Recurrent cerebral metastasis from a cardiac myxoma: case report and review of literature

We report the case of a 65-year-old patient who had complete excision of an atrial myxoma and subsequently presented to our unit with recurrent cerebral metastasis. The case demonstrates that cardiac myxoma despite benign histological appearance is capable of metastatic spread.     

Recurrent cardiac myxoma: why it occurs. A case report with literature review

Two years after surgical removal of a right atrial myxoma, recurrences were found in both atria: multiple tumors in the right atrium and one tumor in the left atrium. All were subsequently removed. There was no further recurrence during the following 3 years. We report on an unusual case which, to our knowledge, is the first time that such a case appears in the literature. We also discuss the clinical symptoms, diagnostic aspects, as well as details of a literature review regarding recurring myxoma. We think the recurrence in our case was due to totipotent multicentricity of the tumor. Previous studies showed that the recurrence might be due to the following reasons: inadequate resection, or multifocal pattern behaviour of a benign myxoma, either in the same or in a different location as the primary tumor. Familial disposition may also play a role in recurrent development. The abnormal DNA ploidy pattern of myxoma patients showed a high recurrence.     

Giant retroperitoneal myxoma: A case report and literature review

Introduction and importanceMyxoma is a benign tumor and is mesenchymal in origin. Myxomas of the retroperitoneum are extremely rare entities.Case presentationWe here report a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with progressive abdominal distention for 3 years. Laboratory investigations revealed a reduction in erythrocytes, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, and an elevation in carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Imaging findings showed a multilocular cystic mass in the right abdomen with thin septa and internal calcifications. Laparotomy revealed that the mass had arisen from the retroperitoneum and the histological study suggested the diagnosis of myxoma.DiscussionMyxoma features as a “cystic mass” in imaging studies. Therefore, the possibility of a cystic lymphangioma, cystic mesothelioma and myxoma should be considered when a multicystic lesion in the retroperitoneal space is observed. Due to the rarity of retroperitoneal myxomas and lack of specific manifestations and diagnostic methods, preoperative diagnosis is often delayed or incorrect. And until now, only a few cases of retroperitoneal myxoma have been reported.ConclusionThe report will increase the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal myxomas. A brief review of the related literature was also carried out.     

Biatrial myxoma: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: In surgical series, a majority of benign cardiac tumors are myxomas. Of these, only about 2.5% are biatrial. Only 10 cases have been reported in the last 10 years. We present here a successful case in a 51-year-old man. A brief review of the literature is presented to place this case in context. METHODS: The tumor was removed surgically via a midline sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Both left and right atrial extensions of the tumor mass were removed. The resection involved the entire septum, with a bovine patch used to reconstruct the atrial septum. RESULTS: Patient recovered uneventfully. We advised follow-up evaluation using transthoracic echocardiography annually. CONCLUSIONS: Biatrial myxoma is a very rare condition, with diagnostic challenges, but is amenable to modern surgical approaches.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord: case report and literature review

A 51-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of painless lump in the left hemiscrotum. Scrotal examination demonstrated a 3-cm, firm-to-hard mass attached to the left spermatic cord. Scrotal ultrasound scan revealed a heterogeneous mass separate from the left testis and epididymis. An orchidectomy was recommended to the patient; however, he declined surgery and underwent excision biopsy of the lesion with preservation of the left testis. Histology suggested a leiomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord and positive margins. Following a normal staging CT scan, the patient was referred to the regional sarcoma clinic. He was treated with an orchidectomy. Microscopic examinations showed fibrosis in the spermatic cord and negative margins. The patient has been followed up for 12 months with CT scans and shows no signs of recurrence.     

原发心脏雪旺细胞瘤

目的 探讨原发心脏雪旺细胞瘤临床特征、诊断及外科治疗。方法 报告1例原发恶性心脏雪旺细胞瘤的诊断及手术经过，并收集到世界文献报道18例资料，对其临床表现、诊断及外科治疗进行讨论。结果 19例中，恶性17例，良性2例，其中施行手术切除11例，良性肿瘤术后效果好，恶性肿瘤远期生存率低。结论 原发心脏雪旺细胞瘤极其罕见，诊断依靠临床表现、心脏超声、核磁共振检查、组织形态及免疫组化特征。良性心脏雪旺细胞瘤切除彻底可获得良好效果，恶性心脏雪旺细胞瘤由于局部伸长、浸润和远处转移不能彻底切除，预后不良。心脏移植治疗早期原发心脏恶性雪旺细胞瘤可望得到较好效果。     

Recurrent primary cardiac osteosarcoma: a case report and literature review

Primary malignant cardiac tumors are very rare. Among malignant tumors, sarcomas occupy first place. In particular, primary cardiac osteosarcoma is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, only 42 cases have been reported worldwide. Cardiac malignant tumors usually require complex operations due to the difficulty in completely removing the tumor with acceptable free surgical margins and because of the proximity to vital structures. The current multimodality treatment strategies for cardiac sarcoma are still suboptimal, and surgery in particular frequently has unsatisfactory results. We report a case of recurrent primary cardiac osteosarcoma in a young male who underwent trans-sternal right pneumonectomy and a wide resection of the left and right atrium followed by reconstruction with heterologous pericardium under extracorporeal circulation. The patient died 6 months after the operation due to local and systemic disease recurrence.     

Pediatric phalanx fractures: A retrospective study and review of the literature

Purpose:Conventional radiography is frequently performed in pediatric patients in whom finger fractures are suspected. However, until now, the rate of positive findings of finger radiographic examinations in pediatric patients is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the number of positive findings in the standard radiographic examinations of finger injuries in pediatric patients in a Level 1 trauma center systematically.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study on all children 0–16 years old admitted for acute finger injury in the Emergency Department of a University Hospital during the first semester of 2019 and received a radiographic examination. Their demographic characteristics, fracture pattern, and treatment were then analyzed and interpreted.Results:Out of 478 finger injuries reviewed in this cohort, 160 X-rays revealed positive for a fracture giving a fracture rate of 33.5%. More than half of them (51.9%) occurred in the age group of adolescents (11–16 years). Among all finger fractures, only 3.8% of them treated surgically.Conclusion:In this study, a relevant amount of standard finger radiographs revealed a low fracture rate and a rare operative indication of 3.8%. Therefore, indications for X-rays should be reviewed properly and alternative procedures should be discussed. Clinical decision rules should be developed and the necessary pathways must be implemented to minimize radiation exposure, waiting time, and costs.Level of evidence: level IV     

The soft tissue myxoma of the head and neck region—Report of a case and literature review

A case of soft tissue myxoma in scalp is reported in a patient with a history of congenital cleft lip and palate. Review of the literature shows head and neck soft tissue myxoma occurs almost in every decade of life with peak occurrence in the fourth decade. Men are affected more than women. The most common location in the head and neck region is the palate, followed by the parotid area. The prognosis of this soft tissue tumor is good. Conservative surgical excision with adequte margins is the treatment of choice. Several theories concerning the pathogenesis of this tumor are discussed, with the theory that a basic error in tissue metabolism during initial growth is the most compatible to the elements of this case. Differential diagnosis regarding this type of lesion is also discussed.     

Prognostic factors in intramedullary astrocytomas: a literature review

Astrocytomas affect a significant portion of patients with intramedullary tumors. These infiltratively growing tumors are treated by a variety of methods—biopsy and decompressive surgery, maximal safe resection, adjuvant oncological therapy. Also, numerous prognostic factors are reported in the literature. Better understanding of factors that influence prognosis may help in treatment planning with the goal of prolonging survival. We have thus undertaken an extensive literature review in order to define factors affecting prognosis. A total of 38 articles were studied. Only tumor grade was consistently reported as the major factor affecting prognosis. The influence of other clinical factors (age, gender, history length, functional status, tumor location or extent, syrinx or cyst presence) can be speculated upon, but cannot be assessed adequately from the available literature. For both low- and high-grade (HG) astrocytomas, maximal safe tumor resection should be the primary treatment objective but is often not feasible in contrast to other intramedullary and spinal neoplasms. Since the biological nature of spinal cord HG glioma is identical to that of the brain, the same treatment algorithm of maximal safe resection followed by concomitant radio- and chemotherapy would be sensible to implement.