Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary nodules after computed tomography-guided marking with a spiral wire.

Purpose: Peripheral pulmonary nodules are preferably removed by minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) surgery. These nodules should be marked preoperatively for better intraoperative detection and removal.

Description: Twenty-two cases with a single pulmonary nodule requiring surgical removal for histologic examination were included in a prospective study.

Alveolar recruitment in combination with sufficient positive end-expiratory pressure increases oxygenation and lung aeration in patients with severe chest trauma.

Objective: Investigation of oxygenation and lung aeration during mechanical ventilation according to the open lung concept in patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Indirect lymph node lymphangiography using an iodine-based contrast medium and projection radiography following submucosal injection in a rabbit model.

Background: This study investigated the possibility of local lymph node detection and lymphatic mapping following submucosal injection of an iodine-based contrast medium.

Methods And Materials: We established a contrast medium (oil/water emulsion on iodine basis) with a particle size of mainly 1.7+/-0.

Phase I dose-escalating study of raltitrexed ('Tomudex') and cisplatin in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The aim of this Phase I, dose-escalation study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose (RD), and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of a raltitrexed ('Tomudex') and cisplatin combination in patients with previously untreated, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients received raltitrexed (15-min intravenous infusion), followed by cisplatin (1-h intravenous infusion), every 3 weeks at escalating dose levels.

Results: In total, 21 patients entered the study.

Proteus syndrome.

Proteus syndrome is a rarely described dysplasia syndrome of the group of congenital hamartomas that arises from mosaic mutation. An extraordinary case history including imaging studies will be reported. This 17-year-old girl suffered from cachexia, lifelong chronic obstipation, different dysplasias, and lipomatous tumor-like lesions.

Acute hypercalcemia of the heart ("bony heart").

Cardiac abnormalities as a sign of hyperparathyroidism are common. A spectacular pitfall of peracute extended myocardiac hypercalcemia is reported. The history of a 30-year-old woman included symptoms such as insufficiency of the kidneys since childhood, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and hemodialysis for approximately 4 years.

CT-guided intervention using a patient laser marker system.

To prove the usefulness of a simple laser marker system (LMS) in target definition as well as examination procedure for CT-guided interventions, 130 cases of diagnostic biopsies and lumbal sympathectomies were compared. In 75 cases LMS and in 55 cases a simple crossgrid was used. Taking advantage of the LMS, the parameters of intervention (cutaneous location, length, and angle) can be planned, exactly demonstrated, and it is possible to check the needle position during the whole procedure.