Search

mediastinal cysts are rare lesions developed from mediastinal structures. They may be acquired like thoracic duct cysts or lymphangiomas or congenital like the bronchogenic cysts, enteric cysts or celomic cysts. These cysts are rare and may cause diagnostic challenges.To assess the major characteristics of these cysts based on a single institution experience.the authors performed a descriptive, retrospective study from January 2009 to March 2020 in a single institution. Cystic lesions taking birth from the mediastinum for which gross features, microscopic features were available were included.this study contained 52 mediastinal cysts that were completely resected and no patient presented complications after the surgical resection. The bronchogenic cysts were the most frequent and represented 57.69% of all lesions. Thymic cysts and pericardial cysts represented respectively 40.38% and 1.92% of the cases. The positive diagnosis was based on the microscopic exam. The final diagnosis was concordant with the radiologic findings in 15 cases reaching a rate of 28%.the diagnosis of mediastinal cysts is based on the microscopic analysis of the cystic wall. Pericardial cysts may be suspected based on their characteristic location in the cardiophrenic angle, thymic cyst may be evoked based on their location in the thymic region and bronchogenic cysts are mainly located in the middle mediastinum. Inspite of these most frequent locations, the cysts may be located in any part of the mediastinum and may be difficult to diagnose when the key diagnostic features are absent.

Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma. Its occurrence as a primary mediastinal neoplasm is very rare. We report a case of mediastinal synovial sarcoma in a 14‐year‐old girl with exertive dyspnoea at presentation. On physical examination, there was a superior vena cava syndrome and café‐au‐lait spots. Chest X‐ray revealed a white left hemithorax with mediastinal deviation to the opposite side. Thoraco‐abdomino‐pelvic scanner showed a voluminous posterior cervico‐mediastinal tissue mass. Computed tomography (CT)‐guided biopsy of the mediastino‐pleural mass was performed. Histological examination reported fusocellular malignant mesenchymal proliferation. A complementary immunohistological study with a broad range of antibodies was performed with a high‐grade single‐phase spindle cell synovial sarcoma of the mediastinum. She presented a respiratory distress, did not respond to resuscitation, and died. Mediastinal synovial sarcoma is a rare tumour that is difficult to diagnose. Its slow progression and delay in diagnosis may lead to a fatal evolution., Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma. Its occurrence as a primary mediastinal neoplasm is very rare. We report a fatal case of mediastinal synovial sarcoma in a 14‐year‐old girl with exertive dyspnoea at presentation. We highlight the role of imaging, the means of diagnosis, and the importance of the speed of therapeutic management. Mediastinal synovial sarcoma is a rare tumour that is difficult to diagnose. Its slow progression and delay in diagnosis may lead to a fatal evolution.

Objectives:Primary cardiac tumors are rare and account for 0.001 to 0.03% of cardiac lesions. The authors aim to describe the clinical, the microscopic and the therapeutic characteristics of these tumors through a 13-year-experience in order to highlight the diagnostic challenges faced.Methods:We report 10 primary cardiac tumors diagnosed in the Departments of Pathology and Thoracic Surgery of the same hospital through a 13-year-period.Results:Our study was conducted on 7 women and 3 men. The mean age of the patients was 54.22 years (average, 12 to 79 years). Dyspnea represented the most frequent symptom. Physical examination was normal in all patients. Trans-thoracic ultra-sound examination was performed in all patients. Cardiac MRI allowed localizing the tumors in 2 patients. They were located into the left auricle (6 cases), the right auricle (1 case) and the pericardium (3 cases). The microscopic examination was concluded to myxoma (7 cases), haemangioma (2 cases) and hemangioendothelioma (1 case). Surgical resection was possible in 9 patients. It was impossible in the case of hemangioendothelioma because of the adherence. One death was recorded secondary to postoperative arrhythmia. The other patients presented no complications after a follow-up period ranging from 2 months to 5 years.Conclusion:Cardiac tumors are challenging in their diagnosis and management. A positive diagnosis is based on microscopic examination. Surgical treatment plays a key role and is possible in the majority of benign tumors. The prognosis of malignant tumors remains poor even if a complete surgical resection is possible.

The standard control parameters of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) currently used in Tunisia are replaced in Western countries by the concept of "goal-directed-perfusion" requiring oxygen delivery (DO2) minimum at 270ml / min / m2.In this study, we explored the association between the DO2 and the postoperative morbidity and mortality.This is a cross-sectional and retrospective observational study including a series of 50 patients operated on for myocardial revascularization under CPB.We noticed a significant correlation between starting DO2i and Creatinine clearance at day 0, Δcreate (day 1-day 0) and ventilation time. There was also a significant correlation between discharge DO2i and daytime urine output, ventilation time, hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. Through a univariable study, we compared the classic parameters of perfusion monitoring during CPB in addition to the starting DO2i with the different postoperative results. It was noted that the starting DO2i figures below the threshold of 270ml / min / m² were significantly correlated with the duration of administration of catecholamines postoperatively, with prolonged ventilation, with the variation in serum creatinine postoperatively and with in-hospital mortality.DO2 is a monitoring tool that has proven its advantages for monitoring under CPB.

Pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma (PACC) is an exceedingly rare tumor of low-grade malignancy. Diagnosis is often late, so the tumoral process may be huge at presentation. Surgical resection could be challenging, and the recurrence rate would be greater. We report, hereby, a case of proximal PACC with involvement of the carina in a young male adult, without respiratory distress. Surgical resection was performed through a left pneumonectomy followed by a complex trachea-bronchoplastic procedure. During the operative time, the assisted ventilatory mode was carefully chosen. No adjuvant treatment was needed. Our patient is still under clinicoradiological surveillance and remains disease-free.

Mediastinal paraganglioma presented as a large dumbbell tumor is a rare entity. We report a case of a 47 year old woman who suffered from spinal pain and sporadic lower limb paresis. The imaging studies showed a voluminous mass occupying the posterior mediastinum with right foraminal extension. For excellent results, a combined effort was necessary including thoracic and neurosurgeons teams. Complete resection was successfully performed without laminectomy. The operative course was uneventful.

Lung carcinoid tumours are rare neoplasms with a favourable prognosis. Bronchoplasty can be a conservative treatment for typical carcinoid tumours and can be applied for patients with limited respiratory function. We report the case of a 34‐year‐old woman, with a polypoid tumour located at the distal right main bronchus. Bronchial biopsy showed a typical carcinoid tumour. After resection of the tumour in the right main bronchus, bronchoplasty was performed by end‐to‐end anastomosis of the remaining right main bronchus, right upper lobar bronchus, and the upper bronchus intermedius. Bronchoscopy showed a good quality anastomosis with slightly reduced endoluminal calibre only. The post‐operative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged at the seventh day. One year later, no complications occurred and the patient is still being followed up regularly., In this article, we try to demonstrate the possibility of creating a "neo‐spur" without lobectomy to treat an intra‐bronchial typical carcinoid tumor.

Background: Uncontrollable bleeding during thoracic surgery has been a challenging problem faced by surgeons. The aim of this study was to clarify the usefulness of pleural packing as a good alternative to control hemorrhage and to deduce the common point between those patients.Methods: This was a retrospective case series study of eight patients who underwent thoracic surgery with uncontrollable intrathoracic haemorrhage and shock which required intrathoracic packing from January 2014 to December 2019.Results: During the study period, eight patients underwent thoracic surgery with uncontrollable intrathoracic haemorrhage and needed packing. Successful hemostasis was achieved in all cases after pleural packing. The mean age was 58.5 years and six patients were males. The common point was the history of pulmonary tuberculosis which was with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis for two patients. Incision was a posterolateral thoracotomy in all cases and six patients required pulmonary resection (five lobectomy and one bilobectomy), one patient required decortication, and one had tumorectomy of a paragonglioma located in the Barety’s space. The unpacking took place right after 48 hours. An arrest of the bleeding was noticed in all the remaining patients. The mean time of the mechanical ventilation was 11 days. Complications included atelectasis and infectious pneumonitis. We noted one case of death.Conclusions: Intrathoracic packing may be an effective and feasible technique in managing uncontrollable post-operative hemorrhage when the life of patients is in danger. This technique should always be considered for patients with tuberculosis history.

Thyroid involvement with tuberculosis is an uncommon condition even in endemic countries. As its clinical presentation is not specific, diagnosis is often difficult and requires histopathological confirmation. Herein we report an observation of secondary tuberculosis of the thyroid gland in a woman with a type 2 diabetes mellitus and a primary hypothyroidism. She presented with a rapid enlargement of a preexisting goiter without compressive symptoms. The imaging exams showed a voluminous plunging multinodular thyroid gland and multiple bilateral lung nodules. Malignancy was suspected and the patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and a lung biopsy. Histopathological examination revealed multiple tuberculous foci involving both the thyroid gland and the lungs.

We report a new case of a mediastinal mass in a 19-year-old patient corresponding microscopically to an association of unilocular thymic cyst and true thymic hyperplasia. Our aim is to highlight the absence of specificity of clinical and radiological findings and the necessity of a thorough sampling of the tumor in order to establish the diagnosis.

Introduction: A causal relationship between the thymus gland and myasthenia gravis (MG) has been assumed for decades. However, this relationship is still a matter of conjecture and speculations and awaits definitive proof. Recently, myoid cells have been considered as effectors in the pathogenesis of MG as well as thymic enlargement (thymolipoma, true thymic hyperplasia). Material and methods: we report a retrospective study about 6 cases of thymic enlargement with 4 cases of true thymic hyperplasia (TTH) and 2 cases of thymolipoma (TL). Aim: Our objective is to discuss the role of myoid cells in the pathogenesis of MG associated with thymic enlargement. Results: The majority of our patients were men with a sex ratio of 4/2. Only 2 patients had a past medical history consistent for MG. Myoid cells were found in all cases. Conclusion: Through our small study, the implication of myoid cells in the pathogenesis of the association MG-TL or TTH remains unproved.

Thymomas are the most common neoplasms of the mediastinum. It is common that thymoma invades neighboring structures in the thorax, but direct polypoid tumor growth into the airway is extremely rare. We report a rare case of invasive thymoma with polypoid endobronchial growth in a 66-year-old woman. Computed tomography demonstrated an anterior mediastinal tumor which extended into the right upper lobe. Endoscopic examination revealed a polypoid tumor which occluded the right upper bronchus. A biopsy specimen obtained from the intraluminal mass was very suggestive of thymoma. The patient had no parathymic syndrome. The tumor was resected with the right upper lobe. The final post-operative tissue findings confirmed a type B2 thymoma of the World Health Organisation classification.

Micronodular thymoma is a rare subtype of thymoma with less than 20 cases published in the English literature. These tumours have been reported with thymoma or thymic cyst. The authors describe a new case of micronodular thymoma in a 68-year-old-patient which is well documented and particular by its cystic degeneration which hasn’t been described yet. Micronodular thymoma is a rare variant of thymoma with a challenging diagnosis. Clinicians must be aware of this entity in order not to confuse it with a thymic cyst.

Aim: Surgical treatment of hepatic or pulmonary metastases is the optimal therapeutic goal in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Our retrospective study concerned 70 patients treated for CRC, collected from 2003 to 2015, presenting liver metastases (LM) in 61 cases and pulmonary metastases (PM) in nine cases, treated by surgery for their distant disease. We collected and compared their epidemiologic, anatomoclinical parameters and analyzed several prognostic factors. Results: Metastases were multiple (≥ 4) in 9/61 LM and in 5/9 PM. Patients had synchronous metastases in 32 cases (30 LM/2 PM) and metachronous metastases in 33 cases (32 LM and 11 PM). Surgery for LM consisted of metastasectomy (49/61), segmentectomy (5/61) and hepatectomy for the remaining seven patients; ten patients had also subsequent liver radiofrequency. LM were treated by wedge resection in 6/9 and lobectomy in two cases, radiofrequency was performed in five cases. 56/61 (80%) patients received chemotherapy, mostly FOLFOX protocol as the first-line treatment and targeted therapy in 55% of cases. For the overall population, median OS and PFS were, respectively, 44 and 32 months. We did not observe any significant difference in terms of OS (p = 0.659) and PFS (p = 0.318) between resected LM or/and PM. A better survival was found when there was disease-free interval between the occurrence of the primary and the metastases exceeded 18 months and in patients with less than four metastases. Conclusion: Resection of metastatic disease mostly in liver and lungs improves survival of patients with CRC. The patients with longer disease-free interval and less than four metastases had the best outcomes.

Background: Hydatidosis is an infectious disease resulting from the development of the larval form of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus in humans. The invasion of the chest wall by echinococcosis is rarely described. Methods: The current study reported all cases of chest wall hydatidosis treated in the department of cardiothoracic surgery from January 1990 to December 2011. Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.316.8 years. Males and females were equally affected. The cysts mostly were located at ribs (13 cases) and ribs with vertebrae (10 cases). The chest wall muscles, the sub-cutaneous tissue and the sternum were involved in four, three and two cases, respectively. A costal resection was performed in 13 cases (one to three ribs; mean, 1.5 ribs) and a costovertebral resection was performed in 10 cases (transverse process three, vertebral body four and both three). The other surgical procedures were partial resection of the sternum (two cases) and cystectomy with resection of parietal soft tissue (nine cases). The outcome was favorable for 29 patients. A recurrence was observed in two patientswhopresented costovertebral and sternal involvements. Conclusions: The chest wall localization of the hydatid cyst is rare. In the costovertebral involvements, this parasitic disease behaves locally as a bone malignancy. The treatment is surgical and the resection should be large and radical to avoid recurrences

Summary Purpose of the study Desmoid-type fibromatosis is a fibroblastic proliferation that develops in the deep soft tissues and is characterized by infiltrative growth and a tendency towards local recurrence but does not metastasize. Fibromatosis of the chest wall is rare, representing only 10 to 20% of all deep fibromatoses. Case report We report a six cases series of fibromatosis of the chest wall treated at our institution between 1996 and 2009. There were five men and one woman with a mean age of 42.2. Swelling of the chest wall was the most frequent symptom. Imaging showed an expansive homogeneous mass, invading the rib (four cases) or the sternum (two cases). Surgical resection was performed in all cases. The outcome was favorable (five cases) or marked by local recurrence (one case). Discussion Although it is considered to be a benign lesion, this tumor can be locally very aggressive, and has a high local recurrence rate depending upon the efficacy of surgical resection.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is the most frequent antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis. It affects mainly the upper airways, lungs, and kidneys. Two forms are identified: systemic and limited. We describe three cases of limited WG diagnosed during a 7-year period. Our aim is to report three localized forms of WG and to put emphasis on the necessity of differentiating localized from systemic forms because of their different prognoses and manner of management. Our study contained two men and one woman with a mean age of 43 years. All our patients were symptomatic and presented with nonspecific respiratory signs. The cANCA were positive in all patients. The imaging findings consisted of cavitary masses. The diagnosis was based on surgical lung biopsy in all cases. All patients were put on cyclophosphamide and prednisolone. Only one patient presented with renal complications after a 2-year follow-up period. The two other patients did not present complications after, respectively, 1 month and 1 year of follow-up. These case reports put emphasis on a rare form of WG, the limited form. The low number of patients, due to the rarity of this disease, does not allow us to delineate the characteristics and the differences between this form and the systemic form, but we highlight the necessity of future investigations in order to explore the pathogenesis, therapeutic, and prognosis differences between these two subsets.

Summary We report five cases of coastal chondrosarcoma (CS) in four women and one man between 28 and 49 years of age. In four cases, the tumor had spread and infiltrated the adjacent structures (soft tissues, thoracic vertebrae, mediastinum, etc.). CS was diagnosed based either on wide surgical resection specimens in three patients, or on tumor biopsies in two cases. The CS was grade I in one patient, grade II in three cases, and grade III in one case. Wide surgical resection which was performed in three patients was associated in one case with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In the three cases, the disease natural history appeared favorable after a follow-up duration ranging from 1 month to 4 years. Two patients died, one after radiotherapy and chemotherapy done immediately after diagnosis as a result of the large size and invasive nature of the tumor. Coastal CS is characterized by a distinct potential for locoregional and distant metastasis. Diagnosis remains anatomopathological. Wide surgical resection is the only demonstrated curative treatment, even for high-grade CS.

Background: Substernal goiters are usually classified as secondary or primary intrathoracic goiters. Primary ones result from an abnormal embryologic migration of the thyroid and represents less than 1% of all goiters. Secondary substernal goiters develop from the descent of the thyroid into the mediastinum and represents 98-99% of goiters.Methods: This was a retrospective study which discuss the symptoms, the diagnosis and the treatment of 7 primary intrathoracic goiters.Results: Goiter was located in the anterior mediastinum in 5 cases, in the posterior mediastinum in 1 case and in the medium mediastinum in 1 case. The mass was located on the right in 5 cases cervical approach was performed in 3 cases. Two patients required a transthoracic approach, 1 required sternotomy and in 1 case video-thoracic surgery was sufficient. Only one patient had postoperative complication which was secondary pneumothorax. All tumors were benign.Conclusions: Mediastinal ectopic goitre is rare. However it should be discussed among the different etiologies of mediastinal masses.

Summary Primary bone invasion by xanthoma is rare particularly in normolipidemic patients. In fact, lipid disorders are present in most patients. Xanthomatous lesions were observed in the ninth rib's posterior arch of a 45-year-old man with a history of labour accident. To our knowledge, this is the fourth case reported in the literature. Histologically, the lesion was characterized by a replacement of normal bone and marrow with xanthoma cells. The treatment approach consisted in a total removal of the lesion and the patient has not presented recurrences after a follow up of 10 years.

Dyshormonogenetic goiter is a rare cause of congenital hypothyroidism occurring due to a lack of enzymes necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. It is morphologically characterized by architectural and cellular pleomorphism that may mimic thyroid malignancy and cause difficulties in differential diagnosis. We report a new case occurring in a 37-year-old male with history of hypothyroidism since the age of 6 years treated by L-thyroxin. He developed a progressively slow growing multinodular goiter and consulted for recent dyspnea. Computed tomography scan showed a multinodular plunging goiter with compression of the trachea and vessels in the left side. A total thyroidectomy was performed. Gross examination revealed an enlarged and multinodular thyroid gland, presenting hemorrhagic changes in the larger nodules. Histologically, the features were consistent with dyshormonogenetic goiter. The literature on the histopathology of dyshormonogenetic goiter is reviewed and clues to avoid inappropriate overdiagnosis of malignancy are given.