Malignant transformation of a neurilemmoma is an exceedingly rare event. We describe a case of intrathoracic ancient neurilemmoma undergoing a malignant change in a 39-yr-old man. The patient presented with right flank and chest pain for several months. Plain radiography and CT scan of the chest showed a soft tissue mass lesion at the extrapleural space with erosion of surrounding ribs at the right basal lung area. The excised mass was encapsulated and measured 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.3 cm. The cut surface showed grayish-white and glistening with a focal cystic change and hemorrhage. Necrosis was not seen. Histologically, the tumor showed the features of classic neurilemmoma composed of the Antoni type A and B areas with perivascular hyalinization. In addition, obviously histo-logically malignant foci manifested by presence of markedly increased cellularity with fascicular arrangement, active mitotic activity, hyperchromasia, and gradual loss of original neurilemmomatous feature were noted.
Adult ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Human ; Male ; Neurilemmoma/complications ; Neurilemmoma/pathology* ; Neurofibromatosis 1/complications ; Neurofibromatosis 1/pathology* ; Thoracic Neoplasms/etiology ; Thoracic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Tumor Markers, Biological

We report a case of mediastinal lymphangioma associated with Gorham's disease in a 38-year-old man who had suffered recurrent clavicular fractures during a seven-year period. Mediastinal widening associated with osteolysis of the clavicles and the sternal manubrium was revealed by chest radiography, while computed tomography demonstrated a cystic anterior mediastinal mass infiltrating mediastinal fat and associated with osseous destruction of the clavicles and manubrium. Chylothorax recurred during the course of the disease.
Adult ; Case Report ; Chylothorax/*complications ; Human ; Lymphangioma/*complications/radiography ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/*complications/radiography ; Osteolysis, Essential/*complications/pathology/radiography ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the different pathological and clinical characteristics of thymomas with and without myasthenia gravis (MG) and to determine whether the presence of MG influences the prognosis in thymoma patients.

METHODSThe clinical data from 228 consecutive patients (median sternotomy were used in 153, video-assisted thoracoscopic themectomy were used in 75) operated on from January 1992 to December 2007 was analyzed retrospectively. These thymoma patients had been subdivided into two groups: thymoma with MG (n = 125) and thymoma without MG (n = 103). All thymic epithelial tumors were classified according to the WHO histologic classification and the Masaoka clinical staging system. The result was evaluated according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America's criterion. The clinical features of the 2 test was compared between the two groups by χ² test, and the survival were compared between the two groups by Cox analysis.

RESULTSThere were no peri-operative deaths. 19 cases were inoperable (6 in the group with MG, 13 without MG (χ² = 4.52, P = 0.035)). The proportions of type A and thymic carcinoma were 0 in the group with MG, 10.5% (11/103) and 11.6% (12/103) respectively in the group without MG. According to the Masaoka's clinical staging, in the group MG, 24.8% (31/125) patients were stage III and IV; in the group without MG, 33.0% (34/103) patients were stage III and IV. There was a significant difference between hyperplastic paraneoplastic thymus coexisting in 28.8% (36/125) patients with MG and only 5.8% (6/103) in patients without MG (χ² = 20.91, P = 0.000) Microthymoma was identified in the paraneoplastic thymus of 3 patients with MG. There were 198 patients followed up, the rate was 86.8% (198/228). There was no recurrence in patients with type A and a few patients with type AB, B1, B2, B3 thymoma and thymic carcinoma recurred. The actuarial 5- and 10-year survival rates were 89.3% and 81.2% for patients with MG respectively, and 90.0% and 78.9% for patients without MG respectively. Within 5 years postoperatively, 6 of 9 patients with MG died of myasthenia crisis, while 6 out of 7 deaths in patients without MG were attributable to inoperable tumors (stage IV) and thymic carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe existence of myasthenia gravis has little influence on the prognosis of thymomas, but it is good for early diagnosis and treatment. Extended thymectomy should be performed to all patients with thymoma, no matter they have myasthenia gravis or not. The main cause of death is myasthenia crisis for thymoma patients with MG and stage IV and (or) thymic carcinoma for patients without MG.

Humans ; Myasthenia Gravis ; complications ; pathology ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternotomy ; Survival Rate ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Thymus Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery

INTRODUCTIONPathological pulmonary hernia is a rare clinical entity which can be caused by malignancies.

CLINICAL PICTUREA 72-year-old female presented with a painful bulge in the left 4th intercostal space. Chest radiography and computed tomography demonstrated a left pulmonary hernia, pleural effusion and destruction of ribs.

TREATMENTThe hernia sac was excised and a part of the chest wall was resected with reconstruction of residual defect.

OUTCOMEThe patient died 2 years after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSA multidisciplinary approach involving various medical specialists may offer patients with pathological pulmonary hernia remarkable palliation and better quality of life.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; complications ; secondary ; Female ; Hernia ; etiology ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Mastectomy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; complications ; secondary

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is defined as any malignant tumor arising from or differentiating toward the cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. MPNST accounts for about 5-10% of all soft tissue tumors and is often associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1, von Recklinghausen's disease). It is one of the malignant tumors associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Its common site is the lower and upper extremities, trunk, head and neck. But intrathoracic manifestations are very rare. We report a case of a 40 year-old man with multiple neurofibromatosis who was presented with an intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
Adult ; Case Report ; Diaphragm/pathology ; Human ; Lung/pathology ; Male ; Nerve Sheath Tumors/complications/diagnosis/*pathology ; Neurofibromatosis 1/complications/diagnosis/*pathology ; Prognosis ; Severity of Illness Index ; Thoracic Neoplasms/complications/diagnosis/*pathology

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hodgkin Disease ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology

A case of a papillary thyroid carcinoma in a patient with situs inversus with associated bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitis (Kartagener's syndrome) is reported. A 61-year-old male patient has the symptoms of nasal obstruction. nasal purulent discharge and headache for 2 years. Physical examination: right nasal purulent in right nasal cavity and multiple lychee-like opaque mass in right middle meatus. A nodule, one centimeter in diameter, locates in the upper pole of right thyroid. Evidence of full situs inversus viscerum can be confirmmed by chest radiographs and ultrasound doppler. Pathology: right nasal polyps, the right small papillary thyroid cancer. TEM Tip primary ciliary dyskinesia. Clinical diagnosis: Kartagener syndrome, papillary thyroid carcinoma (T1a N0 M0, I period), chronic sinusitis-nasal polyps.
Carcinoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Kartagener Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Obstruction ; pathology ; Nasal Polyps ; pathology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rhinitis ; pathology ; Sinusitis ; pathology ; Situs Inversus ; pathology ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis

To assess the effectiveness of endovascular stenting for the palliation of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, endovascular stent insertion was attempted in 10 patients with symptomatic occlusion of the SVC. All the patients had known malignant disease of the thorax. Eight patients had been treated previously with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (n=5), chemotherapy alone (n=2), or pneumonectomy and radiotherapy (n=1). After developing SVC syndrome, all the patients were stented before receiving any other treatment. After single or multiple endovascular stents were inserted, five of eight patients were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (n=2) or chemotherapy alone (n=3). Resolution of symptoms was achieved in nine patients within 72 hr (90%). In one patient, the symptoms did not disappear until a second intervention. At follow up, symptoms had recurred in two of ten patients (20%) after intervals of 15 and 60 days. Five patients have died from their cancers, although they remained free of symptoms of SVC occlusion until death. In conclusion, endovascular stent insertion is an effective treatment for palliation of SVC syndrome. Endovascular stent insertion can be considered the first choice of treatment, due to the immediate relief of symptoms and excellent sustained symptomatic relief.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; *Stents ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome/etiology/pathology/*therapy ; Thoracic Neoplasms/complications/pathology ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To discuss computed tomography (CT) evaluation of the etiology of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) due to thoracic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From records from the past 10 years at our hospital, we retrospectively reviewed 115 cases of VCP that were evaluated with CT. Of these 115 cases, 36 patients (23 M, 13 F) had VCP due to a condition within the thoracic cavity. From these cases, we collected the following information: sex, age distribution, side of paralysis, symptom onset date, date of diagnosis, imaging, and primary disease. The etiology of VCP was determined using both historical information and diagnostic imaging. Imaging procedures included chest radiograph, CT of neck or chest, and esophagography or esophagoscopy. RESULTS: Thirty-three of the 36 patients with thoracic disease had unilateral VCP (21 left, 12 right). Of the primary thoracic diseases, malignancy was the most common (19, 52.8%), with 18 of the 19 malignancies presenting with unilateral VCP. The detected malignant tumors in the chest consisted of thirteen lung cancers, three esophageal cancers, two metastatic tumors, and one mediastinal tumor. We also found other underlying etiologies of VCP, including one aortic arch aneurysm, five iatrogenic, six tuberculosis, one neurofibromatosis, three benign nodes, and one lung collapse. A chest radiograph failed to detect eight of the 19 primary malignancies detected on the CT. Nine patients with lung cancer developed VCP between follow-ups and four of them were diagnosed with a progression of malignancy upon CT evaluation of VCP. CONCLUSION: CT is helpful for the early detection of primary malignancy or progression of malignancy between follow-ups. Moreover, it can reveal various non-malignant causes of VCP.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/complications/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Diseases/*complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications ; Vocal Cord Paralysis/*etiology/*radiography

No abstract available.
Adolescent ; Back Pain/diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoblastoma/*complications/pathology/radiography/surgery ; Pain Measurement ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Spinal Neoplasms/*complications/pathology/radiography/surgery ; *Thoracic Vertebrae/pathology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome