Pulmonary blastoma is an uncommon lung malignancy,usually presenting itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, it is asymptomatic in up to 40% of patients. We present the case ...Pulmonary blastoma is an uncommon lung malignancy,usually presenting itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, it is asymptomatic in up to 40% of patients. We present the case and suggestive images of a 37-year-old non-smoking lady with a monophasic pulmonary blastoma located in the lower lobe of the left lung who underwent a left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy, hilar and mediastinal node dissection, followed by chemo and radiation therapy. After 36 mo, there is no disease progression and the patient is in good health, clinically stable and without significant chest pain.展开更多
To the Editor:We read with tremendous interest the paper by Del Fabbroet al. [1]. In this thorough article, the authors meticulously underlinethe advantages of a modified j-shaped incision for the simultaneoustreatme...To the Editor:We read with tremendous interest the paper by Del Fabbroet al. [1]. In this thorough article, the authors meticulously underlinethe advantages of a modified j-shaped incision for the simultaneoustreatment of difficult liver colorectal metastases (CRM) and right-lung CRM, reporting their experience in a cohort of 11 patients.展开更多
AIM:To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection. METHODS:In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal...AIM:To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection. METHODS:In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction using acellular bovine pericardium; of these 34 patients had a contaminated wound due to diffuse peritonitis (complicated diverticulitis, bowel perforation, intestinal infarction, strangled hernia, etc. ) and 14 patients had hernia relapse on infected synthetic mesh. RESULTS: In our series, one patient died of multiorgan failure 3 d after surgery. After placement of the pericardium mesh four cases of hernia relapse occurred. CONCLUSION: Recurrence rate is similar to that of prosthetic mesh repair and the application of acellular bovine pericardium (Tutomesh , Tutogen Medical Gmbh Germany) is moreover a safe and feasible option thatcan be employed to manage complicated abdominal wall defects where prosthetic mesh is unsuitable.展开更多
AIM: To compare our ten year results for thyroidectomy for cervico-mediastinal goiters with the best surgical treatment reported in the literature.METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2009, of 1530 patients who unde...AIM: To compare our ten year results for thyroidectomy for cervico-mediastinal goiters with the best surgical treatment reported in the literature.METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2009, of 1530 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our department, we selected 105 cases of cervico-mediastinal goiter. In the majority of cases, the cervical approach is the standard procedure and only occasionally sternotomy or thoracotomy is necessary. The indications for surgery are generally related to a progressive increase of the thyroid mass into the anterior mediastinum with compression and dislocation of the trachea or esophagus and the possibility of an unknown malignancy.RESULTS: In 98(93.3%) of our 105 patients, the standard surgical approach was anterior cervicotomy followed by total thyroidectomy. In three cases, total sternotomy was performed and in the remaining four patients, a partial split sternotomy was effective to remove the intrathoracic mass. Post-operative complications included transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsyin 6 patients(5.7%) which only became permanent in 2 patients(1.9%). The transient hypoparathyroidism rate was 22% but 2 mo after surgery permanent hypoparathyroidism was confirmed in only 2% of our selected group. No patients required temporary tracheostomy following surgery related to a possible bilateral nerve palsy. Patients received a single prophylactic antibiotic dose preoperatively and wound infections were not significant. There was no mortality in our selected group and most patients showed a significant improvement of dyspnea and other correlated symptoms postoperatively.CONCLUSION: The majority of cervico mediastinal goiters can be completely removed through a cervical incision. In selected cases, generally malignancies with local infiltration of mediastinal soft tissues and adhesions to large vessels, split sternotomy may be a safer approach to not increase morbidity.展开更多
文摘Pulmonary blastoma is an uncommon lung malignancy,usually presenting itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, it is asymptomatic in up to 40% of patients. We present the case and suggestive images of a 37-year-old non-smoking lady with a monophasic pulmonary blastoma located in the lower lobe of the left lung who underwent a left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy, hilar and mediastinal node dissection, followed by chemo and radiation therapy. After 36 mo, there is no disease progression and the patient is in good health, clinically stable and without significant chest pain.
文摘To the Editor:We read with tremendous interest the paper by Del Fabbroet al. [1]. In this thorough article, the authors meticulously underlinethe advantages of a modified j-shaped incision for the simultaneoustreatment of difficult liver colorectal metastases (CRM) and right-lung CRM, reporting their experience in a cohort of 11 patients.
文摘AIM:To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection. METHODS:In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction using acellular bovine pericardium; of these 34 patients had a contaminated wound due to diffuse peritonitis (complicated diverticulitis, bowel perforation, intestinal infarction, strangled hernia, etc. ) and 14 patients had hernia relapse on infected synthetic mesh. RESULTS: In our series, one patient died of multiorgan failure 3 d after surgery. After placement of the pericardium mesh four cases of hernia relapse occurred. CONCLUSION: Recurrence rate is similar to that of prosthetic mesh repair and the application of acellular bovine pericardium (Tutomesh , Tutogen Medical Gmbh Germany) is moreover a safe and feasible option thatcan be employed to manage complicated abdominal wall defects where prosthetic mesh is unsuitable.
文摘AIM: To compare our ten year results for thyroidectomy for cervico-mediastinal goiters with the best surgical treatment reported in the literature.METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2009, of 1530 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our department, we selected 105 cases of cervico-mediastinal goiter. In the majority of cases, the cervical approach is the standard procedure and only occasionally sternotomy or thoracotomy is necessary. The indications for surgery are generally related to a progressive increase of the thyroid mass into the anterior mediastinum with compression and dislocation of the trachea or esophagus and the possibility of an unknown malignancy.RESULTS: In 98(93.3%) of our 105 patients, the standard surgical approach was anterior cervicotomy followed by total thyroidectomy. In three cases, total sternotomy was performed and in the remaining four patients, a partial split sternotomy was effective to remove the intrathoracic mass. Post-operative complications included transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsyin 6 patients(5.7%) which only became permanent in 2 patients(1.9%). The transient hypoparathyroidism rate was 22% but 2 mo after surgery permanent hypoparathyroidism was confirmed in only 2% of our selected group. No patients required temporary tracheostomy following surgery related to a possible bilateral nerve palsy. Patients received a single prophylactic antibiotic dose preoperatively and wound infections were not significant. There was no mortality in our selected group and most patients showed a significant improvement of dyspnea and other correlated symptoms postoperatively.CONCLUSION: The majority of cervico mediastinal goiters can be completely removed through a cervical incision. In selected cases, generally malignancies with local infiltration of mediastinal soft tissues and adhesions to large vessels, split sternotomy may be a safer approach to not increase morbidity.