Wan Ki Baek

Myositis ossificans of the chest wall simulating malignant neoplasm

Myositis ossificans originating from the chest wall is extremely rare. We report a case of myositis ossificans occurring in a young woman with progressive painful swelling in the chest wall. Preoperative examination suggested a malignant neoplasm originating from soft tissue. Although rare, myositis ossificans is one of the potential causes of painful swelling in the chest wall, and can be mistaken for a malignant neoplasm.

Thoracic EndoVascular Stent Graft Repair for Aortic Aneurysm

Background The number of cases employing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been increasing due to lower morbidity and mortality compared to open repair technique. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of TEVAR for thoracic aortic diseases. Materials and Methods Sixteen patients underwent TEVAR from October 2003 to April 2010. Mean age at operation was 59 years (20~78 years), and 11 were male. Indications for TEVAR were large aortic diameter (>5.5 cm) upon presentation in 6 patients, increasing aortic diameter during the follow-up period in 4, traumatic aortic rupture in 3, persistent chest pain in 2, and ruptured aortic aneurysm in one. The mean diameter, length and the number of the stents were 33 mm (26~40 mm), 12 cm (9.5~16.0 cm), and 1.25 (1~2), respectively. Aortography employing Multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) technique was performed at one week, and patients were followed up in the out-patient department at one month, 6 months, and one year postoperatively. Results Primary technical success showing complete exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 15 patients. One patient showed a small endo-leak (type 1). Four patients developed perioperative stroke: Three recovered without sequelae, and one showed mild right-side weakness. There was no operative mortality. Diameter of the thoracic aorta covered by stent graft changed within 10% range in 12 patients, decreased by more than 10% in 3, and increased by more than 10% in one during mean follow-up duration of 18 months (1~73 months). There was no recurrence-related death during this period. Conclusion Intermediate-term outcome after TEVAR was encouraging. Indications for TEVAR could be extended for other thoracic aortic diseases.

Huge sinus of Valsalva aneurysm causing mitral valve incompetence

We describe a case of a large sinus of Valsalva aneurysm originating from the noncoronary sinus. The aneurysm compressed the roof of the left atrium rendering the annulus and the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve severely distorted and, as a result, incompetent. The neck of the aneurysm was closed with a patch from the side of the aortic sinus, but we had to replace the mitral valve as the distorted structure did not resume its original shape even though we opened the aneurysm and debrided all thrombotic material inside the aneurysm.

Quadrangular Resection of the Tricuspid Valve

Quadrangular resection is the gold standard technique for correction of the posterior leaflet prolapse in mitral valve disease. Prompted by the idea that the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve corresponds to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve in its structure and function, we conducted a quadrangular resection of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve in a case of tricuspid endocarditis. Tricuspid regurgitation was well corrected, and the durability of the repair was proven by the patients freedom from cardiac events for the following 8 years.

Pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery mimicking tumorous condition

Diagnosing pseudoaneurysms of the popliteal artery is usually straightforward in physical examinations and imaging findings. However, when a pseudoaneurysm shows a soft tissue mass with adjacent osseous change, it can mimic a bone tumor or a soft tissue sarcoma. We present a case of a 65-year-old man who had a pseudoaneurysm of the popliteal artery showing soft tissue mass and insinuating into the intramedullary cavity of the tibia. This presented case emphasizes the importance of considering pseudoaneurysms in the differential diagnosis of an apparent soft tissue mass with pressure erosion in adjacent bone.

Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis with Conventional Aspiration Thrombectomy for Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate treatment outcomes in patients with symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who had undergone a catheter-directed thrombolysis with conventional aspiration thrombectomy for the treatment of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. Materials and Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 74 patients (mean age 61 ± 15) that underwent a catheter-directed thrombolysis with conventional aspiration thrombectomy. A retrieval inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was placed to protect against a pulmonary embolism in 60 patients (81%). Stenting and balloon angioplasty were performed in 37 patients (50%) under the left common iliac vein compression. Results Sixty-seven patients (91%) showed a clinical improvement within 48 hours, but seven patients (9%) showed no improvement. Multi detector computerized tomographic venography (MDCT venography) at discharge showed no thrombus in 15 patients (20%) and partial thrombus in 52 (70%). Twenty-eight patients (38%) developed post-thrombotic syndrome at 3.0 ± 4.2 months postoperatively. Six patients (8%) were admitted due to DVT recurrence at a mean of 5.6 ± 7.4 months postoperatively. Sixty-nine patients underwent follow up MDCT venography at 5.7 ± 5.6 months. fifty (72%) of these showed no thrombus, 15 (22%) partial thrombus, and 4 (6%) showed obstruction. Twentyeight of 61 (46%) were asymptomatic, twentyeight (46%) had moderate improvement, and four (6%) were mildly improved by a telephone interview (81%) at 22.8 ± 10.7 months postoperatively. Conclusion Catheter-directed thrombolysis with conventional aspiration thrombectomy is an effective treatment for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and produces satisfactory clinical results.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the thymus: a two-case report.

A large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) of the thymus is a very rare malignant tumor that has a very poor prognosis. The detailed clinical features of LCNEC are still unknown, including the long term prognoses and the definitive modalities of the treatment for LCNEC of the thymus. We are reporting 2 cases of an enlarged LCNEC of the thymus, both of which were diagnosed and treated by surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Although recurrences and metastases of the LCNEC were noticed 1 and 4 years postoperatively for each case, aggressive surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation therapy may be helpful for a patients long term survival.

Metastatic Thymic Adenocarcinoma from Colorectal Cancer.

This report describes the case of a 57-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal tumor. Four years previously, he underwent laparoscopic anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer. Thirty months after that procedure, bilateral pulmonary metastasectomy was performed. Twelve months later, follow-up computed tomography revealed a 1-cm pulmonary nodule on the upper lobe of the right lung and a solid mass on the anterior mediastinum, and the patient was also observed to have an elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. Repeated pulmonary nodule resection and total thymectomy were performed. Immunohistochemical staining of the anterior mediastinal tumor revealed adenocarcinoma, and his serum CEA level returned to normal after the operation. These findings strongly suggested metastatic thymic adenocarcinoma from a colorectal cancer.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Prematurities Weighing Less than 1 Kg by Subaxillary Mini-thoracotomy

The surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is provided more frequently in extremely low birth weight babies who are usually deemed unsuitable for pharmacological closure. We have adopted subaxillary mini-thoracotomy in order to lessen surgical trauma in these babies; and its clinical results were analyzed. From April 2004 to August 2008, out of 50 babies at the neonatal intensive care unit who underwent the surgical closure of PDA, 22 premature babies weighing less than 1 kg at operation were included in the study. Eleven babies were males and mean gestational age was 27 weeks ranging from 23+3 to 30+2 weeks. Mean body weight at operation was 816 g ranging from 490 to 989 g and average age at operation was 17.9±11.9 days. Of them, 17 babies (72%) were ventilator dependent preoperatively, as compared with 13 out of 28 (46%) babies that weighed more than 1 kg (P<0.05). Four babies did not survive to discharge. Among 28 babies who were heavier than 1 kg, there were only one death. However, the mortality difference was not statistically significant (P=0.11). All mortalities were caused by inherent problems of prematurity and co-morbidities. Out of 17 babies who had been ventilator dependent preoperatively, 13 weaned off successfully at 17.0±23.9 days after the operation. The baby patients heavier than 1 kg weaned at 6.0±5.3 days (P=0.27). Surgical outcome of simple and less invasive subaxillary mini-thoracotomy was satisfactory; the surgery is highly recommended for ductal closure in extremely low weight premature babies.

A 2-mm Videothoracoscopic Incision for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

This study was designed to evaluate a recently developed 2-mm video-thoracoscope and instruments for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Between January 1998 and June 1999, 62 consecutive patients were studied. The 2-mm video-thoracoscope was used in 30 patients (group 1), and a conventional video-thoracoscope was used in 32 (group 2). There was no significant difference in operation time, number of staples, or duration of chest tube drainage between the 2 groups. The need for parenteral analgesic (ketoprofen) postoperatively was less in group 1 (56%) than group 2 (72%), but this was not statistically significant. During a mean follow-up of 15 months, there was 1 readmission for recurrent pneumothorax in each group. It was concluded that the 2-mm video-thoracoscope and instruments can be used successfully to manage primary spontaneous pneumothorax with cosmetically excellent results.