Fibrin Glue and Partial Capitonnage in Giant Hydatid Cyst in a Pediatric Patient.

Surgical procedure is still used as the first choice in the treatment of pulmonary hydatid cysts. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has started to be performed as a minimally invasive surgical option in recent years for lung hydatid cyst; however, few cases have been reported in the literature, especially in children. Thoracoscopic surgery experience is limited in pulmonary hydatid cyst for both adults and children. We present a pediatric case of giant lung hydatid cyst, in which we performed partial capitonnage with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and fibrin glue.

Chondrosarcoma of the anterior chest wall: surgical resection and reconstruction with titanium mesh.

Primary malignant tumors of the chest wall are uncommon. Chondrosarcoma is the most common malignancy of the sternum. The current therapy for chondrosarcoma requires adequate surgical excision. A 52-year-old man presented with a lower-sternal mass. Thorax computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-lineated, hypodense and round mass, which highly suggested the sarcoma of the chest wall. The tumor involved 1/3 distal part of the corpus sterni. Incisional biopsy of the mass was reported as chondrosarcoma. In order to obtain disease-free surgical margins, 1/3 distal part of the sternum with costochondral junctions was resected and reconstruction of anterior chest wall was performed with titanium mesh. The postoperative course was uneventful. The titanium mesh provided the essential rigidity and minimal elasticity over the surgical wound. Our findings show that this technique is adequate even for reconstructing extensive defects of the anterior chest wall.

Are the 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings in bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors different than expected?

Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors (BPCT) are known as low malignity tumors. Different surgical methods are therapeutically used, ranging from simple excision of the mass to large regional resections. Also, the role of positron emission tomography in the diagnosis and staging of BPCT is controversial as false negative results has been reported in literature. Our aim was to study the diagnostic value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and the therapeutic effect of specific surgical treatment on BPCT. We studied retrospectively from 2005 to 2011 75 cases of BPCT. Preoperative investigations included computerized tomography (CT), bronchoscopy and 18F-FDG PET. Statistical comparisons were performed based on tumor type, extent of the resection and the standardized uptake value (SUV). Fifty six cases were typical, 15 atypical and 4 oncocytic (a subtype of typical carcinoid). Of these patients, 27 (17 with typical, 8 with atypical and 2 with oncocytic carcinoid) had undergone a 18F-FDG PET scan. Operatory mortality was 0%, while the 7 years survival rate amounted to 97.5%. No recurrences were seen. Mean SUV was 5.28 for typical and 5.08 for atypical BPCT. The oncocytic type exhibited a particularly high SUV. In conclusion, our study, contrary to the findings of others, showed that the 18F-FDG uptake of BPCT was similar to that of malignant diseases. Aggressive surgical treatment resulted in a very good prognosis for these carcinoid tumors.