The middle mediastinum contains several important organs and pluripotent cells. It is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis in patients with middle mediastinal tumors due to a wide range of diseases. The likelihood of malignancy is influenced primarily by the following factors: patient age, size, tumor location, and the presence or absence of symptoms. We describe a case of a middle mediastinal tumor, which was suspected on chest x-ray; chest computed tomography revealed the eccentric mass of distal esophagus. This case emphasizes the diagnostic importance of the chest x-ray to the physicians. The possible differential diagnoses are reviewed.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Thorax

Among the bronchogenic carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma frequently present with cavitation, which may result from tumor necrosis. Cavitary lesions of the tumor are occasionally associated with infection and misdiagnosed as benign lung abscess owing to the partial responsiveness to antibiotics. It is very difficult to distinguish the carcinomatous abscess from the benign lung abscess, because of their similar clinical and radiologic features. Delay in diagnosis of underlying lung cancer may result in poor outcome. Therefore, clinicians should remember that the patients with highly suspicious carcinoma of the lung should undergo further precise examinations to find out malignant cells.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Lung Neoplasms ; Necrosis

Bronchobiliary fistula is a rare disorder consisting of an abnormal communication between the bronchial tree and the biliary duct. In Western countries, trauma, postoperative biliary stenosis, and biliary lithiasis are the predominant causative factors of bronchobiliary fistula. Bilioptysis (bile stained sputum) is a pathognomic finding for bronchobiliary fistula. To date, there are just a few reported cases of bronchobiliary fistula after sclerosis of a liver cyst. We describe the case of a 74-year-old woman who developed bronchobiliary fistula after sclerosing therapy of a liver cyst. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of bilioptysis and the chest and dynamic liver CT findings. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Lithiasis ; Liver ; Sclerosing Solutions ; Sclerosis ; Thorax

We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN). A 35-year-old male was admitted due to a SPN in the right upper lobe which was detected on the chest radiography being examed due to recurrent cough for 1 year. The computed tomography (CT) revealed a spiculated nodule containing air-bronchogram, which was suspicious of malignancy. We performed transbronchial biopsy and the pathology showed granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis. Under the presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, we started anti-tuberculous medication including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. In one month, however, the sputum culture was positive for Mycobacterium intracellulare. The follow-up chest CT showed slight aggravation of the previous lesions. Under the final diagnosis of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule, we changed the regimen to rifampin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin. The follow-up chest CT after the completion of treatment, revealed resolution of the previous lesions.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Clarithromycin ; Cough ; Ethambutol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Isoniazid ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Necrosis ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN). A 35-year-old male was admitted due to a SPN in the right upper lobe which was detected on the chest radiography being examed due to recurrent cough for 1 year. The computed tomography (CT) revealed a spiculated nodule containing air-bronchogram, which was suspicious of malignancy. We performed transbronchial biopsy and the pathology showed granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis. Under the presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, we started anti-tuberculous medication including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. In one month, however, the sputum culture was positive for Mycobacterium intracellulare. The follow-up chest CT showed slight aggravation of the previous lesions. Under the final diagnosis of Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule, we changed the regimen to rifampin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin. The follow-up chest CT after the completion of treatment, revealed resolution of the previous lesions.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Clarithromycin ; Cough ; Ethambutol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Isoniazid ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; Necrosis ; Pyrazinamide ; Rifampin ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

When all the conventional treatments have failed for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can offer these patients a chance to survive. We report here on a case of successful treatment with prolonged ECMO support for a patient with severe ARDS. A 41-year-old female patient with acute A-viral hepatitis developed pneumonia and progressive ARDS. After tracheostomy, her clinical condition deteriorated despite proper antibiotic administration and other conventional treatments, including the recruitment maneuver and steroid use. Venoarterial ECMO was given for the management of refractory hypoxemia that developed 14 days after the initiation of mechanical ventilation. The duration of ECMO support was 4 weeks, and she was successfully weaned off ECMO and mechanical ventilation.
Adult ; Anoxia ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Pneumonia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Tracheostomy

The ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with an unknown etiology. The major symptoms of ulcerative colitis are diarrhea, abdominal pain and hematochezia. However, arthritis, skin disorders, hepatobiliary inflammation and uveitis are occasionally recognized as systemic complications. Although there are few reports of coexistent pulmonary and inflammatory bowel disease, the lung is not generally considered to be a target organ in ulcerative colitis. We report a patient with ulcerative colitis-related bronchilolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia confirmed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, who responded to corticosteroid therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Arthritis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Skin ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Ulcer ; Uveitis