• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.404-407
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• 1999

Spontanous hematoma of the esophagus is a rare condition affecting middle aged or elderly women. We experienced one case of esophageal hematoma which attracted our attention due to its confusing presentation clinically. The pathogenesis has been in dispute so far. The diagnosis has traditionally been made by barium esophagogram. We proved the diagnosis of spontaneous hematoma of the esophagus by utilizing CT scan and MRI. This condition led to conservative treatment and full recovery ultimately, but we performed the surgical correction because the filling defect persisted and the dysphagia got worse on the 20th day of hospital stay. Hematoma was located between the inner layer of circular muscle and the outer layer of longitudinal muscle which we considered as intermuscular hematoma of the esophagus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.7 s.264
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• pp.565-568
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• 2006

A 46-year-old man who had been diagnosed with esophageal tumor by PET-CT was admitted to our hospital for operation. Preoperative examination and intraoperative findings showed leiomyoma-like lesion and enucleation was done, but an immunohistochemical test on the case found gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GISTs). GISTs are very rarely found in the esophagus. As GISTs differ from leiomyoma pathogenetically and clinically, different treatments and follow-up strategies are required. The patient is under continuous observation to check recurrence and metastasis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2010

Intramural hematoma of the aorta (IMH) is the precursor or a variant of a classic aortic dissection where hemorrhage occurs within the aorta wall in the absence of an initial intimal tear. IMH has a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The optimal therapy for IMH is uncertain, yet the involvement of the ascending aorta is usually considered as an indication for surgery due to the associated risk of rupture or cardiac tamponade. We report here on a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with syncope. Because of misdiagnosis, he underwent computed tomography (CT) after 5 hrs from arriving to the ER. Computed tomography of the aorta revealed intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta with cardiac tamponade. He also had vascular complications such as acute renal failure and visceral ischemia. We performed emergency graft replacement of the total arch and ascending aorta. He was discharged without complication on postoperative day 14.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.296-299
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• 2010

A right coronary artery to left ventricular fistula with a giant right coronary artery aneurysm is a very rare condition. This requires surgical treatment because of the possibility of rupture of aneurysm, heart failure and infective endocarditis. A 47 years old male patient with dyspnea on exertion for 3 months was diagnosed as having a right coronary artery to left ventricular fistula with a giant right coronary artery aneurysm according to the CT and coronary artery angiography. We resected the aneurysm and performed a coronary artery bypass graft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.525-528
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• 2010

Congenital interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) can lead to secondary hepatic congestion, portal hypertension, and liver cirrhosis. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the gynecology department with symptoms of menorrhalgia, known uterine myoma, and anemia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and venography performed at our hospital revealed congenital interruption of the IVC. The patient underwent retrohepatic cavoatrial bypass surgery with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 16-mm ringed graft via posterolateral thoracotomy, and recovered without major complications. A retroperitoneal approach via posterolateral thoracotomy provides appropriate visualization during dorsal cavoatrial bypass in treating patients with congenital interruption of IVC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.653-656
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• 2009

The entrapment of the popliteal artery is a rare cause of ischemia of the lower extremities among young males. The development of local occlusive or aneurysmal changes of the popliteal artery is caused by abnormal anatomic relationships between vascular and musculo-tendinous structures in the popliteal fossa. An 18-year-old male visited our outpatient clinic with the chief complaint of claudication in his right calf. Three dimensional CT angiography showed an occlusion of the popliteal artery and less opacified arteries of the right leg. Intraoperatively, the popliteal artery was compressed by an accessory muscle band arising from the medial head of the gastrocnemius. After release of the muscle band, thrombectomy with endarterectomy was done. Three years after surgery, he is doing well without any problems.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.616-621
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• 1993

Leiomyoma of the trachea is a very rare tumor, and the tracheal tumor is frequently misdiagnosed and treated as bronchial asthma. We report here a case of leiomyoma of the trachea which was successfully resected. A 40-year-old woman has sufferred from a repeated episode of asthmatic attack for two years. Intensive therapy for asthma had no beneficial effect on her respiratory symptoms, and wheezing and stridor did not disappear. Chest CT and bronchoscopy revealed a pedunculated mass on the trachea just above the carina. Wedge resection of the trachea and right main stem bronchus including the tumor and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The result of the pathologic examination of the tumor was tracheal leiomyoma. Her postoperative course was uneventful and postoperative bronchoscopic findings showed clear healing of the anastomosis site.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.373-377
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• 2001

An anomalous systemic arterial supply to the normal basal segments of the left lower lobe without sequestration is a rare congenital anomaly. It differs from classical bronchopulmonary sequestration in that the involved lung retains a normal connection to the bronchial tree, although some place this entity exists within the broad framework of pulmonary sequestration. We experienced a case of a woman who presented with a nodular lesion on a chest X-ray. Contrast-enhanced CT diagnosed her as having an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the normal basal segments of the left lower lobe. This case is reported with a brief literature review.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2006

Percutaneous vertebroplasty consists of the percutaneous injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement into a collapsed vertebral body in order to obtain pain relief and mechanically strengthen the vertebral body. This procedure is now extensively used in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. It is an efficient treatment, but it is not free of complications. Most complications after vertebroplasty are associated with PMMA leakage. Pulmonary embolism of PMMA is rare, but this can occur when there is a failure to recognize venous migration of cement early during the procedure. We encountered a case of a patient with asymptomatic pulmonary embolism because of PMMA after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Chest X-ray and CT scanning revealed numerous tubular branching opacities that corresponded to the pulmonary vessels at the segmental and subsegmental levels.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.546-549
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• 2008

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare entity that requires early diagnosis and immediate treatment due to the possibility of a life-threatening massive hemorrhage through rupture. The standard treatment is a surgical resection of the aneurismal artery. However, various embolization techniques, including coil embolization, are currently used as the optimal treatment because they are less invasive. A 65-year-old woman was referred for the treatment of intermittent hemoptysis. A chest CT scan showed an approximately 2 cm sized vascular mass with strong contrast enhancement originating from the right bronchial artery on the bronchiectatic parenchyma. On the angiogram, the inferior portion of the bronchial artery with a hypertrophic aspect and a huge bronchial artery aneurysm was detected on the left side branch. The bronchial artery aneurysm was embolized successfully with coils at the proximal and distal portion of the aneurysm. After coil embolization, the selective bronchial angiogram confirmed complete occlusion. We report this case of a bronchial artery aneurysm that was treated successfully with coil embolization.