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Abstract Background Primary malignant tumors of the aorta are extremely rare. They are frequently located in the abdominal aorta, followed by the thoracic aorta. Sarcomas are the most common histological type. These tumors originate from the middle or intimal layer, the latter being the most common. Symptoms and radiological findings are generally nonspecific. Since their growth is endovascular, embolic phenomena can occur leading to occlusive signs and symptoms. Case presentation We describe the case of a 75-year-old Hispanic man, a former tobacco smoker, with a history of pain and epigastric tenderness, dysphagia, and weight loss of approximately 6 kg. A thorax computed tomography scan showed a mass within the posterior mediastinum with poorly defined borders and heterogeneous density, located between thoracic vertebra 5–8, with a size of 78 × 53 × 76 mm, with left main bronchus compression. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was performed; it found an extrinsic posterior compression of the left main bronchus with no endobronchial injury. An intimal angiosarcoma of the thoracic aorta was diagnosed. Conclusion Tumors of the aorta are rare and difficult to diagnose; they are a challenge during the diagnosis, since they usually require open surgical procedures. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration associated with rapid on-site examination offered, in this case, the possibility of a successful diagnosis, avoiding major procedures. This is the first case reported in the literature of an intimal angiosarcoma of the thoracic aorta diagnosed using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

Abstract Background Primary effusion lymphoma is a rare, high-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that usually occurs in immunosuppressed or human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals in advanced stages of the disease. However, primary effusion lymphoma occasionally affects immunocompetent patients who are infected with human herpes virus type 8 or Epstein-Barr virus. This disease manifests with liquid collections in cavities, producing constitutional symptoms; fever; weight loss; and symptoms related to extrinsic compression, such as dyspnea or abdominal discomfort. Diagnosis is confirmed with cytological or tissue evaluation showing large, multinucleated lymphoid cells with positive specific markers for the disease, such as CD45 and markers related to viral infections, when present. There is no standard treatment for primary effusion lymphoma, but several chemotherapy protocols are recommended, usually with poor results. Case presentation We present a case of an adult human immunodeficiency virus-negative Hispanic origin woman with primary effusion lymphoma with pleuritic, pericardial, and peritoneal compromise who also had unusual complications during a diagnostic procedure: the accidental rupture of the left ventricle and the development of a secondary left ventricular pseudoaneurysm. We describe the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics as well as the outcome of this case. Conclusions Primary effusion lymphoma is a very rare entity that represents 4% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases associated with human immunodeficiency virus and 0.1% to 1% of all lymphomas in patients with another type of immunodeficiency in regions where human herpes virus type 8 is not endemic. This reported case is an unusual presentation of primary effusion lymphoma because it occurred in an immunocompetent human immunodeficiency virus-negative adult woman without the presence of Kaposi’s sarcoma or Castleman’s disease and for whom the clinical course after chemotherapy was successful. However, the rupture of the free wall of the left ventricle is a very rare catastrophic event that usually occurs after myocardial infarction. Left ventricle free wall rupture rarely goes unnoticed, but when it occurs, it leads to the development of a ventricular pseudoaneurysm in which the rupture is contained by the pericardium with an organized thrombus and an adjacent hematoma.

Abstract Background Endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are an essential driver of personalized therapy for patients with lung cancer and are detected in approximately 15% of Caucasian and 50% of Asian patients. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed and used for this set of patients. T790M mutation in exon 20 is usually associated with secondary resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy but is also present in treatment-naïve patients. The frequency for baseline T790M mutation varies from 4 to 35% according to the detection method used. Newer techniques have yielded higher rates, but concerns about false-positive results have been raised. Compound mutations account for 4–14% of all EGFR-mutated tumors, with no studies yet to provide a frequency rate for T790M + 19 deletion association due to the small number of cases. However, there are reports that pretreatment T790M + L858R association is significantly more frequent compared to T790M + exon 19 deletion mutations. Diagnostic challenges, current knowledge on the subject, and therapeutic decisions are discussed. Case presentation We present the case of a 43-year-old Hispanic woman, a treatment-naïve patient, with metastasized lung cancer adenocarcinoma harboring a T790M deletion along with the classic 19 mutation. The initial symptoms were monoparesis of her left leg, associated with hyperreflexia, and hypoesthesia. In the absence of third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a platinum-based therapy was initiated with no response and she died 4 months after diagnosis. Conclusions Osimertinib seems to be a suitable therapy for treatment-naïve patients with sensitizing and resistant compound EGFR mutations. More studies regarding the clinical characteristics of these patients and the appropriate management of this condition are needed to provide the highest standard of care.