Painful Chest Wall Swellings: Tietze Syndrome or Chest Wall Tumor?

Background:  Tietze syndrome (TS) is an inflammatory condition characterized by chest pain and swelling of costochondral junction. Primary chest wall tumors may mimic TS. In this article, we report our experience of approximately 121 patients initially diagnosed as TS and determined chest wall tumor in some cases at the follow-up.

Elastofibroma dorsi management and outcomes: review of 16 cases.

Objectives: Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare, benign lesion arising from connective tissue, usually found at the inferior pole of the scapula. To date, only a few small series have been reported in the English literature and there are few data about the long-term outcomes after surgery. Our goal is to contribute a better understanding of this tumour and to determine the long-term outcomes after surgery.

Management of community-based shotgun injuries of the extremities: impact of emergent vascular repair without angiography.

Background: Shotgun injuries of the extremities create challenging problems for vascular surgeons. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed surgical results without preoperative angiography.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with shotgun wounds who underwent vascular reconstruction in the extremities from 1999 to 2004 were retrospectively reviewed.

A novel and safe technique in closed tube thoracostomy.

Background: Tube thoracostomy (TT) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in thoracic surgery clinics. The procedure might have to be repeated due to ineffective drainage in patients with tube malposition (TM), in whom the drain is not directed to the apex or located in the fissure. Trocar technique, which is used to prevent TM, is not recommended because of its potential for severe complications.

A comparison of epidural and paravertebral catheterisation techniques in post-thoracotomy pain management.

Background: Thoracotomy is a surgical procedure associated with severe pain. Operative morbidity rates reduce by effective postoperative pain control. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of the thoracic epidural blockade (TEB) and the paravertebral blockade (PVB) methods in relieving the pain caused by a thoracotomy incision.

A case of radiation-induced sternal malignant fibrous histiocytoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.

Background: Primary sternal malignant fibrous histiyocytoma (MFH) is highly rare. Effective treatment modality is surgical resection with wide margins. However, to date, the effects of radiotherapy or chemotherapy has not been clearly defined.

An analysis of clinical features of pulmonary giant hydatid cyst in adult population.

Background: We performed an analysis of giant hydatid cysts (GCHs) detected in the adult population by comparison with the features of other simple hydatid cysts (CHs) in the light of the relevant literature.

Methods: The records of 74 adult patients who were operated on in our clinic for pulmonary CHs between 2001 and 2005 were retrospectively evaluated. Cysts that were 10 cm or larger in diameter on any plane were considered GCHs.

Chylothorax Resulting from a Penetrating Injury of the Neck: a Case Report.

Chylothorax is characterized by an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural cavity due to compression or loss of integrity of the thoracic duct for any reason. It is frequently secondary to intrathoracic malignancies and iatrogenic trauma. Thoracic duct injury and resulting chylothorax, due to penetrating injuries of the neck, are very rare.

Traumatic pulmonary pseuodocysts: two case reports.

Traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst (TPP) is a rare complication, sometimes encountered after blunt thoracic trauma and even more rarely following penetrating injuries. It is more common among pediatric and young adult patients. Although TPP is usually benign in nature, complications associated with hemoptysis and secondary infection may develop.

Intrathoracic humeral head fracture-dislocation: is removal of the humeral head necessary?

Intrathoracic fracture dislocation of the humeral head due to a blunt trauma is very rare. It may be accompanied by local and systemic injuries associated with high-energy trauma. Because a limited number of cases were reported, appropriate treatment modality remains unclear.

The relationship between aluminum and spontaneous pneumothorax; treatment, prognosis, follow-up?

Aluminum is known as a toxic metal today. Aluminum has already been determined to cause asthma bronchial and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It was also reported that Shaver disease undergoing fibrosis with large bubbles and the symptoms of potroom asthma had developed in the workers working in the manufacture of aluminum.

Cystic lymphangioma: report of two atypical cases.

Cystic lymphangioma is an uncommon congenital benign neoplasm, which frequently occurs to children and young adults and acquired form may be detected in middle-aged adults. Cystic lymphangioma usually appears in the neck, the axillary region, and the mediastinum. In the first case, cystic lymphangioma located in the posterior mediastinum extending over the vertebral column to the both hemi thoraces.

Left thoracophrenotomy and cervical approach in the surgery of distal third oesophageal and cardia tumours.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess and report the results of left thoracophrenotomy + cervical approach in the surgery of distal third oesophagus and cardia tumours.

Methods: Thirty patients who were treated between 1999 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed taking into consideration the result of the surgical method used.

Results: Eighteen (60%) patients were men with a mean age of 61.

Primary pulmonary haemangiopericytoma: a very rare case.

Hemangiopericytoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm originating from pericytes--a cell type that surround capillaries. Its primary localization in the lung is extremely rare. A 41-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with an abnormal opacity on his chest X-ray.

The time course of recovery following mild thoracic trauma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine when patients are able to return to their normal work or home activities.

Patients And Methods: Eighty cases, 35 females (44%) and 45 males (56%), presenting to our hospital between the years of 2003 and 2004 were prospectively evaluated. There were no hemopneumothorax or associated injury.

A new and safe technique for removing cervical esophageal foreign body.

Despite the recent advances in instrumentation and anesthesia, removal of esophageal foreign bodies remains a challenge. Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies has yielded a success rate of 80%. Surgical removal of these foreign bodies is necessary when the endoscopic manipulations fail.

Protective effect of erythropoietin on type II pneumocyte cells after traumatic brain injury in rats.

Background: The main objective was to evaluate the protective effect of erythropoietin on lung ultrastructure against damage in rats after traumatic brain injury.

Methods: We used forty Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 170-200 gr. The rats were allocated into five groups.

[Treatment in patients with low traumatic pneumothorax ratio].

Thoracostomy tube placement (TT) is currently one of the most important treatment modalities used in traumatic pneumothorax patients. In patients with low pneumothorax ratio (percentage), both follow-up without surgery and employing intervention when indicated may be appropriate choice. We presented the outcome of patients with low traumatic pneumothorax ratio treated by follow up without surgical intervention in our clinic.

Rapid pleurodesis in symptomatic malignant pleural effusion.

Objective: The objective of the study was to see whether a rapid method of pleurodesis was superior to the standard protocol in patients with symptomatic malignant pleural effusion.

Methods: Between January 2000 and February 2003, a prospective randomised trial was carried out in a sequential sample of 27 patients with malignant pleural effusions documented cytopathologically. Twelve patients were allocated to group 1 (standard protocol) and 15 to group 2 (new protocol).

Ultrastructural changes in tracheobronchial epithelia following experimental traumatic brain injury in rats: protective effect of erythropoietin.

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the time dependent ultrastructural changes in tracheobronchial epithelia after traumatic brain injury. And also, protective effect of erythropoietin was demonstrated.

Methods: We used 56 Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 170 to 200 g.

Ultrastructural changes in pneumocyte type II cells following traumatic brain injury in rats.

Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the time-dependent ultrastructural changes in pneumocyte type II cells following brain injury, and to propose an electron microscopic scoring model for the damage.

Methods: Forty Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 170-200 g were used. The rats were allocated into five groups.

Pseudoaneurysms of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries after gunshot injuries.

Background: Pseudoaneurysms (PsAns) of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries are very rare and occur as a late complication after arterial injury. This study was undertaken to describe the management of PsAns of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries after gunshot injuries in a civilian vascular surgical unit with a large trauma workload.

Methods: A retrospective review of the records of nine patients treated between January 1998 and November 2001 at the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Numune Education and Research Hospital was undertaken.

Transaxillary approach in thoracic outlet syndrome: the importance of resection of the first-rib.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the transaxillary surgical approach and results of thoracic outlet cases in our clinic in the light of the recent literature data.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2002 a series of 35 cases diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) hospitalized and surgically treated in our clinic have been studied retrospectively.

Results: Twenty-six of our cases were females (75%) and the mean age was 25+/-1 (17-40 years).