Tarek Kilani

Pulmonary and mediastinal bronchogenic cysts: a clinicopathologic study of 33 cases.

Bronchogenic cysts are uncommon congenital anomalies of foregut origin and usually located within the mediastinum and the lung. A retrospective study of 33 thoracic bronchogenic cysts was undertaken to detail their clinicopathologic and radiologic features. There were 18 male and 15 female patients between 12 and 77 years of age with a mean age of 41 years. Thirty-one patients (94%) were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis and the chief complaint was chest pain (48.5%). Most of the cysts presented as homogeneous water-density shadows on standard chest radiographs. The location was intrapulmonary in 25 cases and mediastinal in 8 cases. Based on radiologic investigations, preoperative diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst was made in only 11 cases (33.34%). Surgical excision of the cyst was approached via thoracotomy in 32 cases and thoracoscopy in one case. Total excision of the cyst was performed in 31 cases and subtotal resection in 2 cases. Pathologic findings were consistent with bronchogenic cyst in all cases. During the follow-up period, which ranged between 1 month and 51 months, all patients were symptom-free with no evidence of recurrence. Complete surgical resection is recommended for all bronchogenic cysts to establish diagnosis, alleviate symptoms, and prevent complications.

Imaging of thoracic textiloma

OBJECTIVE Intrathoracic textiloma or gossypiboma, a retained surgical sponge in the thoracic cavity, is an exceptional but serious complication following thoracic or abdominal surgery. The purpose of this work is to highlight the topographic features of thoracic textiloma and to describe imaging aspects, and, particularly, computed tomography (CT) features. METHODS Eight patients have been operated in our thoracic surgery department for thoracic gossypiboma. In the past, three patients had undergone hepatic surgery and the five others had a history of thoracic surgery. All the patients had a chest radiograph, five of them had a thoracic ultrasonography, all had a chest CT, and one patient had a chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS In patients with a history of abdominal surgery, the foreign body was located in the parenchyma of the right lower lobe. In the other patients, the foreign body was either intrapleural or mediastinal. Ultrasonography suggested the diagnosis of textiloma in three of the five patients by demonstrating a non-calcified hyperechoic mass with acoustic shadow. At CT, the gossypiboma was a low-attenuating mass containing trapped gas lucencies in six patients and it was a high-attenuating mass in two patients. MRI showed a diaphragmatic defect in one patient with an intrapulmonary gossypiboma that migrated from the abdomen. CONCLUSIONS The CT aspect of thoracic gossypiboma may be different according to pleural or parenchymal location. The spongiform appearance, characteristic in abdominal gossypiboma, is not the only CT presentation of thoracic gossypiboma. The confrontation of the surgical history with the CT signs helps to have a preoperative diagnosis.

Conservative management of postoperative bronchopleural fistulas.

OBJECTIVE A bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a serious complication after pulmonary resection and carries a high mortality rate. It remains a therapeutic challenge. The lack of a consensus suggests that no optimal therapy is available; however, endoscopic closure of a fistula may avoid extensive and potentially risky surgery. METHODS Seventeen patients (15 men and 2 women) with a BPF after a pneumonectomy (n = 2) or a lobectomy (n = 15), seen between 1995 and 2010, were reviewed. Their median age was 50 years (range, 14-75 years). Underlying diseases were malignant (n = 4) and nonmalignant (n = 13). RESULTS The mean interval between surgery and fistula development was 20 days (range, 5-270 days). Clinical symptoms leading to a diagnosis of BPF were a persistent air leak (n = 2), a persistent air leak associated with pleural empyema (n = 3), pleural empyema alone (n = 11), and dyspnea (n = 1). Mean fistula size was 3.3 mm (range, 2-9 mm). Treatment consisted of oriented pleural drainage, adequate antibiotic therapy, and endoscopic closure of the fistula with local application of silver nitrate through a flexible bronchoscope (3-15 sessions, 3 times per week). Fistula closure was successful in 16 patients, but failed in 1 patient, who died from acute respiratory distress. CONCLUSIONS BPF is a severe complication in thoracic surgery. The combination of pleural drainage, adequate antibiotic treatment, and mucosal application of silver nitrate, through a flexible bronchoscope, is an efficient alternative and avoids extensive surgical intervention.

Benign myoepithelioma of the lung - a case report and review of the literature

IntroductionBenign myoepithelioma is extremely rare in the lung, to the best of our knowledge; only five cases have been reported in the literature.Case ReportAn 18-years woman complained from tiredness and fever during four months. Laboratory findings and fibroscopies were normal. CT of the thorax demonstrated a nodule in the left segment of the Fowler. Left inferior lobectomy was performed comporting a firm nodule of 25 mm, lifting the bronchial mucous membrane. Histologically, there was a proliferation of small cells of a plasmocytoid-type, with a predominantly whorled pattern. No mitotic activity or necrosis was seen in the tumor. Immuhistochemically, the tumor cells positive for smooth muscle actin, vimentine, and S100 protein. They were negatives for cytokeratine, chromogranine and HMB45. The diagnosis of benign myoepithelioma of the lung is so confirmed. The patient recovered well at 6 months follow-up.ConclusionBenign myoepithelioma is a rare pulmonary neoplasm distinct from pleomorphic adenoma, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lung nodules.

Kyste hydatique du coeur et des vaisseaux, 4 observations

Resume Introduction Les localisations thoraciques du kyste hydatique (KH) sont dominees par le poumon. Les KH du coeur sont rares. Quant a la localisation primitive arterielle pulmonaire, elle est exceptionnelle. Observations Il s’agit de 3 cas de KH du coeur droit reveles par une hydatidose pulmonaire et d’un cas de KH primitif de l’artere pulmonaire revele par une hemoptysie. Le traitement a consiste en une ablation chirurgicale des KH cardiaques et de l’artere pulmonaire. Le traitement medical antiparasitaire a base d’albendazole a ete prescrit en post operatoire aux patientes. L’evolution s’est faite vers un syndrome post-pneumonectomie chez la patiente ayant un KH de l’artere pulmonaire, une hypertension pulmonaire majeure dans un cas d’hydatidose pulmonaire embolique et une extension des lesions hydatiques chez la troisieme patiente. La quatrieme patiente est en cours de traitement avec de nombreux kystes parenchymateux evolutifs. Discussion Les kystes hydatiques du coeur et des vaisseaux sont rares et graves. Ces kystes cardiaques et vasculaires ont un pronostic reserve du fait du risque de rupture et de dissemination hematogene. Les traitements ont une efficacite partielle, le traitement preventif doit etre privilegie.

Cardiac cavernous haemangioma.

BACKGROUND Cardiac haemangioma was first described in 1893. It is an infrequent and benign neoplasm which accounts for about 2.8% of all benign primary cardiac tumours, arising from the cardiac ventricles, valves, atria and rarely the epicardium. METHODS AND RESULTS We report the case of a 24-year-old woman with a cardiac haemangioma detected by transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The coronary CT showed a mass located in the pericardial cavity with close relationship to the myocardium. The mass surrounded completely the segments 2 and 3 of the left anterior descending coronary artery. At operation, the tumour was incompletely resected, leaving a remnant in the left anterior descending coronary artery contact, one diagonal branch has been sacrificed. Pathologic study diagnosed a cavernous haemangioma. Transthoracic echocardiography eight months later showed a remnant of haemangioma with a left ventricular ejection fraction estimated to 69%. The coronary CT 10 months after surgery showed the remnant of the tumour with normal cardiac cavities and absence of visualisation of the diagonal artery. The patient is currently asymptomatic and doing well 14 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac haemangioma is a rare cardiac tumour with an unknown aetiology. The diagnosis is aided by imaging techniques. The coronary CT may be useful when more precise evaluation of the tumour extent is required. It allows specifying the relationship of the mass with the coronary vessels. Successful treatment usually requires timely surgery. However, periodic examinations and echocardiography are recommended.

Carcinomes sarcomatoïdes du poumon : étude rétrospective de 28 cas

INTRODUCTION Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of the lung is defined by the World Health Organization as poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma that contains a component of sarcoma or sarcoma-like elements. It represents an overall continuum of epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. Five subtypes are recognized: pleomorphic carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, giant cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, and pulmonary blastoma. The diagnosis is pathological and requires a good sampling of the tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-eight cases of primary sarcomatoid carcinoma, diagnosed between 1993 and 2010, were reviewed retrospectively, noting the clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS The patient population consisted of 25 males and 3 females with mean age of 62.9 years (48-75 years). The symptomatology was dominated by respiratory symptoms. Imaging features showed a pulmonary mass invading pleura or thoracic wall in 5 cases. The diagnosis was made in all cases on histological examination. These 28 tumors were divided as below: into 19 pleomorphic carcinomas, 4 giant cell carcinomas, 1 spindle cell carcinoma and 4 carcinosarcomas. Twenty-seven tumors were treated surgically. Associated treatments were neoadjuvant (3 cases) or adjuvant chemotherapy (1 case) and preoperative radiotherapy (5 cases). Deaths occurred in 7 patients. Twenty-two patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION These tumors are frequently symptomatic, are locally advanced, and have higher rates of recurrence. Its prognosis is worse than that of other non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgery in thoracic actinomycosis.

Background: diagnosis and treatment of thoracic actinomycosis is difficult. In most cases, surgery is performed to rule out lung cancer or to control severe symptoms such as hemoptysis. Methods: 6 patients with a mean age of 42 years underwent pulmonary resection and were given a pathologic diagnosis of thoracic actinomycosis at our institution between 2003 and 2010. We reviewed preoperative clinical characteristics, computed tomography findings, surgical indication, postoperative clinical course and outcome. Results: All patients were symptomatic. One patient had a history of cervical actinomycosis. The mean interval between radiographic identification of the abnormality and surgical intervention was 8 months (range, 4–17 months). Radiographic findings in all cases included a mass-like appearance, simulating lung malignancy or chronic suppuration. The various histological and bacteriological examinations had failed to make the diagnosis. Thoracic actinomycosis was confirmed after thoracic surgery. All patients received penicillin-based antibiotic treatment for at least 2 to 3 months. Good clinical results were observed in 5 patients. In one patient, we noted recurrence of actinomycosis after 10 months; it was a multidrug-resistant form. Conclusion: diagnosis of actinomycosis can be problematic because of difficulty in isolating actinomyces. In these cases, surgery is very helpful.

Kyste hydatique costovertébral : pathologie bénigne ou maligne ?

Osseous hydatidosis, especially when located in the rib, is a very rare disease. Less than 50 cases of costal echinococcosis have been reported in the literature to date. The authors report a case of echinococcosis of the rib with epidural extension in a 76-year-old patient presenting paraparesis. In addition, the patient presented a large posterior and thoracic soft tissue mass measuring about 30 centimetres in diameter. A chest x-ray, a CT thoracic scan and an MRI of the dorsal spine were performed. The imaging suggested echinococcosis of the rib with epidural extension. The cyst was completely resected. Histopathology of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of echinococcosis. The patient died due to postoperative complications. Accurate presurgical diagnosis allows for appropriate management and helps eradicate the disease. This also prevents the dissemination of parasites and further complications.

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma with heterologous component: report of two cases with literature review

Carcinosarcoma is an uncommon malignant biphasic tumor that accounts for less than 1% of all lung cancers. It is defined by coexisting histologic elements of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components. We report two cases of carcinosarcoma in a 68-year-old patient and a 78-year-old patient explored for lung masses. Macroscopically, the resected tumors were 7 and 10 cm in diameter. Histologically, they consisted in adenosquamous carcinoma with osteosarcoma in one case and adenocarcinoma with chondrosarcoma in the other case.