BackgroundIn this study we aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome of diaphragmatic plication for symptomatic unilateral diaphragm paralysis.MethodsThirteen patients who underwent unilateral diaphragmatic plication (2 patients had right, 11 left plication) between January 2003 and December 2006 were evaluated. One patient died postoperatively due to sepsis. The remaining 12 patients [9 males, 3 females; mean age 60 (36-66) years] were reevaluated with chest radiography, flouroscopy or ultrasonography, pulmonary function tests, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the MRC/ATS dyspnea score at an average of 5.4 (4-7) years after diaphragmatic plication.ResultsThe etiology of paralysis was trauma (9 patients), cardiac by pass surgery (3 patients), and idiopathic (1 patient). The principle symptom was progressive dyspnea with a mean duration of 32.9 (22-60) months before surgery. All patients had an elevated hemidiaphragm and paradoxical movement radiologically prior to surgery. There were partial atelectasis and reccurent infection of the lower lobe in the affected side on CT in 9 patients. Atelectasis was completely improved in 9 patients after plication. Preoperative spirometry showed a clear restrictive pattern. Mean preoperative FVC was 56.7 ± 11.6% and FEV1 65.3 ± 8.7%. FVC and FEV1 improved by 43.6 ± 30.6% (p < 0.001) and 27.3 ± 10.9% (p < 0.001) at late follow-up. MRC/ATS dyspnea scores improved 3 points in 11 patients and 1 point in 1 patient at long-term (p < 0.0001). Eight patients had returned to work at 3 months after surgery.ConclusionsDiaphragmatic plication for unilateral diaphragm paralysis decreases lung compression, ensures remission of symptoms, and improves quality of life in long-term period.

Aspergilloma is a saprophytic infection which can colonize preexisting lung cavities. The most common underlying diseases are tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, cavitary lung cancer, etc. Although aspergilloma can also occur in operated hydatid cyst cavities, only a few cases have been reported in literature. A 32-year-old female patient underwent cystectomy for the diagnosis of perforated intraparenchymal giant hydatid cyst located in the right upper lobe, reaching down to the hilum. Capitonnage was not performed and it was observed that a residual cavity remained in the cystectomy area. The patient was discharged; however, during clinical and radiological follow-ups, it was found that the residual cyst cavity had expanded. As it was thought that one of the drainage bronchi in the cyst cavity could have opened, the patient was reoperated. During the operation, it was noted that purulent fluid and necrotic tissues were present in the cystic cavity. It was seen that the posterior upper lobe segment was consolidated and not ventilated. Contents of the cavity were removed and the posterior upper lobe segment was resected. Histopathological examination revealed that the tissue in the cavity was that of an aspergilloma, and that chronic organized pneumonia and diffuse interstitial fibrosis were present in the resected segment. Refraining from surgical obliteration (capitonnage) of cyst cavities in cases of giant hydatid cysts extending to the hilum can lead to opportunistic infections such as aspergilloma.

BackgroundSolitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare, usually benign, and slow-growing neoplasm. Complete surgical resection for giant tumor of the pleura is challenging because of poor exposure and a large blood supply. We report the case of a giant hypervascular fibrous tumor that filled nearly the entire left hemithorax and anterior mediastinum, and its preoperative management.Case Report:A 59-year-old woman presented to us with exertional dyspnea and chest pain. A chest radiograph showed the right hemithorax completely opaque and a mediastinal shift to the left hemithorax. A tomography scan of the thorax showed a giant mass that almost completely filled the right hemithorax and compressed the mediastinum to the left. Because of excessive bleeding during dissection, the operation was terminated after a biopsy specimen was obtained. The biopsy was diagnosed as a benign fibrous tumour. A thoracic computed tomography angiogram showed that the mass was supplied by multiple intercostal arteries as well as an aberrant artery that branches off the celiac trunk in the subdiaphragmatic region. Due to the many arteries that needed to be embolized, the final decision was to control the bleeding following resection by inducing total circulatory arrest with the help of cardiopulmonary bypass. The bleeding could not be controlled under cardiopulmonary bypass and the patient’s death was confirmed.Conclusions:We report this case to emphasize the necessity of preoperative embolization; the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and total circulatory arrest is not a valid alternative method to control the bleeding.

IntroductionAn aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign, but expansile tumor like lesion that generally occurs in the long bones including the vertebral column. An aneurysmal bone cyst arising from the rib, especially in the elderly, is extremely rare.Case presentationWe report a 58-year-old Turkish woman with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the right 3rd rib treated with chest wall resection. The pathologic findings confirmed the diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst. The patient has been followed up for 5 years with no evidence of recurrence.ConclusionEn bloc resection can be curative and provide good results for this rare type of chest wall tumor.

Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disease and its etiology is still unknown. It may occur at every site where lymph tissue is present. A definitive treatment is possible with complete resection. The most important problem is bleeding which may occur during surgery due to the high vascularization. In this study, we present the surgical treatment of a case with mediastinal Castleman's disease, treated preoperatively with embolization because of hypervascularization detected on thoracic CT.