Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura; report of a case

An 81-year-old male appealed against a feeling of dyspnea, and consulted the hospital. The giant tumor discovered in the thorax and it was enlarging gradually for 7 years. The tumor shadow with a diameter of about 15 cm was noted in right lower lung field on the chest X-ray. A definite diagnosis was not obtained by the needle biopsy. The tumor was found to exist between upper lobe and lower lobe and pressed lower lobe at surgery. The tumor was completely excised with partial resection of the collapsed lower lobe. The tumor was 1,050 g in weight and 18 cm in maximum diameter. Pathological examination showed the irregular and plan-like arrangement of the spindle-shape cell. Immunohistochemical study revealed positive findings for bcl-2 and CD34, negative findings for desmin, ketatin, and alpha-actin. The tumor was diagnosed as malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura due to highly atypical nuclear finding with an abundant nuclear fission or histology.     

Surgical treatment of cardiac myxosarcoma

A 36-year-old man suffering from exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. An echocardiogram showed a left atrial tumor, which was excised via the left atrial approach. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed that it was a myxosarcoma. Twelve months after the surgery, the tumor recurred in the left atrium, and metastatic tumors were found in the right atrium and right ventricle. Surgery was performed once again, but examinations 5 months after the second surgery showed local recurrences and multiple metastases. Although the patient had received chemotherapy, he died 30 months after the first operation.     

Pleural dissemination of esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors after an eight-year interval following the primary surgery

A 71-year-old man who had undergone surgical resection of esophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) through a right posterolateral thoracotomy 8 years earlier was referred for treatment of an anterior mediastinal mass discovered on a follow-up chest radiograph in October 2007. Computed tomography findings revealed a tumor, 82 × 49 mm, with calcification, in the anterior mediastinum. When we radically resected the tumor via a median sternectomy, we found that it was actually located in the pleural cavity, and there was a small nodule near the main tumor on other pleura. Microscopically, the tumor was comprised of uniform spindle cells with fibrillary eosinophilic cytoplasm. In addition, immunostaining showed that the tumor was positive for CD117 (c-kit). The diagnosis was pleural dissemination of esophageal GISTs 8 years after primary surgery, making this the first report of pleural dissemination of esophageal GISTs after such a prolonged postsurgical interval.     

Excision of a left atrial myxoma via a minimally-invasive technique: a possible routine access

We would like to present our experience of surgical excision of intracardiac tumors using a video-assisted minimally-invasive cardiac surgery (MIC) technique. An 83-year-old female patient received video-assisted cardiac surgery for excision of a left atrial tumor. The surgery was performed through a right anterior submammary minithoracotomy and guided by video-assisted endoscopic techniques by projected images on a video monitor while under femoro-femoral bypass. The myocardium was protected by single-dose antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia. The tumor was excised completely recording a 61-minute bypass time and a 103-minute total operative time. Histopathological examination revealed left atrial myxoma. Transthoracic echocardiography examination showed good ventricular function and the absence of residual tumors. The patient was satisfied by the cosmetic healing of the wound and was discharged eight days after the surgery. Video-assisted MIC surgery is technically feasible and could be applied as a routine access in all left atrial tumors without the fear of inadequate intraoperative exposure and its drawbacks.     

Long-term survival with non-functioning pituitary carcinoma - case report -

A 35-year-old woman presented with a non-functioning pituitary adenoma manifesting as amenorrhea and impaired visual acuity in 1984. The tumor was grossly totally resected through a right frontotemporal craniotomy. The patient underwent surgery for three recurrences in the next 5 years. She was treated with gamma knife surgery for the residual tumor in 1994. Follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a tumor in the right frontal base in 1999, and the left middle fossa in 2002. Total removal of these tumors was performed. Follow-up MR imaging showed regrowth of the primary pituitary tumor in 2003, which was partially excised. Histological examination of the specimens from the last three surgeries revealed typical pituitary adenoma without malignant transformation. Pituitary carcinomas have a poor prognosis. However, the present patient survived for 22 years from onset and 6 years from the first dural metastasis. Distant lesions should be removed for histological evaluation to assist the subsequent management.     

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans arising from a burn scar of the axilla

It is well-known that the development of a malignant tumor in a chronic burn scar is one of the long-term complications of a severe burn. Most of these tumors are squamous cell carcinomas, and sarcomas are much rarely seen in chronic burn scars. In the previous literature, 24 cases of burn scar sarcomas were reported. The authors report the second case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans arising in a chronic, severe burn scar. A 68-year-old woman with a reddish tumor in the right axilla was referred to the authors' hospital. The patient had sustained severe burns in the right axilla, upper arm, and trunk at the age of 6 years. A biopsy specimen revealed dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. There was no evidence of distant metastasis. The tumor was excised widely to include the surrounding burn scar. Two years after the operation, there was no evidence of tumor recurrence. As surgeons, we should recognize the possibility of the occurrence of various malignant tumors including sarcomas on burn scars.     

Recurrence and pulmonary metastasis of extradural paraganglioma in thoracic vertebral canal: report of a case]

A 70-year-old female was operated on for extradural spinal cord tumor in 1982. Microscopic examination revealed the tumor as paraganglioma. Tumor recurred at paravertebral twice in 1985 and 1989, and they were also resected. In 1995, her chest X-ray film showed round tumor in the right upper field. Exploratory open lung biopsy was performed in 1996, and right upper lobectomy was performed according to for malignant lung tumor because intra-operative microscopic findings showed carcinoid or lung metastasis of paraganglioma. Chest wall tumor at paravertebral was resected at the same time. Postoperative microscopic examination revealed the tumors were same as operated paraganglioma. The 2nd thoracotomy was done in 1999, and two chest wall tumors and a pulmonary nodule in right S8 segment were resected. They were recurrence and pulmonary metastasis of paraganglioma. Now 18 years after initial operation, she is out of hospital in tumor free.     

110例颅咽管瘤手术经验

目的 探讨手术全切除颅咽管瘤的有效方法。方法 110例颅咽管瘤患者,男性62例,女性58例。年龄15．0－67．0岁,平均34．4岁。其中102例患者取翼点入路,5例经额下入 路,3例经纵裂从胼胝体至穹窿间隙和第三脑室前部切除肿瘤。术中根据肿瘤位置,从视交叉前间隙、视神经外侧间隙和颈内动脉外侧间隙切除肿瘤。术中注意保护下丘脑神经结构和防止穿通动脉的 损伤。结果 101例患者达到肿瘤全切除,6例次全切除,3例大部切除。术中垂体柄保留57例,断裂29例,未见垂体柄24例。术后54例患者有多饮多尿,52例3个月内恢复,2例持续1年以上;52例患者有血钠紊乱,均在3个月内恢复;3例术后视力减退加重;3例动眼神经麻痹,其中1例1年以上仍无恢复,2例暂短性肢体瘫;4例死亡。术后随访1个月－5．0年,平均1．1年。101例肿瘤全切除患者,有4例复发。本组患者术后99例能参加日常工作,5例生活自理,2例需要生活照顾。结论 选择合适的手术入路,保护下丘脑结构和功能,是颅咽管瘤全切除并获得良好效果的关键。     

Therapeutic irradiation of brain tumor and cerebrovasculopathy

The first case was a 5-year-old girl treated with a total of 6000 rads after total removal of a left temporoparietal tumor extending into the basal ganglia. About 4 years after completion of the radiation therapy, she showed left hemiplegia and deterioration in her level of consciousness. A plain CT scan showed calcification in the region of the bilateral basal ganglia and low density area in the right fronto-parietal region. An enhanced CT revealed gyral enhancements in the pre- and postcentral gyrus of the right hemisphere. Left carotid angiograms showed a narrowing of the horizontal portion and an occlusion of the distal portion of the left anterior cerebral artery. The distal portion of the right anterior cerebral artery was filled through the anterior communicating artery. Right carotid angiograms revealed an occlusion of the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery, retrograde filling of the anterior and middle cerebral arteries by leptomeningeal anastomosis via the posterior cerebral artery, and partial filling of the anterior cerebral artery via the anterior falx artery. Preoperative arteriography did not show occlusion and stenosis of the cerebral arteries. Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis in the right hemisphere was performed. Regional cerebral blood flow measured during operation increased from 34 to 72 ml/100 gr/min due to the surgery. About two weeks after surgery, left hemiplegia disappeared completely. The second case was a 67-year-old man who had received radiotherapy, following surgery of a chromophobe pituitary adenoma. About one year after irradiation he began to complain of gait disturbance and dysarthria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Solitary fibrous pleural tumor

Solitary fibrous pleural tumors are rare masses of mesenchymal origin that may be mistaken for mesothelioma. A positive staining of vimentin, negative staining of cytoplasmic keratin, and expression of the CD34 antigen can confirm the presence of a solitary fibrous pleural tumor. Although most tumors of this type are benign, they possess a malignant potential and thus should be excised. We report a case of a 63-year-old man who had an inconclusive biopsy of a lung lesion 15 years ago. Further testing after excision revealed a solitary fibrous pleural tumor. A brief discussion of the clinical presentation and incidence of these tumors is included.     

Malignant transformation of benign mixed tumor of lacrimal gland to squamous cell carcinoma 19 years after initial surgery: report of a case]

A case of malignant transformation of benign mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) arising from the right lacrimal gland is reported. A 63-year-old man was referred to our clinic because of visual disturbance and protrusion of the right eye in January, 1989. His past history revealed that he had had a benign mixed tumor of the right lacrimal gland resected 19 years ago. On CT scan, an iso-density lesion homogeneously enhanced with contrast medium was found in the right orbit. This tumor was partially cystic and invaded the cranial cavity. On T1 and T2 weighted MRI, the tumor appeared as an iso-intensity area. At surgery, the tumor was subtotally resected via the combined fronto-orbital approach on February 3, 1990. Histological diagnosis of the tumor was squamous cell carcinoma, and it was construed to be a malignant transformation of mixed tumor of the lacrimal gland. Postoperatively he was placed on a course of external radiation therapy (63 Gy in total) in combination with intra-carotid Cisplatin injection therapy. The first sign of the recurrence was seen as multiple metastatic lesions in both lungs about 4 months after the surgery. In December, 1990, protrusion of the left eye and disturbance of ocular movement became progressively worse. On CT scan, recurrent metastatic tumor was seen in the left orbit and paranasal sinuses. Although additional chemotherapy and irradiation brought about a short period of symptomatic relief he succumbed to pneumonia in April 18, 1990. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed in the lung at autopsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma; report of a case

We report a case of a 64-year-old man with pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung and thymic cyst. He was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow observed on chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) showed a mass lesion located in the right upper lobe and a non-invasive anterior mediastinal tumor adjacent to the left brachiocepharic vein. On enhanced CT, the lung mass showed central low-attenuation areas with a substantial enhancement in the periphery. Preoperative transbronchial blushing cytology of the mass revealed adenocarcinoma. With a diagnosis of primary lung cancer (cT3N0M0) and mediastinal tumor, an operation was performed through a median sternotomy. The mediastinal tumor was excised and a right upper lobectomy and were also accomplished, because the lung tumor did not show adhesion or pleural invasion. Histopathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed that the lung tumor composed of a mixture of spindle and giant cell features and contained a component of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This finding yielded a pathological diagnosis of pleomorphic carcinoma (pT2N0M0). The mediastinal tumor was diagnosed as thymic cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he is currently well 6 months after surgery.     

Abducens nerve schwannoma mimicking intrinsic brainstem tumor

Schwannomas of the abducens nerve are extremely rare tumors affecting cavernous, cisternal or both segments of sixth cranial nerve. Clinical features and neuroradiological imagery are frequently insufficient to reach an accurate pre-operative diagnosis. We report a patient with a cystic tumor with ring-like contrast enhancement at the right anterior pontomesencephalic junction. Radical excision was performed via anterior transpetrosal approach and showed an extrinsic tumor originating from the sixth nerve. A postoperative sixth nerve palsy had disappeared completely 9 months after the surgery. The correct diagnosis of an abducens nerve schwannoma is established by the intraoperative finding of a tumor attachment to the sixth nerve and by histopathological analysis. The various differential diagnoses, the clinical and radiological features of this diagnosis and management are issues discussed in this illustrated review.     

Thymic large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma: report of a resected case - a case report

Thymic large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LCNECs) are very rare. We here describe a case in which the tumor could be completely resected. A 55-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for treatment of an anterior mediastinal tumor found at a regular health check-up. The patient underwent an extended thymectomy of an invasive thymoma of Masaoka's stage II that had been suspected preoperatively. The tumor was located in the right lobe of the thymus and was completely resected. Final pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was thymic LCNEC. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin in accordance with the diagnosis of a lung LCNEC, and is alive without recurrence or metastasis 16 months after surgery.     

Nonhepatocytic malignant mixed tumor of the liver in adults: report of a long surviving case

A primary nonhepatocytic malignant mixed tumor in the liver contains both epithelial and mesenchymal components, and the incidence in adults is extremely rare. A 45-year-old female was admitted because of abdominal fullness. Abdominal imaging studies revealed a huge cystic tumor with a mural nodule in the right lobe. A right trisegmentectomy and an invaded partial diaphragm resection were performed. Diagnosis was established after surgery. The patient is still alive 11 years after surgery, and to our knowledge is the longest surviving patient with a primary nonhepatocytic malignant mixed primary tumor of the liver.     

Elderly patient with cerebellar malignant astrocytoma

Malignant cerebellar astrocytoma is very rare and the prognosis is extremely poor. We report herein the case of an elderly patient with malignant cerebellar astrocytoma. This 80-year-old man initially presented with dizziness and ataxia of the right hand. Metastatic cerebellar tumor was diagnosed on first admission, based on a past history of colon cancer treated by surgery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings supporting the diagnosis of metastasis. The patient underwent gamma knife surgery (20 Gy) and was discharged. Follow-up after discharge was insufficient. Two years after gamma knife surgery, he returned to our hospital complaining of dizziness, headache, and right limb ataxia. MRI revealed a cystic mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere, and the lesion was removed by right suboccipital craniotomy. The tumor represented malignant astrocytoma. Optimal management of patients harboring sush difficult. to-treat tumors, including the role of gamma-knife radiosurgery, is discussed.     

腹腔镜肝癌切除术28例报告

目的探讨腹腔镜肝癌切除术的适应证和可行性。方法回顾性分析2002年3月至2007年10月完成的腹腔镜肝癌切除术28例患者临床资料。结果28例均成功在腹腔镜下完成手术。对于位于肝左外叶的肿瘤，选择规则性肝左外叶切除术；肿瘤位于肝脏边缘或右肝表面时，选择肝脏不规则切除术。平均手术时间95min（60～150min）。平均术中出血345ml（50～800ml）。切除标本最大体积11cm×9cm×7cm。患者术后24h均能下床活动，术后2～3d即能进食。术后平均住院时间8d（5～15d）。术后病理诊断为原发性肝细胞癌24例，结直肠癌肝转移4例。结论对位于肝脏边缘、右肝表面或者左肝外叶的肝癌行腹腔镜肝癌切除术是安全可行的。     

Peripherally located occult lung cancer with AMFR expression.

A 67-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of positive sputum cytology. Despite detailed examination, the malignant cell source remained elusive. Twenty months later, CT revealed two nodules in the right S1 and S10 regions which were resected. A year following the operation, gastoendoscopy showed a stomach tumor. Total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed. Histologically, this patient was diagnosed with double primary lung cancer with metastasis to the stomach. The tumors of the lung, stomach and tumor cells in the sputum showed the same immunoreactivities of autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR). In our institution, of 38 occult lung cancers encountered during the past 10 years, four (10.5%) occurred in the peripheral region. The presented four cases of radiologically occult lung cancer in the peripheral resion revealed bad prognosis, as three out of four patients were dead within 24 months after surgery. All of the four cases showed venous invasion, though the size of the primary tumor was small. Careful follow-up, including monitoring for distant metastasis, is necessary in radiologically occult peripheral lung cancer.     

瘤椎全切与重建治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍

目的探讨瘤椎全切与重建,治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍的手术适应证及临床疗效。方法1999年1月～2005年12月收治胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍16例。男10例,女6例;年龄16～62岁,平均31.5岁。原发肿瘤10例,其中骨巨细胞瘤4例,软骨肉瘤3例,动脉瘤样骨囊肿术后复发2例,骨肉瘤1例;转移瘤6例。肿瘤侵犯T53例,T6、T6、7、T9、T11、L2、L4及L5各1例,T8、L1及L3各2例。Tomita外科分型：4型9例,5型6例,6型1例。Frankel神经功能分级：A级1例,B级4例,C级7例,D级4例。采用前后路联合手术,行瘤椎彻底切除,椎管减压,植骨重建。术后根据肿瘤病理类型行相应的辅助治疗。结果术后16例获随访10～63个月,平均27.5个月。患者疼痛均完全缓解,术后神经功能恢复至D级5例（其中1例术前为A级）,E级11例。10例原发肿瘤中,1例骨肉瘤术后18个月双肺转移死亡,余9例均无瘤生存。6例转移瘤中,2例全身转移死亡,1例术后10个月肺部带瘤无症状生存,3例均无瘤生存。16例随访期内手术部位均无肿瘤复发。结论瘤椎全切与重建是治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍的一种安全有效的手术方法,可缓解疼痛,改善神经功能,减少肿瘤局部复发。手术适用于胸腰椎原发恶性肿瘤,有复发倾向的侵袭性肿瘤及Tomita外科分型为3～5型的胸腰椎单发转移瘤。