Ectopic cervical thymoma with myasthenia gravis: a rare association.

Thymic masses are one of the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum. Nevertheless, because the thymus originates in the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches and descends into the anterior mediastinum, ectopic thymic tissue may be found anywhere from the angle of the mandible to the superior mediastinum. Ectopic cervical thymoma (ECT) is an extremely rare tumor that originates from ectopic thymic tissue trapped during the migration of the embryonic thymus and is often misdiagnosed as a thyroid tumor or other neck masses. Herein, we report an unusual case of ectopic cervical thymoma associated to myasthenia gravis (MG).

Accidental inhalation of scarf pin: Presentation and management.

BACKGROUND: The accidental aspiration of foreign bodies (FBs) is a rare occurrence in adults. However, inhalation of scarf pin is a phenomenon more and more common in the context of Muslim nations. The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of this particular FB and illustrate the circumstances and consequences of inhalation. METHODS: This retrospective study involved patients with a history of scarf pin aspiration admitted to the Thoracic Surgery Department of Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco, over a period of 10 years. Their main presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of the 30 cases was 18 years (13-43). No antecedent was found in all cases. The penetration syndrome was found in all cases, with a transient moment of suffocation in 19 cases (63.33%), a dry cough in 15 cases (50%), minimal hemoptysis in 4 cases (13.33%), and purulent sputum in 3 cases (10%). The clinical examination was normal in all cases. The chest X-ray showed the FB in the form of linear right sided opacity in 14 cases (46.66%), left sided in 8 cases (26.66%), and in the trachea in 8 cases (26.66). Rigid bronchoscopy visualized the scarf pin at the level of the right basal pyramid in 5 cases (16.66%) and on the left side in 2 cases (6.66%), at the level of the main right and intermediate trunk in 7 cases (23.33%), at the level of the left main bronchus in 4 cases (13.33%) and in the trachea in 5 cases (16.66%). The pin was extracted by rigid bronchoscopy in 23 cases (76.66%) and was expelled spontaneously in 5 cases (16.66%). Thoracotomy was required in 2 cases (6.66%). Medical treatment, including antibiotic therapy and short-course oral corticosteroids, was administered in all cases. CONCLUSION: Scarf pin inhalation is common in women who wear the Islamic headscarf. Bronchoscopy is an important tool to manage these FBs, but the best prevention treatment is careful handling of these potentially sharp objects away from the mouth.

[Benign primitive schwannoma of the pleura]. / Schwannome bénin primitif de la plèvre.

Schwannoma is a neurogenic tumor originating from Schwann cells. When considering the thoracic region, it is most commonly found in the mediastinum. It commonly appears as a solitary lesion and pleural involvement is extremely rare. We here report the case of a 44-year old woman with benign primitive schwannoma of the pleura whose lesion was detected after radiological assessment for chest pain and dyspnea. The patient underwent complete surgical resection using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) technique. The anatomopathological study showed benign primitive schwannoma of the pleura.

Hydatid cyst of the pericardium mimicking a right atrial myxoma.

The hydatid cyst of the pericardium is a rare pathology; its clinical presentation is variable. It can reveal straightaway at the stage of life-threatening complications. Only a few cases of isolated pericardial hydatid cysts have been reported. Echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are important diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of echinococcosis, and surgery remains the treatment of choice. Herein, we report a rare case of pericardial hydatid cyst who presented to our emergency department with complaints of palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

[Lung cancer in Eastern Morocco: where do we stand?] / Cancer du poumon au Maroc Oriental: où en sommes-nous?

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer is the most common cancer in men living Eastern Morocco. We here present the first report on the clinical, pathological and therapeutic features of lung cancer in Eastern Morocco. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 738 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the Hassan II, Oncology Center between October 2005 and December 2014. RESULTS: Among the cases studied, 671 patients were men and 67 women; 95.01% of men and 1.54% of women were smokers. The average age of patients was 59.1 ± 11.9 years. Most patients (97%) were diagnosed at advanced stage disease. Only 4 out of 227 patients with advanced adenocarcinoma underwent molecular test. In addition, no patient in our series received targeted therapy. In this series, 20.46% of patients had less than 50 years. Compared to patients aged 50 years and older, cannabis consumption was higher (p<0.001) in patients less than 50 years and as well as a higher rate of adenocarcinoma (p<0.01). By contrast, in these patients, tobacco consumption was lower (p<0.001) as well as the rate of squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.01) and small cell cancer (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Unlike Western countries, in Eastern Morocco lung cancer is diagnosed late, affects younger people and access to molecular tests is still very limited. These results justify the need to implement effective programs against lung cancer as well as to facilitate access to molecular tests and new therapeutic tools in Eastern Morocco.

CT guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the chest: initial experience.

The objective of this article is to report our first experience of CT guided percutaneous thoracic biopsy and to demonstrate the accuracy and safety of this procedure. This was a retrospective study of 28 CT-Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsies of the Chest performed on 24 patients between November 2014 and April 2015. Diagnosis was achieved in 18 patients (75%), negative results were found in 3 patients (12,5%). Biopsy was repeated in these cases with two positive results. Complications were seen in 7 patients (29%), Hemoptysis in 5 patients (20%), Pneumothorax in 1 patient (4,1%) and vaso-vagal shock in 1 patient (4,1%). CT Guided Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of the Chest is a safe, minimally invasive procedure with high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for diagnosis of lung lesions.

Pseudotumoral hydatid cyst of chest wall.

Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Echinoccosis granulosus and our country was an endemic area. Osseous localization is uncommon and can be confused with tumor. We present a case of a hydatid cyst with rib involvement in a 57-year-old man presented with thoracic pain and swelling mimicking chest wall tumor. We confirmed diagnosis only by surgical exploration and histopathology exam because radiology is not conclusive. Surgery remains the first choice for treatment in hydatid cyst disease that can remove the parasite radically. However, in osseous localization pre and postoperative course of albendazole for 6 months associated with surgery can help in sterilizing the cyst and reduce the recurrence rate. Hydatid cyst can involve all the thoracic structures; rib localization is rare and needs surgical resection for total eradication.

Outcomes after bronchoscopic procedures for primary tracheobronchial amyloidosis: retrospective study of 6 cases.

Respiratory amyloidosis is a rare disease which refers to localized aberrant extracellular protein deposits within the airways. Tracheobronchial amyloidosis (TBA) refers to the deposition of localized amyloid deposits within the upper airways. Treatments have historically focused on bronchoscopic techniques including debridement, laser ablation, balloon dilation, and stent placement. We present the outcomes after rigid bronchoscopy to remove the amyloid protein causing the airway obstruction in 6 cases of tracheobronchial amyloidosis. This is the first report of primary diffuse tracheobronchial amyloidosis in our department; clinical features, in addition to therapy in the treatment of TBA, are reviewed. This paper shows that, in patients with TBA causing airway obstruction, excellent results can be obtained with rigid bronchoscopy and stenting of the obstructing lesion.

Isolated splenic metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Splenic metastasis from lung cancer is uncommon, and isolated metastasis to the spleen is extremely rare event. Most often they are part of widespread metastatic disease and usually reported at autopsy. We report an exceedingly rare case of metastatic involvement of the spleen in an operated case of lung adenocarcinoma in a 58-year-old man diagnosed 12 months after resection.

Early complications after pneumonectomy: retrospective study of 168 patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess the mortality and risk factors of complications after pneumonectomy for lung cancer. Between 1996 and 2001, we reviewed and analysed the demographic, clinical, functional, and surgical variables of 168 patients to identify risk factors of postoperative complications by univariate and multivariate analyses with Medlog software system. The mean age was 60+/-10 years, overall mortality and morbidity rates were 4.17% and 41.6%, respectively. All frequencies of respiratory complications were 1.2% for acute respiratory failure, 10.1% for pneumonia, 2.4% for acute pulmonary oedema, 4.17% for bronchopleural fistula, 2.4% for thoracic empyema and 18.5% for left recurrent nerve injuries. Postoperative arrhythmias developed in 46% of our patients. The risk factors for cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality with univariate analysis were advanced age (P<0.01), preoperative poor performance status (P<0.015), and chronic artery disease (P<0.008). Factors adversely affecting morbidity with multivariate analysis included age (P=0.0001), associated cardiovascular disease (P=0.001), and altered forced expiratory volume in 1 s (P=0.0005). Complications after pneumonectomy are associated with high mortality. Careful attention must be paid to patients with advanced age and heart disease. Chest physiotherapy is paramount to have uneventful outcomes.