No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Thoracic Diseases*

Primary pulmonary amyloidosis is a rare disease, and is classified as either tracheobronchial or parenchymal ; the latter is also divided into nodular and diffuse alveolar septal forms. The alveolar form is extremely rare and usually produces reticular and nodular opacities. We describe a case of alveolar septal pulmonary amyloidosis manifested as multiple small nodules on chest radiograph and disseminated micronodules mainly in centrilobular and subpleural location without reticular opacities, on HRCT.
Amyloidosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rare Diseases

Dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography can be used to provide anatomic and dynamic information for various lymphatic diseases, including thoracic duct injury, and can also help to guide the thoracic duct embolization procedure. We present a case of postoperative chylothorax demonstrated by dynamic enhanced MR lymphangiography. In this case, the chyle leakage site and location of cisterna chyli were clearly visualized by dynamic enhanced MR lymphangiography, thus allowing for management with thoracic duct embolization.
Chyle ; Chylothorax ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphography ; Thoracic Duct

China ; Esophageal Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; surgery ; Thoracic Injuries ; surgery ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Thoracic Surgery ; Trachea ; surgery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to present a guideline for beginning video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy to junior surgeons, and to review the first year experience of a new surgeon performing VATS lobectomies who had not performed a VATS lobectomy unassisted during his training period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A young surgeon opened a division of general thoracic surgery at a medical institution. The surgeon had performed about 100 lobectomies via conventional thoracotomy during his training period, but had never performed a VATS lobectomy unassisted while under the supervision of an expert. After opening the division of general thoracic surgery, the surgeon performed a total of 38 pulmonary lobectomies for various pulmonary diseases from March 2009 to February 2010. All data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 14 lobectomies via thoracotomy, 14 VATS lobectomies, and 10 cases of attempted VATS lobectomies that were converted to open thoracotomies. The number of VATS lobectomies increased from the second quarter (n=0) to the third quarter (n=5). The lobectomies that were converted from VATS into thoracotomies decreased from the second quarter (n=5) to the third quarter (n=1) (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: It can take 6 months for young surgeons without experience in VATS lobectomy in their training period to be able to reliably perform a VATS lobectomy.
Learning ; Learning Curve ; Lung Diseases ; Organization and Administration ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy

Right aortic arch, a congenital malformation of the great vessels, can cause compression of trachea and/or esophagus. We experienced a case of ventilatory compromise in an infant with tetralogy of Fallot and right aortic arch immediately after insertion of transesophageal echocardiography probe during cardiac surgery. Although intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography can be safely performed in infants with congenital heart disease, it should be done with caution in patient with similar vascular malformation.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Esophagus ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thoracic Surgery ; Trachea ; Vascular Malformations

PURPOSE: To determine imaging findings among retired workers who were long-term exposed to asbestos. Lung and pleural diseases prevalence were studied on chest radiograph and HRCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen workers who were long-term exposedto asbestos occupationally in shipyards were examined by chest radiographs (PA and lateral view) and HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography). RESULTS: In 12 of 18 subjects (66.7%), asbestos-related pleural abnormalities were evident in diaphragmatic, lateral chest wall and costophrenic angle of the pleura on chest radiographs. The thickness of pleural plaques at the lateral chest wall varied. Diffuse pleural thickening was evident in 2 workers. Parenchymal abnormalities were not found on chest radiographs. On HRCT, pleural thickening wasobserved in 16 of 18 subjects (88.9%), in the areas of juxtavertebral, diaphragmatic, anterior, lateral, mediastinal and fissural pleura. Curvilinear subpleural lines representing early parenchymal asbestosis were found in the lower posterior lung in three of 18 subjects (16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In long term asbestos-exposed workers, the asbestos-related pleural disease was 66.7% on chest radiographs and 88.9% on HRCT. The authors suggest that this group should be followed up periodically
Asbestos* ; Asbestosis ; Lung* ; Occupations ; Pleura ; Pleural Diseases* ; Prevalence* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax*

Solitary plasmacytoma of the bone, and especially of a single rib, is a rare disease. Here we report a 73-year old male patient complaining of continuous chest wall pain around the right 5th rib shaft who underwent a wide excision of the rib tumor with surrounding connective tissue. He was diagnosed with solitary plasmacytoma and will undergo radiation therapy. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Male ; Plasmacytoma ; Rare Diseases ; Ribs ; Thoracic Wall

PURPOSE: To determine the HRCT finding of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HRCT scans and chest radiographs of five patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were retrospectively reviewed, the diagnosis being proven by the presence of the organism in histopathologic specimens obtained during CT-guided biopsy (n = 4) or medistinoscopic biopsy (n = 1). All patients were immunocompetent. HRCT scans and chest radiographs were characterized according to morphology [consoli-dation, nodule, ground-glass opacity (GGO), interstitial thickening], location, airbronchogram, and the pres-ence or absence of mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: Consolidation was present in three of five patients, and in two of the three, ill-defined, spiculated nodules were also present. One patient had multiple, small, well-defined nodules. One had diffuse interstitial thickening (GGO, nodular thickening of bronchovascular bundles and interlobular septa), with massive mediastinal and right hilar lymphadenopathy. The location of the consolidation and nodules was mainly peripheral, and in three patients with consolidation, the presence of air bronchograms was noted. CONCLUSION: The HRCT findings of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients are peripheral consolidation with airbronchogram and/or ill defined nodules.
Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies

Aortic disease usually recurs after aortic surgery in the form a new aneurysm distal to the previous operation site, and finding a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer proximal to the previous operation site has rarely been reported. We report here on a case of successful patch repair of a ruptured penetrating ulcer in the distal aortic arch, and this developed late after replacement of the descending thoracic aorta.
Aneurysm ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Diseases ; Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Ulcer