Asymptomatic calcifying fibrous pseudotumor compressing heart cavities

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumor is a rare benign lesion composed mostly of dense hyalinized colagen with multiple dystrophic or psammomatous calcifications and variable lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. Children and young adults are most commonly affected by this tumor of uncertain pathogenesis. This is a case of an asymptomatic young woman with calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the pericardium compressing heart cavities. Partial resection and marsupialization of the mass was performed.     

Successful reconstruction of sternum with a scapular autograft segment: 5-year follow-up

Complete loss of the sternum after osteomyelitis leads to chest wall instability and decreases respiratory mechanics. Thus, surgical management with prosthetic devices or various flap coverage procedures is required to restore anterior chest wall stability. We report on a new technique of an osteocutaneous flap from the scapula providing thoracic stability and protective coverage of mediastinal organs, and additionally allowing removal of osteosynthesis material. A 5-year follow-up demonstrates excellent durability and outcome.     

Multiple thymic carcinoids

We present a very rare case of simultaneous thymic carcinoids with similar size, one of which showed spontaneous regression. A 68-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of two similar abnormal masses at his anterior mediastinum on chest computed tomography, one of which had decreased from 25 to 16 mm in diameter. A total thymectomy was performed and the pathologic examinations revealed that both tumors were atypical carcinoids. There have been seldom reports of multiple thymic carcinoids, and this case might suggest that total thymectomy is the best way to treat thymic carcinoid because of the possibility of multicentric origins.     

Novel strategies for recurrent cardiac myxoma

A 21-year-old man presented with a stroke. Subsequent investigations revealed cardiac tumors in his left atrium and right ventricle. These were removed by conventional techniques. Histopathology confirmed them as myxomas. He had a complete neurologic recovery, but presented 2 years later with recurrence of a cardiac myxoma in his left ventricle and left atrium. This time, however, endoscopically assisted techniques were used. The tumor was excised with supplementary cryoablation. The patient made a quick recovery from this second procedure and has had no recurrence after a 1-year follow-up.