em um aumento de 5,9 por cento na chance de apresentar alteração radiológica compatível ou suspeita de pneumoconiose. Em relação à mediana do tempo estimado de latência entre o início da exposição até o diagnóstico das placas pleurais, ocorreu diferença significativa (p = 0,013) entre os casos (27,0 anos) e não casos (14,3 anos). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados apontam a necessidade de controle clínico nos trabalhadores que foram expostos a asbesto, particularmente devido aos efeitos tardios da exposição a esse mineral.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate late respiratory effects from occupational inhalation of talc contaminated with asbestos. METHODS: This was a case series study on 29 former talc mining workers with asbestos contamination, in the municipality of Carandaí, Southeastern Brazil, who were attended at the State Workers' Health Reference Center in 2004 and 2005. Their clinical and occupational histories were obtained and they underwent spirometry and chest radiography. An exposure score was created; multiplying this by duration produced a cumulative talc exposure index. To confirm the association between the cumulative exposure index and the presence of radiological abnormalities suggestive of pneumoconiosis and/or pleural abnormalities, an exact logistic regression model was fitted to this. RESULTS: All the former workers were males, with an average age of 48.2 years. Chest radiographs showed pleural abnormalities in three of them; parenchymatous opacity compatible with pneumoconiosis in one; and suspected pneumoconiosis in six. Spirometric abnormalities were found in three workers. Logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 1.059 (95 percent CI: 1.012; 1.125) for the cumulative exposure index, i.e. each unit increase in the index resulted in an increase of 5.9 percent in the chance of presenting radiological abnormalities compatible with or suspicious of pneumoconiosis. With regard to the median estimated latency period between the start of exposure and the diagnosing of pleural plaque, there was a significant difference (p = 0.013) between the cases (27.0 years) and non-cases (14.3 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the need for clinical control among workers who have been exposed to asbestos, particularly because of the late effects from exposure to this mineral.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar efectos respiratorios tardíos de la inhalación ocupacional de talco contaminado por asbesto. MÉTODOS: Análisis de serie de casos de 29 extrabajadores de minería de talco contaminado con asbestos provenientes de Carandaí, sureste de Brasil, atendidos en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de Salud del Trabajador de Minas Gerais en 2004-2005. Los extrabajadores fueron sometidos a anamnesis clínico-ocupacional, radiografía de tórax y espirometría. Fue creado un escore de exposición que multiplicado por la duración, originó un índice de exposición acumulativa al talco. Para testar la asociación del índice de exposición acumulativa con la presencia de alteraciones radiológicas, sugestivas de neumoconiosis e/o alteraciones pleurales, fue ajustado un modelo de regresión logística exacta. RESULTADOS: Todos los extrabajadores eran hombres, con promedio de edad de 48,2 años. En las radiografías de tórax fueron encontradas alteraciones pleurales en tres de ellos, opacidades parenquimatosas compatibles con neumoconiosis en uno y sospecha en seis. Alteraciones espirométricas ocurrieron en tres. La regresión logística indicó odds ratio de 1,059 (IC 95 por ciento:1,012;1,125) para el índice acumulado, es decir, cada unidad en el índice resulta en un aumento de 5,9 por ciento en el chance de presentar alteración radiológica compatible o con sospecha de neumoconiosis. Con relación a la mediana del tiempo estimado de latencia entre el inicio de la exposición y el diagnóstico de las placas pleurales, ocurrió diferencia significativa (p=0,013) entre los casos (27,0 años) y no casos (14,3 años). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran la necesidad de control clínico en los trabajadores que fueron expuestos a asbesto, particularmente debido a los efectos tardíos de la exposición a este mineral.

Respiratory effects from industrial talc exposure among former mining workers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate late respiratory effects from occupational inhalation of talc contaminated with asbestos. METHODS: This was a case series study on 29 former talc mining workers with asbestos contamination, in the municipality of Carandaí, Southeastern Brazil, who were attended at the State Workers' Health Reference Center in 2004 and 2005. Their clinical and occupational histories were obtained and they underwent spirometry and chest radiography. An exposure score was created; multiplying this by duration produced a cumulative talc exposure index. To confirm the association between the cumulative exposure index and the presence of radiological abnormalities suggestive of pneumoconiosis and/or pleural abnormalities, an exact logistic regression model was fitted to this. RESULTS: All the former workers were males, with an average age of 48.2 years. Chest radiographs showed pleural abnormalities in three of them; parenchymatous opacity compatible with pneumoconiosis in one; and suspected pneumoconiosis in six. Spirometric abnormalities were found in three workers. Logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 1.059 (95% CI: 1.012; 1.125) for the cumulative exposure index, i.e. each unit increase in the index resulted in an increase of 5.9% in the chance of presenting radiological abnormalities compatible with or suspicious of pneumoconiosis. With regard to the median estimated latency period between the start of exposure and the diagnosing of pleural plaque, there was a significant difference (p = 0.013) between the cases (27.0 years) and non-cases (14.3 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the need for clinical control among workers who have been exposed to asbestos, particularly because of the late effects from exposure to this mineral.

Duropleural fistula revealed by neurological manifestations: an unusual cause of pleural effusion.

Symptomatic pleural collection of cerebrospinal fluid is a rare but accepted complication in hydrocephalic paediatric patients treated with ventriculopleural shunts. Few cases have been described in adults, usually as complication of trauma, tumours or spinal surgery, particularly post-laminectomy. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion after neurosurgical procedures involving the spine. We describe two patients with large cerebrospinal fluid collections in the pleural cavity caused by postoperative duropleural fistula, who presented with neurological symptoms, cerebrospinal fluid pressure headache and meningitis.

Classificação de transudatos e exsudatos pleurais com os exames de proteínas totais e desidrogenase lática dosados somente no líquido pleural / Classification of pleural transudates and exudates with total protein and lactate dehydrogenase tests measured only in pleural fluid

Objetivo: Propor novo critério de classificação entre exsudatos e transudatos pleurais com dosagens de proteínas totais (PtnT) e DHL exclusivamente no líquido pleural. Metodologia: 181 pacientes selecionados entre 2003 e 2006. Cálculo estatístico pela curva ROC. Resultados: Para o diagnóstico de exsudato, isoladamente no líquido pleural, as dosagens de Ptn-T ≥ 3,4g/dL e DHL ≥ 328,0 U/L proporcionaram sensibilidade, especificidade e acurária de 99,4% (98,7 – 99,7), 72,6% (69,7 – 75,2) e99,2% (98,4 – 99,5), respectivamente. Sensibilidade de 98,5 % (93,0 – 99,0), especificidade de 83,4% (74,0 – 89,0) e acurácia de 90,0 (82,0 – 94,0) para transudato pleural. Conclusão: O novo critério de classificação proposto com dosagens de proteínas totais e DHL isoladamente no líquido pleural, obteve significância estatística e clínica para ser utilizado na prática diária.

Objective: To propose new reference values and their respective diagnostic parameters of the total proteins and lactic desidrogenase (LDH) dosage exclusively in the pleural fluid to diagnose pleural exudates and transudates. Methodology: 181patients selected from 2003 to 2006. Results submitted to ROC curve. Results: Isolated analysis of total protein with level ≥3.4g/dL and LDH ≥ 328.0 U/L in pleural fluid had a sensivity, specificity and accuracy of 99.4% (98.7 – 99.7), 72.6% (69.7 –75.2) and 99.2% (98.4 – 99.5) respectively. Conclusion: The new classification criteria for distinguishing between pleural exudates and transudates, with measurements of total proteins and LDH in pleural fluid alone, reached statistical and clinicalsignificance.