Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) and Ewing's sarcoma (ES) belong to the same family of malignant, small, round cell neoplasms of soft tissue or bone origin. With just around 30 cases reported so far, primary pleuro-pulmonary PNETs/ES are extremely rare in adults. We herein describe a case of a hexagenerian male diagnosed with primary pleuro-pulmonary PNETs/ES after tissue biopsy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
March 2023
Bronchial artery aneurysms (BAAs) are rare and are known to be associated with bronchiectasis. The presentation varies from incidental radiological finding to life-threatening hemoptysis. A diagnosis of BAA is an indication for intervention irrespective of its presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
September 2022
The Macklin effect is associated with alveolar rupture causing a centripetal spread of air along the peribronchovascular interstitial sheath leading to pneumomediastinum, usually seen in ventilator-related barotrauma or blunt chest trauma. We are presenting a peculiar case of iatrogenic (post-intubational) tracheal injury with massive subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum, in whom, we suspect that the primary tracheal injury and pneumomediastinum led to dissection of air along the peribronchovascular interstitium, culminating in atelectasis of lung due to compression of the distal-most airways, with no primary parenchymal abnormality. This supposed "reversal" of pathophysiological sequence of the Macklin effect makes it a unique finding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCastleman's disease, also known as angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, with unicentric or multicentric variety. Herein, we present an unusual case of unicentric Castleman disease in a 19-year-old boy presenting as a left posterior mediastinal mass with supraclavicular extension, a rare form of presentation, with very few cases reported in the past. It can be misdiagnosed as other malignant pathology and mismanaged as in our case; hence, a high index of suspicion is necessary.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlacental site trophoblastic tumor, a rare variety of gestational trophoblastic disease, is traditionally limited to the uterus, found within the placental implantation site where it can lead to arteriovenous malformations. Gestational trophoblastic diseases are known to metastasize to the lungs, of which choriocarcinomas are the most common. However arteriovenous malformations related to such metastatic lesions are extremely rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPenetrating neck trauma, though rare, carries a high morbidity and mortality risk if not recognized promptly, due to the presence of vital neurovascular and airway elements within a closed compartment. We describe the unique presentation of a high zone 1 anterior midline cervical stab injury with bilateral large pneumothoraces and extensive pneumomediastinum. Understanding the respiratory mechanics and a high clinical suspicion will help to recognize such complications of tracheobronchial injuries and their timely management is key to salvage of these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
September 2021
Pneumothorax, as a consequence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, has become an established entity but the delayed occurrence of pneumothorax, after recovery from the illness, is less commonly reported. We present a case of delayed recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, presenting 4 weeks after recovery from COVID-19 in a previously healthy middle-aged gentleman, for which uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) pleurectomy was performed, but the cause of pneumothorax could not be ascertained. This report brings to light, the importance of continued surveillance of COVID-19 survivors, the unpredictability of the disease process, and the challenges of thoracic surgery in this unique subset of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF