• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.414-418
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• 2008

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) in the diagnosis of hepatocellulcar carcinoma (HCC) has been limited because of a variable FDG uptake in HCC. However, the usefulness of PET/CT for detecting extrahepatic metastasis and monitoring of the treatment response in HCC has been reported. A 55-year-old man with a hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, was admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea, general weakness and body weight loss for one month. Chest X-ray showed multiple reticulo-nodular densities on both lower lung fields, which implies metastatic lesions. F-18 FDG PET/CT revealed consecutively intense hypermetabolic mass in right hepatic lobe, inferior vena cava and right atrium. We report a case of HCC with IVC and right atrium invasion identified by F-18 FDG PET/CT.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2014

We report a case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis invading the mediastinum and the left atrium. A 70-year-old woman was hospitalized for dyspnea. She had been well controlled for her diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The chest X-ray disclosed mediastinal widening, and the computed tomography scan of the chest showed that there was a large mediastinal mass and this lesion extended into the left atrium and right bronchus. The cardiac echocardiography showed that a huge mediastinal cystic mass compressed in the right atrium and a hyperechoic polypoid lesion in the left. The pathology from the bronchoscopic biopsy observed abundant fungal hyphae which was stained with periodic acid-Schiff and Gomori's methenamine silver. Despite the treatment with antifungal agents, she died from cardiac tamponade after three months. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which involves the mediastinum and the heart, is very rare in immunocompetent patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2008

A 7-year-old, intact female Yorkshire terrier dog was presented for coughing, anorexia, chest pain and dyspnea. Right lateral thoracic radiograph demonstrated a large mass shape on the heart base with decreased cardiac silhouette and severe right deviation of the trachea with the heart shifted to the left thoracic wall was observed on the ventrodorsal thoracic projection. Echocardiographic examination revealed a large rounded mass compressing left atrium around the heart base without signs of pericardial effusion. On computed tomographic (CT) findings, sagittal CT images depicted the possibility of cranial vena caval invasion and heart base involvement of the mass associated with biatrial compression. Dorsal CT image revealed the right deviation of trachea due to the heart base mass and markedly shrunk lung space was detected on the transverse CT image. Because the dog suddenly had died during the recovery from anesthesia after finishing CT scan, necropsy was performed. On gross findings, a large and lobulated mass was located at the base of the heart. A poorly-demarcated, infiltrative, multilobulated tumor composed of polyhedral cells in solid cellular sheets was confirmed based on histopathologic examination. This dog was diagnosed as a chemodectoma. This case report describes the clinical findings, diagnostic consistency of thoracic radiography, echocardiography and CT, and histopathologic confirmation in a spontaneously occurring chemodectoma with a Yorkshire terrier dog.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-49
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• 2015

Sorafenib is indicated for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but although rare, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can be fatal in HCC patients with a large tumor burden. The authors describe the case of a 55-year-old hepatitis B carrier who visited our clinic with progressive dyspnea for 3 weeks. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed a huge HCC in the left lobe of the liver with invasion of the inferior vena cava, right atrium, and pulmonary arteries. After 8 days of sorafenib administration, TLS was diagnosed based on the characteristic findings of hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, and acute kidney injury with massive tumor necrosis by follow-up imaging. Despite discontinuation of sorafenib and supportive care, the patient's clinical course rapidly deteriorated. The authors describe a rare but fatal complication that occurred soon after sorafenib initiation for HCC. Careful follow-up is required after commencing sorafenib therapy for the early diagnosis and management of TLS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 1998

The surgical management of acute type B dissection is controversial. The complexity of the repair usually requires a period of aortic cross-clamping exceeding 30 minutes, which can cause ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Several forms of distal perfusion have been considered for use to prevent this injury. To determine the safety and efficacy of a graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in reparing acute dissection of descending thoracic aorta, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience treating 8 patients who had aortic dissection secondary to atherosclerosis, trauma, and carcinoma invasion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed with two aortic cannulas for simultaneous perfusion of the upper and lower body and one venous cannula for draining venous blood from the right atrium or inferior vena cava. Although aortic cross-clamp time was relatively long (average, 117.8 minutes; range, 47 to 180 minutes) in all cases, there was no neurologic deficit immediately after graft replacement for the aortic lesion. Two patients(25%) of relatively old age died on the postoperative 31st and 41st days, respectively, because of delayed postoperative complications, such as pulmonary abscess and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although any of several maneuvers may be appropriate in managing dissection of the descending aorta, graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic cross-clamping may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta.