Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. The presentation of sarcoidal granuloma in neck nodes without typical manifestations of systemic sarcoidosis is difficult to diagnose. We describe the case of a 37-year-old woman with an increasing mass on the right side of neck. The excisional biopsy from the neck mass showed noncaseating epithelioid cell granuloma of the lymph nodes. No evidence of mycobacterial or fungal infection was noted. Thoracic evaluations did not show enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes or parenchymal abnormalities. Immunohistochemistry showed abundant expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the granuloma. However, transforming growth factor-beta was not expressed, although interleukin-1beta was focally expressed. These immunohistochemical findings supported characterization of the granuloma and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis can present with cervical lymph node enlargement without mediastinal or lung abnormality. Immunohistochemistry may support the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and characterization of granuloma.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Epithelioid Cells ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-1beta ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neck ; Sarcoidosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Inhalation of toxic gases can lead to pneumonitis. It has been known that methane gas intoxication causes loss of consciousness or asphyxia. There is, however, a paucity of information about acute pulmonary toxicity from methane gas inhalation. A 21-year-old man was presented with respiratory distress after an accidental exposure to methane gas for one minute. He came in with a drowsy mentality and hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilation was applied immediately. The patient's symptoms and chest radiographic findings were consistent with acute pneumonitis. He recovered spontaneously and was discharged after 5 days without other specific treatment. His pulmonary function test, 4 days after methane gas exposure, revealed a restrictive ventilatory defect. In conclusion, acute pulmonary injury can occur with a restrictive ventilator defect after a short exposure to methane gas. The lung injury was spontaneously resolved without any significant sequela.
Anoxia ; Asphyxia ; Gases ; Inhalation ; Lung Injury ; Methane ; Pneumonia ; Porphyrins ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; Thorax ; Unconsciousness ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronan (HA) is an unbranched glycosaminoglycan. It has been proposed that HA acts as a vehicle for cytokines due to the strong negative charge on its surface. We hypothesized that HA would function like a cytokine scavenger and reduce the inflammatory signaling cascade and this would lead to improved survival in rats suffering with endotoxemia. METHODS: Endotoxin (Salmonella, 10 mg/kg) or an equal amount of 0.9% NaCl (NS) was injected into the jugular vein of rats. HA (1,600 kDa, 0.35%) or NS was given at 0.1 mL/kg/h for 3 hours. HA or NS infusion was started at 4 hour after endotoxin injection. The rats were divided into the control and HA groups (n=16 for each group). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored during HA or normal saline infusion. Survival was assessed every 12 hours for 3 days throughout the experiment. RESULTS: The survival rate (%) of the rats treated with HA was higher (60%) than that of the controls (20%) when HA was infused 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of the animals surviving HA or NS infusion 4 hours after LPS showed that the total cell counts and number of neutrophils were significantly (p<0.01) reduced in the HA treated groups compared with that of the controls (total cell count, 9.2x10(4)/mL vs. 61x10(4)/mL; neutrophils, 21x10(4)/mL vs. 0.2x10(4)/mL, respectively). There was no significant MAP difference between the HA or control groups either with or without endotoxin. CONCLUSION: Infusion of hyaluronan (1,600 kDa) reduced the BAL total cell count and the number of neutrophils and it improved the survival rate of the endotoxemic rats.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Cell Count ; Cytokines ; Endotoxemia ; Fees and Charges ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Jugular Veins ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Stress, Psychological ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: A tuberculous destroyed lung is sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis and causes various respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction. The patients with a tuberculous destroyed lung account for a significant portion of those with chronic lung disease in Korea. However, few reports can be found in the literature. We investigated the computed tomography (CT) findings in a tuberculous destroyed lung and the correlation with lung function. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 44 patients who were diagnosed with a tuberculous destroyed lung at the Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital between January 2004 and December 2009. RESULTS: A chest CT scan showed various thoracic sequelae of tuberculosis. In lung parenchymal lesions, there were cicatrization atelectasis in 37 cases (84.1%) and emphysema in 13 cases. Bronchiectasis (n=39, 88.6%) was most commonly found in airway lesions. The mean number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments was 7.7 (range, 4~14). The most common injured segment was the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe (n=36, 81.8%). In the pulmonary function test, obstructive ventilatory defects were observed in 31 cases (70.5%), followed by a mixed (n=7) and restrictive ventilatory defect (n=5). The number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments showed a significant negative correlation with forced vital capacity (FVC), % predicted (r=-0.379, p=0.001) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), % predicted (r=-0.349, p=0.020). After adjustment for age and smoking status (pack-years), the number of destroyed segments also showed a significant negative correlation with FVC, % predicted (B=-0.070, p=0.014) and FEV1, % predicted (B=-0.050, p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Tuberculous destroyed lungs commonly showed obstructive ventilatory defects, possibly due to bronchiectasis and emphysema. There was negative correlation between the extent of destruction and lung function.
Bronchiectasis ; Cicatrix ; Emphysema ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: The causes of exertional desaturation in patients with COPD can be multifactorial. We aimed to investigate factors predict exertional desaturation in patients with moderate to severe COPD. METHODS: We tested 51 consecutive patients with stable COPD (FEV1/FVC, 40+/-13% predicted). Patients performed a six minute walk test (6MWT). Pulse oxymetric saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate were recorded. RESULTS: Oxygen desaturation was found in 15 subjects after 6MWT, while 36 subjects were not desaturated. Lung diffusing capacity was significantly lower in desaturation (DS) group (62+/-18% predicted) compared with not desaturated (ND) group (84+/-20, p<0.01). However there was no statistical difference of FEV1/FVC ratio or residual volume between two groups. The pulse rate change was significantly higher in the desaturated compared with the not desaturated group. Six minute walking distance, subjective dyspnea scale, airflow obstruction, and residual volume did not predict exertional oxygen desaturation. Independent factors assessed by multiple logistic regression revealed that a pulse rate increment (odd ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01~1.40; p=0.02), a decrease in baseline PaO2 (OR, 1.105; 95% CI, 1.003~1.218; p=0.04) and a decrease in lung diffusing capacity (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01~1.19; p=0.01) were significantly associated with oxygen desaturation. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that an absolute increment in pulse rate of 16/min gave optimal discrimination between desaturated and not desaturated patients after 6MWT. CONCLUSION: Pulse rate increment and diffusion capacity can predict exertional oxygen desaturation in stable COPD patients with moderate to severe airflow obstruction.
Anoxia ; Diffusion ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Dyspnea ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Residual Volume ; Walking

An azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare cause of a posterior mediastinal mass. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, no treatment is usually required. However, the aneurysm can thrombose, and this may lead pulmonary thromboembolism, or the aneurysm may rupture. In these instances, the excision of the mass is recommended. Video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques have considerably improved. If it is necessary to remove the aneurysm, video-assisted thoracic surgery may be a good option for surgical treatment. We report a case of an aneurysm of the azygos arch that was successfully resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Aneurysm ; Azygos Vein ; Mediastinum ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Rupture ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

An azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare cause of a posterior mediastinal mass. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, no treatment is usually required. However, the aneurysm can thrombose, and this may lead pulmonary thromboembolism, or the aneurysm may rupture. In these instances, the excision of the mass is recommended. Video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques have considerably improved. If it is necessary to remove the aneurysm, video-assisted thoracic surgery may be a good option for surgical treatment. We report a case of an aneurysm of the azygos arch that was successfully resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Aneurysm ; Azygos Vein ; Mediastinum ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Rupture ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common clinical problem in the West that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic modality has been changed since 2001. This study retrospectively reviewed the PE mortality with the aim of identifying the risk factors associated with mortality since the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was introduced. METHODS: We analyzed 105 patients with acute PE proven by multidetector CT or ventilation perfusion scan. The primary outcome measure was the all-cause mortality at 3 months. The prognostic effect of the baseline factors on survival was assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The main risk factors were prolonged immobilization, stroke, cancer and obesity. Forty nine percent of patients had 3 or more risk factors. The overall mortality at 3 months was 18.1%. Multivariate analysis revealed low diastolic blood pressure and the existence of cancer to be independent factors significantly associated with mortality. Forty two PE patients were examined for the coagulation inhibitors. Four of these patients had a protein C deficiency (9.5%), and 11 had a protein S deficiency (26%). CONCLUSION: PE is an important clinical problem with a high mortality rate. Close monitoring may be necessary in patients with the risk factors.
Blood Pressure ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Perfusion ; Prognosis ; Protein C Deficiency ; Protein S Deficiency ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Thrombophilia ; Venous Thrombosis ; Ventilation

Aortopulmonary fistula is an uncommon but often fatal condition resulting as a late complication of an aortic aneurysm. The most common cause is erosion of a false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta into the pulmonary artery, resulting in the development of a left-to-right shunt and leading to acute pulmonary edema and right heart failure. We report an our experience with aortopulmonary fistula as a rare complication associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm and high output heart failure.
Aneurysm, False ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; Fistula ; Heart Failure ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Edema

Performing dynamic ultrasonography in the lower extremity is not so popular as performing dynamic ultrasonography in the upper extremity. However, performing this modality is essential for some diseases and it is very helpful for various other disorders too. The purpose of this article is to describe the basic technique and disorders that dynamic ultrasonography is helpful for or essential for making a diagnosis in the lower extremity and for diagnosing other miscellaneous diseases as well. We also include a review of the relevant medical literature.
Extremities ; Lower Extremity ; Upper Extremity