A rapidly growing benign intrathoracic neurofibroma after lung lobectomy.

A 67-year-old male underwent a right upper lung lobectomy for lung cancer in January 1993. Follow-up chest X-rays revealed a progressive and rapidly growing intrathoracic mass in the right thorax. The mass, however, did not resemble a tumor recurrence, and the patient complained only of shortness of breath. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of the intrathoracic mass and its associated compression of the residual lung. A right thoracotomy was performed in January 1998, and a mass found arising from the sympathetic nerve trunk was resected. Microscopic examination revealed stellate or spindle-shaped cells in myxoid stroma with sparsely distributed collagen fibers. Immunohistochemically, the cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase, and the tumor was identified as neurofibroma. The patient did not suffer from von Recklinghausen's disease, and there was no family history of the disease. After resection of the neurofibroma, the compressed lung was able to re-expand, and the patient's shortness of breath disappeared. At one year postoperative, the patient remains well, and there is no evidence of recurrence.     

Malignant schwannoma of the intrathoracic vagus nerve: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 48-year-old man with malignant schwannoma of the intrathoracic vagus nerve associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Malignant intrathoracic vagal tumors are extremely rare and to our knowledge, only four other cases have been documented in the literature, none of which were associated with von Recklinghausen's disease.     

Combined approach to "dumbbell" intrathoracic and intraspinal neurogenic tumors

The unexpected finding of an extension of a neurogenic tumor from the thorax through the spinal foramen into the neural canal complicates its removal. Serious neurological complications may result from a two-stage approach, whether done first through the thorax or neural canal. Vertebral tomography or computed tomographic scanning reveals enlargement of a spinal foramen in advance of operation. Myelography confirms the probable presence of an intraspinal component. Four patients have been operated on using an approach designed to allow wide posterolateral thoracotomy and concomitant laminectomy for single-stage removal of the entire tumor. In 3 patients the diagnosis was schwannoma and in 1, neurofibroma. All had good results.     

Gangrenous intrathoracic appendicitis, a rare cause of right-sided chest pain: Report of a case

Diaphragmatic hernias are becoming increasingly common due to radiofrequency ablation of malignant liver tumors. Most patients eventually present with symptoms caused by bowel obstruction. A 54-year-old woman with pleuritic pain and fever had a right-sided enterothorax probably caused by hemihepatectomy several years before. The patient was diagnosed with perforated gangrenous intrathoracic appendicitis during an emergency laparotomy for suspected incarceration of her diaphragmatic hernia. She was treated with an appendectomy and suturing of her right hemidiaphragm. An acquired diaphragmatic hernia should therefore be surgically repaired as soon as it is diagnosed in order to avoid complications.     

Post-traumatic intrathoracic gastric volvulus. Presentation of a clinical case

The paper describes a case of traumatic hernia of the diaphragm, complicated by mixed gastric volvulus, with a rapid onset and severe clinical symptoms. The etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic methods inherent in this rare affliction are discussed.     

Solitary retroperitoneal neurofibroma: a case report

A solitary neurofibroma arising in the retroperitoneal space without any other stagma of von Recklinghausen's disease is reported. Confusion with another nerve sheath tumor, a schwannoma is a diagnostic pitfall. Histochemical and immunohistochemical stainings of the tumor are useful for the diagnosis of solitary neurofibroma.     

Cervical melanotic neurofibroma. Apropos of a case and a review of the literature

The authors report a case of cervical melanotic neurofibroma hour glass shaped, growing in the extra and intradural spaces. Melanotic aspect of spinal neurofibroma are rarely reported in the literature. Various etiopathologies have already been discussed.     

A rare case of a facial-nerve neurofibroma in the parotid gland.

The incidence of solitary neurofibroma of the facial nerve originating in the parotid region is extremely low. We report a case of a solitary neurofibroma in a 30-year-old male, who initially presented with a parotid mass without facial paresis or paralysis. A chain of small nodules had been palpable in the right parotid region for the previous 2-3 years. MRI and CT scans revealed several small ovoid lesions extending from the frontal margin of the parotid gland to the retromandibular region. The lesions were surgically removed. The main trunk of the facial nerve was adherent to the dorsal side of the largest nodule; however, this mass was resected atraumatically. Histopathological examination indicated neurofibroma. The incidence, presentation, diagnosis and surgical treatment of intraparotid neurofibroma are discussed and compared with those of Schwannoma.     

Successful treatment of acute esophageal necrosis caused by intrathoracic gastric volvulus: Report of a case

Gastric volvulus is a potentially lethal condition. We report a case of esophageal hiatal hernia with strangulation of the esophagus and stomach caused by gastric volvulus. A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in a state of shock, and investigations showed necrotic changes in most of her distal esophagus and gastric body. Thus, we performed an emergency total gastrectomy and transhiatal esophagectomy, followed 3 months later by successful reconstruction of the esophagus using the jejunum. Occasionally, a large hiatal hernia accompanies gastric volvulus; however, the extent of esophageal necrosis observed in this patient is very unusual. Although a large hiatal hernia is usually a chronic disorder, surgical treatment is recommended, considering the risk of serious complications.     

原发性椎管内神经内分泌肿瘤1例报告

神经内分泌肿瘤(neuroendocrine tumor,NET)是起源于弥散神经内分泌系统的一组异质性肿瘤群[1,2].椎管内NET少见,多为其他系统原发NET转移而来,而原发性椎管内NET更少见.我们收治1例原发性椎管内NET患者,报告如下. 患者女性,59岁,主因"腰骶部疼痛4个月"于2013年3月1日入住我院.4个月前无明显诱因出现腰骶部疼痛,针刺样,阵发性发作,程度剧烈,每次持续约数分钟,并向双臀、双股外侧放射,体力活动、咳嗽、劳累后容易出现,偶有夜间疼痛导致睡眠障碍,卧床休息能好转,无双下肢麻木、无力和活动障碍.曾行针灸治疗,疼痛有所缓解,但反复发作,程度和频率逐渐加重.患病以来,精神食欲可,大便略费力,稍干燥,1～2天排便1次,小便正常,体重无明显变化既往无腰骶部外伤和手术史,无腰部剧烈活动史,无家族性肿瘤病史神经系统查体:自主体位,正常步态;L4～S1棘突及椎旁有压痛及叩击痛;肛门周围针刺觉和触觉减退,余感觉检查正常;肛门括约肌张力和主动收缩力降低;四肢肌力对称,约5级,肌张力正常,无肌萎缩;双侧肛门反射减弱,双下肢腱反射正常,阵挛及病理反射未引出;共济运动检查正常.