Rib Cage Measurement Reproducibility Using Biplanar Stereoradiographic 3D Reconstructions in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: A reproducibility study of preoperative rib cage three-dimensional (3D) measurements was conducted for patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). No prior reliability study has been performed for preoperative 3D reconstructions of the rib cage by using stereoradiography in patients with preoperative AIS. Our objective was to assess the reliability of rib cage 3D reconstructions using biplanar stereoradiography in patients with AIS before surgery. METHODS: This series includes 21 patients with Lenke 1 or 2 scoliosis (74±20 degrees). All patients underwent low-dose standing biplanar radiographs. Two operators performed reconstructions twice each. Intraoperator repeatability, interoperator reproducibility, and intraclass coefficients (ICC) were calculated and compared between groups. RESULTS: The average rib cage volume was 4.71 L (SD±0.75 L). Two SD was 0.19 L with a coefficient of variation of 4.1%; ICC was 0.968. The thoracic index was 0.6 (SD±0.1). Two SD was 0.03 with a coefficient of variation of 4.7% and a ICC of 0.820. As for the Spinal Penetration Index (6.4%; SD±2.4), 2SD was 0.9% with a coefficient of variation of 14.3% and a ICC of 0.901. The 3D rib hump 2SD (average 27±8 degrees) was 1.4 degrees. The coefficient of variation and ICC were respectively 5.1% and 0.991. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional reconstruction of the rib cage using biplanar stereoradiography is a reliable method to estimate preoperative thoracic parameters in patients with AIS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-diagnostic study.

Biplanar stereoradiography predicts pulmonary function tests in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Various spinal and rib cage parameters measured from complex examinations were found to be correlated with preoperative pulmonary function tests (PFT). The aim was to investigate the relationship between preoperative rib cage parameters and PFT using biplanar stereoradiography in patients with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: Fifty-four patients, 45 girls and nine boys, aged 13.8 ± 1.2 years, with Lenke 1 or 2 thoracic scoliosis (> 50°) requiring surgical correction were prospectively included. All patients underwent preoperative PFT and low-dose biplanar X-rays. The following data were collected: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, residual volume, slow vital capacity (SVC), total lung capacity (TLC), rib cage volume (RCV), maximum rib hump, maximum width, mean thoracic index, spinal penetration index, apical vertebral rotation, main curve Cobb angle (MCCA), T4-T12 kyphosis. The primary outcome was the relationship between rib cage parameters and PFT. The secondary outcome was the relationship between rib cage parameters and spine parameters. Data were analyzed using Spearman's rank test. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to compare PFTs and structural parameters. Significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: The mean MCCA was 68.7° ± 16.7°. RCV was highly correlated with all pulmonary capacities: TLC (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001), SVC (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001) and FVC (r = 0.77, p < 0.0001). RCV had a low correlation with FEV1/FVC (r = - 0.34, p = 0.014). SPI was not correlated with any pulmonary parameters. CONCLUSION: Rib cage volume measured by biplanar stereoradiography may represent a prediction tool for PFTs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Non-randomized cross-sectional study among consecutive patients, Level 2. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

[Long-Term Survival of a Patient with Stage IV Breast Cancer and An Intrathoracic Space-Occupying Metastatic Lesion].

A 50-year old woman noticed left axillary lymph node swelling and presented at our hospital. CNB showed adenocarcinoma( pap-tub, ER+, PgR+, HER2 3+). CT revealed a right lung metastatic nodule and swollen lymph nodes above the left collarbone and left axilla. However, no breast tumor was found at that time. We diagnosed occult breast cancer, TxN3bM1 (lung), Stage IV . FEC(100), paclitaxel, letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane plus trastuzumab, tegafur/uracil plus trastuzumab, and lapatinib plus capecitabine were sequentially administered. Five years and 9 months after the treatment started, CT revealed a right intrathoracic lesion that had gradually increased in size. Subsequently, trastuzumab plus pertuzumab plus docetaxel, bevacizumab plus paclitaxel, trastuzumab emtansine, trastuzumab plus fulvestrant, and doxifluridine plus medroxyprogesterone acetate plus cyclophosphamide(DMpC therapy)were sequentially administered. At this time, 8 years after the treatment started, trastuzumab plus pertuzumab plus vinorelbine were also administered. An intrathoracic space-occupying lesion due to breast cancer is rare, and anti-HER2 chemotherapy was effective for this patient.

[The morphological and morphometric study of amianthoid transformation of the costal cartilage in health and in keeled chest deformity in children]. / Morfologicheskoe i morfometricheskoe issledovanie amiantoidnoi transformatsii rebernykh khryashchei v norme i pri kilevidnoi deformatsii grudnoi kletki u detei.

Amianthoid transformation (AT) is the accumulations of abnormal collagen structures (amianthoid fibers) in the hyaline cartilages, tumors, and tendons. Neither functional value of costal cartilage matrix AT, nor its role in the pathogenesis of congenital chest deformities is known now. AIM: to examine the morphological features of AT in the costal cartilage of children with the normal and keeled chest. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Costal cartilages were studied in 6 children with the normal chest (autopsy material) and in 5 ones with keeled chest (surgical material). Tissue fragments were fixed in 10% neutral formalin and embedded in compacted paraffin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, picrofuchsin by van Gieson, with picrosirius, toluidine blue and by the Malaurie method modified by Gallego. The specimens were examined by light, phase-contrast, dark-field, fluorescence, and polarization microscopy. The frequency of AT sites and their area were morphometrically studied and the findings were then statistically processed. RESULTS: Various types of AT in the costal cartilages were described as both the normal and keeled chest. According to their morphological features, classic, fine-fiber, twisted, and intralacunar types were identified. There were statistically significant increases in the incidence of all types (except the intralacunar one) and in the area of the fine-fiber AT type in keeled chest deformity as compared to health. There were positive correlations between the area of classic, intralacunar, and twisted types in both groups and between the area of a classic type and age in the controls. CONCLUSION: A classification of AT areas varying in structures in health and disease has been given for the first time; their relation to each other and to the presence of keeled deformity shown, which, in our opinion, suggests that AT is implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Conventional chondrosarcoma of the rib cage and sternum: clinicopathological and molecular analysis of 27 patients treated at a single institution.

Conventional chondrosarcoma of the chest wall is rare, accounting for 15% of cases. Our purpose was to document clinicopathological, imaging and outcome results from a novel set of chest wall chondrosarcomas, and to analyze for IDH mutations and novel molecular alterations. Gross and microscopic pathology, imaging and clinical charts were reviewed. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed to identify somatic mutations and copy number alterations. The cohort consisted of 27 patients: 16 men and 11 women (mean age 51 years; range 23-76). Palpable mass was the most common presentation. Five were discovered incidentally. Among 20 tumors with complete imaging, 15 arose from a rib and 5 from the sternum. Seven rib tumors were central/intramedullary, 5 were periosteal, 2 were secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas, and one was indeterminate. Among sternal tumors, 4 were central/intramedullary and one was periosteal. Half the periosteal tumors arose from the costochondral junctional cartilage (CCJ). Periosteal chondrosarcomas were sometimes mistaken for extraskeletal masses on initial clinical or radiological examinations. Fifty-nine percent of all tumors were grade 1 and 41% were grade 2. None were dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas. Heterozygous IDH1 mutation was detected in one tumor and heterozygous RAD50 mutation in another. Local recurrence(s) happened in 41% and metastasis in 41%. Grade had strong association with local recurrence (25% grade 1 vs. 64% grade 2 [P = .0447]), metastatic recurrence (19% grade 1 vs. 73% grade 2 [P = .0058]), and survival. Although chest wall chondrosarcomas share morphologic and molecular features with other chondrosarcomas, there is a much higher incidence of periosteal chondrosarcomas. IDH mutant tumors are uncommon. Early diagnosis and margin-negative resection is treatment of choice since chondrosarcomas are chemo- and radioresistant.

Functional analysis of the human rib cage over the vital capacity range in standing position using biplanar X-ray imaging.

Pathologies of the respiratory system can by accompanied by alterations of the biomechanical function of the rib cage, as well as of its morphology and movement. The assessment of such pathologies could benefit from rib cage kinematic analysis during breathing, but this analysis is challenging because of the difficulties in observing and quantifying bone movements in vivo. This work explored the feasibility of using biplanar x-rays to study rib cage modifications at different lung volumes and evaluated the potential of the method to characterize rib cage kinematic patterns in patients. Forty-seven asymptomatic adults and eleven obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients underwent biplanar x-rays at three lung volumes: normal breathing, maximal and minimal volume. Rib cage and spinopelvic positional parameters were computed from 3D reconstruction of the skeleton. Results showed that inspiration mostly mobilized the ribs and costo-vertebral junction, while expiration was driven by the spine. OSAS patients had a different sagittal profile at rest than asymptomatic subjects, but these differences decreased at maximal and minimal volume. This suggests that patients employed different biomechanical strategies to attain a trunk configuration similar to asymptomatic subjects at minimal and maximal lung volume. This study confirmed that the proposed method could have an impact for the clinical assessment and understanding of pathologies involving breathing function, and which directly affect rib cage morphology.

Thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio is a predictor of technical difficulties in minimally invasive esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Technical difficulties are occasionally encountered when performing conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy and robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy in patients with a narrow thoracic cavity. Thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio is an indicator of thoracic cavity length. We hypothesized that the thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio could be a predictor of technical difficulties in conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy and robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy. METHODS: We evaluated 340 patients who underwent minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma between April 2010 and March 2021. Thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio was calculated as the diameter of the thoracic cavity to that of the thoracic cage at the brachiocephalic vein, tracheal bifurcation, and inferior right pulmonary vein levels. Moreover, thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio score, which is an indicator of the whole thoracic cavity length based on the thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio at the 3 levels, was defined. The thoracic procedure time was considered an indicator of surgical difficulty. RESULTS: We divided the patients into the conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy (n = 295) and robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (n = 45) groups. The patients in each group were divided into 2 cohorts according to median thoracic procedure time. Based on multivariate analysis, body mass index (P = .0007), clinical N stage (P = .0191), and thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio score (P = .0005) were independent factors for thoracic procedure time in the conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy group. Moreover, thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio at the tracheal bifurcation level (P = .0331) was the only independent factor for thoracic procedure time in the robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy group. CONCLUSION: Thoracic cavity-to-cage ratio could be a predictor of technical difficulties in both conventional minimally invasive esophagectomy and robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Impact of flat chest on cadaveric lung transplantation: postoperative pulmonary function and survival.

OBJECTIVES: Thoracic cage flatness, the so-called flat chest, is a chest wall deformity associated with end-stage lung disease requiring lung transplantation. There is little information on the impact of flat chest on lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether flat chest directly influences respiratory function and survival after cadaveric lung transplantation. METHODS: Data from 68 patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation between August 2010 and September 2017, excluding patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lymphangioleiomyomatosis, were retrospectively collected and divided into 2 groups: a flat chest group (n = 30) and a non-flat chest group (n = 38). Flat chest was diagnosed when the ratio of the thoracic anteroposterior diameter to the transverse diameter was 1/3 or less. Preoperative characteristics, postoperative pulmonary function, exercise capacity and survival were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Preoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) and %FVC were significantly lower in the flat chest group. A downsizing of lobar transplantation to overcome size disparity was more frequent in the flat chest group (P = 0.04). However, there were no significant differences in the ratio of postoperative FVC to the preoperatively estimated FVC and postoperative 6-min walk distances between the 2 groups. The 5-year overall survival rate of patients in the flat chest group and the non-flat chest group was 64.3% and 66.5%, respectively (P = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Although tailoring of the donor lung was occasionally needed for flat chest patients, postoperative function and survival of flat chest patients were satisfactory compared with those of non-flat chest patients after cadaveric lung transplantation.

Correlation analysis between the pulmonary function test and the radiological parameters of the main right thoracic curve in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis causes thoracic deformities, and it is necessary to assess these changes in pulmonary function test (PFT). To determine how measurements of spinal and thoracic cage deformities are related to pulmonary function. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with main right thoracic curvature in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) underwent a PFT and a radiological parameter evaluation of spinal and thoracic cage deformities. Simple and multiple linear regressions were also used to note whether a combination of variables might better predict PFT values. Means were compared using the two-sample t test or one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple comparison methods. RESULTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC)% predicted had significantly negative correlations with main thoracic curve Cobb (MT-Cobb) (R2 = 0.648, p < 0.001), main thoracic curve-rib hump (MT-RH) (R2 = 0.522, p < 0.001), main thoracic curve apical vertebral body-to-rib ratio (MT-AVB-R) (R2 = 0.536, p < 0.001), and main thoracic curve apical vertebra translation (MT-AVT) (R2 = 0.383, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis was performed with FVC% predicted as the dependent variable and MT-Cobb, MT-RH, MT-AVB-R, and MT-AVT as the independent variables. MT-Cobb, MT-RH, MT-AVB-R, and MT-AVT were factors with a significant effect on FVC% predicted (p < 0.001). For 45 patients who had preoperative FVC impairment (FVC% predicted < 80%), their MT-Cobb averaged 76.71°. Twenty-seven patients with normal preoperative FVC (FVC% predicted ≥ 80%) had a smaller mean MT-Cobb of 52.03° (p < 0.001). In other radiological parameters, the impaired FVC group had a MT-AVT of 54.29 mm compared to 38.06 mm for the normal FVC group (p < 0.001). MT-AVB-R averaged 2.92 for the impaired FVC group and 1.78 for the normal FVC group (p < 0.001). MT-RH averaged 28.79 mm for the impaired group and 16.62 mm for the normal group (p < 0.001). Further stratification of preoperative PFT results is divided into three groups. The three groups also showed significant differences in MT-Cobb, MT-RH, MT-AVB-R, and MT-AVT (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Severe scoliosis leads to an increased degree of thoracic deformity, which increases the risk of lung damage in AIS. Moreover, a more accurate assessment of pulmonary function is achieved through radiological parameters and PFTs.

Osteochondroma of ventral scapula associated with chest pain due to rib cage compression: A case report.

RATIONALE: The scapula is relatively rare site for osteochondroma. Scapula osteochondroma is usually asymptomatic, however it may present with features such as pseudowinging, snapping scapula, bursa formation, chronic pain, and cosmetic deformities. To our best knowledge, this is the first report in the English literature about osteochondroma of ventral scapula associated with chest pain due to rib cage compression. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 14-year-old boy was transferred to the orthopedic clinic from thoracic surgery department with a complaint of intermittent, dull, and diffuse aching pain around left chest wall and back from the past 2 months. The patient was previously diagnosed with multiple osteochondromas on another side; proximal tibia and distal femur. DIAGNOSIS: A radiopaque mass like lesion was observed on the scapula in the posteroanterior view of the chest, and compression of chest wall was also seen. In chest computed tomography (CT), pedunculated outgrowing bony mass was noted in the anterior aspect of the left scapular wing, which showed the continuity of bony cortex and medulla. This bony mass showed the mass effect on the left chest wall, causing left thoracic cavity deformity by making it narrower than the right INTERVENTIONS:: Surgery was performed under general anesthesia. After the surgery, the arm was immobilized by putting it in an abductor pillow brace for 3 weeks, and during that period pendulum exercise was permitted. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms resolved in the immediate postoperative period. At 1 year's follow-up, the patient was symptom free and there was no evidence of recurrence of the tumor. LESSONS: We recommend that in case of patients who have a history of osteochondroma and complaint of chest pain, surgeons should become suspicious of the presence of osteochondroma of the ventral scapula. In this situation, we recommend chest radiography, pulmonary function test, and chest CT for early detection and treatment.

Role of Clavicle Chest Cage Angle Difference in Predicting Postoperative Shoulder Balance in Lenke 5C Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients after Selective Posterior Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of preoperative clavicle chest cage angle difference (CCAD) on postoperative radiographic shoulder imbalance, patient's satisfaction and surgeon's fulfillment in Lenke 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). CCAD, as a novel radiographic parameter, has proven to be a reliable predictor for postoperative shoulder imbalance in Lenke 1 AIS patients. However, the value of CCAD in predicting shoulder balance has never been evaluated in Lenke 5 AIS patients. METHODS: A total of 42 Lenke 5C AIS patients aged from 10 to 18 years old with a minimum 2-year follow-up were enrolled for evaluation. All patients underwent selective posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion using the all segmental pedicle screw technique by the same surgical team. The fusion levels were determined according to the Lenke criteria. Shoulder height difference (SHD) and CCAD were measured on anteroposterior (AP) standing radiographs. The patients' satisfaction and the surgeons' fulfillment were evaluated using a questionnaire. A receiver operative characteristic curve analysis was performed to explore the threshold values of preoperative CCAD in the prediction of the final follow-up radiographic shoulder imbalance, patients' satisfaction and surgeons' fulfillment. RESULTS: The average preoperative Cobb angle of the main curve was 46.8° ± 4.8°, and the average immediate postoperative Cobb angle was 13.3° ± 2.6°, representing an average surgical correction rate of 75.6% ± 8.5%. The average follow-up time was 29.2 months. At the last follow-up, the value of preoperative CCAD was significantly higher in patients with unbalanced shoulders (SHD ≥ 10 mm). At the final follow-up, 66.7% (28/42) of the patients were satisfied with their appearance, while 33.3% (14/42) of the patients were not satisfied with their appearance. At the final follow-up, 61.9% (26/42) of the surgeons were fulfilled with their operation, while 38.1% (16/42) of the surgeons were not. For patients' satisfaction and surgeons' fulfillment, the preoperative CCAD was significantly greater in patients with unsatisfied outcomes. DISCUSSION: Clavicle chest cage angle difference could be a reliable predictor for evaluating postoperative shoulder imbalance in AIS patients undergoing selective posterior fusion for Lenke 5C curves. A greater preoperative CCAD was significantly correlated with a postoperative radiographic imbalance of shoulders and dissatisfaction, which will guide spine surgeons in their preoperative planning and in the surgical management of AIS to reduce postoperative shoulder imbalance.

Deep Sulcus Sign in Pneumothorax / Signo de surco profundo en neumotórax

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