Incidental invasive thymoma during coronary artery bypass surgery

We encountered 2 incidental cases of invasive thymomas at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan; during routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery between 2005 and 2008 with an incidence of 0.6%. Both patients presented with angina pain. None of the 2 patients had pressure symptoms cough, shortness of breath or superior vena cava syndrome or Myasthenia Gravis symptoms. Total thymectomy with dissection of perithymic fat was performed on both cases. No radiotherapy was given. No recurrence of the tumor was seen in 2 years follow up. These cases are presented to emphasize the occurrence of this tumor

Uncommon incidental pseudoaneurysm. Diagnostic and management challenges

To analyze patients with uncommon incidental pseudoaneurysms, secondary to non-catheterization causes, and to discuss the peculiar clinical spectrum, and focus on some aspects of difference from post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms. Eleven patients, 8 males and 3 females, were studied retrospectively in Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan, between 2002-2008. Radiological studies performed included duplex sonography [DS], computed tomography [CT], conventional angiography, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and magnetic resonance angiography [MRA]. Pseudoaneurysms were most commonly encountered in young males [63.6%], especially in the lower limb vessels [36%]. Clinical findings were suggestive of pseudoaneurysms in 27% of our cases. Four out of the 8 DS scans showed the neck of pseudoaneurysms, and the "to and fro" waveform, the strongest indicators for pseudoaneurysms. Both CT with intravenous contrast and angiography failed to establish the diagnosis in one out of 5 cases. The MRI with MRA showed the pseudoaneurysms in 2 patients that underwent the scan. Incidental pseudoaneurysms are considered following iatrogenic procedures, penetrating, or blunt traumas with variable delay time. Young healthy males are at increased risks, as opposed to elderly females with calcified vessels in post-catheterization cases. Duplex sonography is less sensitive in incidental than post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms. The CT scan with intravenous contrast has high accuracy in establishing the diagnosis in small, or medium sized pseudoaneurysms. The MRI and MRA are accurate valuable studies and comparable to conventional angiography