Deok Heon Lee

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum with Concurrent Pneumorrhachis

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a very uncommon entity that is defined as the presence of free air in the mediastinum without an obvious etiology. The presence of air in the spinal canal, known as concurrent pneumorrhachis, is an extremely rare epiphenomenon of spontaneous pneumomediastinum. We report a rare case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumorrhachis associated with influenza. The patient was diagnosed without invasive procedures, was managed with supportive treatment, and recovered without any complications.

Successful video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in a pregnant woman with lung cancer

A 38-year-old non-smoking female patient was evaluated at our hospital for an increasing mass in the right lower lung field at 24 weeks of gestation. Computed tomography revealed an approximately 7.5-cm diameter mass in the right lower lung lobe. After assessing the benefits to the patient and risks to the fetus, we performed a lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection using video-assisted thoracoscopy. Three months postoperatively, the patient delivered a healthy male baby. The patient is alive 10 months following the lobectomy, and no evidence of recurrence and distant metastasis is noted. The 6-month-old infant is also doing well postpartum.

Is primary spontaneous pneumomediastinum a truly benign entity

This study aimed to investigate the benignancy of primary spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PSP), and to establish an appropriate management strategy.

Operative Management in a Patient with Scapulothoracic Bursitis

Scapulothoracic bursitis, an uncommon lesion, has been reported to be a painful disorder of scapulothoracic articulation. The articulation may become inflamed secondary to trauma when overused because of sports or work that requires repetitive or constant movement of the scapula against the posterior chest wall. The bursitis usually appears as a growing mass at the scapulothoracic interface and is often confused with a soft tissue tumor. We report on a patient with scapulothoracic bursitis who underwent surgical excision.

Clinical and prognostic significance of merkel cell polyomavirus in non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Recently, an association between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was reported. However, the underlying carcinogenic effects and the prognosis related to MCPyV are still unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the incidence and prognosis related to MCPyV infections in NSCLC. Tissue samples from 167 NSCLC patients (92 with squamous cell carcinomas [SCCs] and 75 with adenocarcinomas) were analyzed for the presence of MCPyV and EGFR mutations. Clinicopathological characteristics, disease-free survival rate, and overall survival rate were assessed with respect to MCPyV. MCPyV DNA was detected in 30 patients (18.0%) out of 167 patients, and EGFR mutations were found in 31 out of 127 patients (24.4%). EGFR mutations were more frequently detected in MCPyV-positive patients than in MCPyV-negative patients; however, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.075). There was no difference in overall survival between patients with and without MCPyV infections. The disease-free survival rate of patients with pN0 stage, SCC, or EGFR mutations was lower for patients with MCPyV than without MCPyV (P = 0.036, 0.042, and 0.050, respectively). Although the prevalence of MCPyV infection was relatively low, the presence of MCPyV DNA was significantly correlated with cancer prognosis in subgroups of NSCLC patients. These results suggest that MCPyV may be partly associated with pathogenesis and prognosis in some cases of NSCLC.

Clinical Relevance of Pleural Effusion in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Data regarding pleural effusion due to pulmonary embolism (PE) are limited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of PE patients with pleural effusion caused by PE. Methods: Patients with PE were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 2 groups based on computed tomography: a group with pleural effusion due to PE (effusion group) and a group without pleural effusion (control group). Clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The study population consisted of the effusion group (n = 127) and the control group (n = 651). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly higher in the effusion group than in the control group. The percentages of high-risk Simplified PE Severity Index (57 vs. 47%, p = 0.008), central PE (84 vs. 73%, p = 0.013), right ventricular dilation (45 vs. 36%, p = 0.053), and pulmonary infarction (40 vs. 8%, p < 0.001) were higher in the effusion group than in the control group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pulmonary infarction (odds ratio [OR] 6.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.49-10.91, p < 0.001) and CRP level (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.101-1.09, p = 0.023) were independent predictors of pleural effusion due to PE. The presence of pleural effusion was not a predictor of short-term outcomes or length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Patients with more severe PE are likely to have pleural effusion caused by PE. However, pleural effusion was not a proven predictor of short-term outcome or length of hospital stay. Pulmonary infarction and CRP levels were independent risk factors for the development of pleural effusion.

Surgical Treatment of Extensive Tumoral Calcinosis Associated with Systemic Sclerosis

Extensive tumoral calcinosis affecting a large joint is uncommon in patients with systemic sclerosis. We report the case of a 52-year-old female patient referred for a growing calcified mass in the shoulder. She was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease and progressive systemic sclerosis. Although the pain and disability associated with the affected joint was not severe, the patient underwent surgical excision because the mass continued to grow and was likely to produce shoulder dysfunction and skin ulceration. The patient appeared well 10 months after surgery with no signs of recurrence. This report highlights the timing and indication of surgical excision in similar cases.

Predictive Factors and Treatment Outcomes of Tuberculous Pleural Effusion in Patients With Cancer and Pleural Effusion

Background Patients with cancer are at an increased risk of tuberculosis. As pleural effusion has great clinical significance in patients with cancer, the differential diagnosis between tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is important. However, the predictive factors and treatment outcomes of TPE in patients with cancer have rarely been studied. Materials and Methods Confirmed TPE cases identified at cancer diagnosis and during anticancer management from 2008‐2015 were retrospectively investigated. Patients in the study included coexisting TPE and cancer (n = 20), MPE (n = 40) and TPE without cancer (n = 40). Control groups were patients with MPE, and patients with TPE without cancer. Clinical, laboratory and pleural fluid characteristics were compared among groups. Treatment outcomes were compared between patients with TPE with and without cancer. Results In the final analysis, serum C‐reactive protein (S‐CRP) ≥3.0 mg/dL and pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) ≥40 U/L were independent predictors for identifying TPE in patients with cancer having pleural effusion. The combination of S‐CRP with pleural fluid ADA using an “or” rule achieved a sensitivity of 100%, whereas both parameters combined in an “and” rule had a specificity of 98%. Treatment outcomes were not different between the TPE groups with and without cancer. Conclusions S‐CRP and pleural fluid ADA levels may be helpful for predicting TPE in patients with cancer with pleural effusion. The combination of these biomarkers provides better information for distinguishing between TPE and MPE in these patients. Treatment outcomes of TPE in patients with cancer are comparable to those in patients without cancer.

A TERT-CLPTM1 locus polymorphism (rs401681) is associated with EGFR mutation in non-small cell lung cancer

Telomere length is associated with lung carcinogenesis, and recent studies have focused on telomere-maintaining genes and their polymorphisms. Cancer susceptibility of the rs401681 polymorphism, located in the TERT-CLPTM1L locus, has been studied in many cancers. We examined the clinicopathological and prognostic value of rs401681 variants in lung cancer. The relationship between rs401681 variants and telomere length was analyzed in 134 non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The rs401681 polymorphism had the following genotype frequencies: C/C in 52.2% of the samples, C/T in 30.6%, and T/T in 17.2%. The T allele showed a strong correlation with EGFR mutation (p=0.037). Telomeres in the tumor samples were 3.26-fold longer, on average, than telomeres in matched normal samples (SD=0.48), and there were no differences in telomere length according to rs401681 polymorphism. Smoking was associated with telomere shortening (p=0.01). Survival analysis showed no prognostic value for rs401681 polymorphisms or telomere length in NSCLC. These results suggested that the rs401681 polymorphism contributes to lung carcinogenesis only in patients harboring an EGFR mutation. However, the polymorphism was not associated with survival; therefore, further comprehensive analysis should be performed.

An Unexpected Adverse Event during Colonoscopy Screening: Bochdalek Hernia

Bochdalek hernia (BH) is defined as herniated abdominal contents appearing throughout the posterolateral segment of the diaphragm. It is usually observed during the prenatal or newborn period. Here, we report a case of an adult patient with herniated omentum and colon due to BH that was discovered during a colonoscopy. A 41-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with severe left chest and abdominal pain that began during a colonoscopy. Her chest radiography showed colonic shadow filling in the lower half of the left thoracic cavity. A computed tomography scan revealed an approximately 6-cm-sized left posterolateral diaphragmatic defect and a herniated omentum in the colon. The patient underwent thoracoscopic surgery, during which, the diaphragmatic defect was closed and herniated omentum was repaired. The patient was discharged without further complications. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report of BH in an adult found during a routine colonoscopy screening.