[Marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the parietal pleura; report of a case].

An 76-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to right hydrothorax. The diffuse thickening of parietal pleura with increased fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) uptake was noted by computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Surgical biopsy was performed and the tumor was diagnosed as mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas of parietal pleura origin by pathology. Complete remission was achieved by postoperative chemotherapy (R-CHOP), and the patient is now alive without recurrence.

[Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma（ LELC） of the lung].

A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with abnormal chest shadow detected on a medical checkup. Chest computed tomography(CT)showed a well-defined tumor in the upper lobe of the right lung. On positron emission tomography by fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG),the tumor revealed to be positive. We performed right upper lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection. The histopathological diagnosis was lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC). In the past 25-years, 41 cases have been reported in Japan. The average age is 64 years old, including 25 male cases and 16 female cases. Among these cases, more than half were in the early resectable stage.

[Sarcoidosis with right middle lobe atelectasis initially suspected of malignant lymphoma; report of a case].

60-year-old woman was admitted with an abnormal shadow on the chest roentgenogram. Computed tomography showed atelectasis of the right middle lobe and hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Bronchoscopic examination revealed an obstruction at the orifice of the right middle lobe bronchus and biopsy was performed. The biopsy suggested malignant lymphoma. A diagnosis of methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorders was suspected because the patient was administered methotrexate to treat the rheumatoid arthritis. The video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Histological examination showed no malignancy and sarcoidosis in the peribronchial lymph nodes. The compressed middle lobe bronchus by enlarged lymph nodes was consider to be the cause of the middle lobe atelectasis.

[Human pulmonary dirofilariasis].

The patient was a 60's-year-old man, who was incidentally pointed out a coin lesion in the right lung by chest radiogram. Chest computed tomography showed a round-shaped, well defined nodule of 2.5 cm in size in the right S1. Positron emission tomography did not show the accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose in the nodule. We considered the tumor to be benign, but the patient chose surgical treatment. Partial resection of the lung was performed by thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathological diagnosis was human pulmonary dirofilariasis.

[Adult Bochdalek hernia combined with pneumothorax].

A 71-year-old man, who had been given a diagnosis of Bochdalek hernia in infancy, was referred to our hospital for dyspnea The chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed left pneumothorax with bullas and intestines in his left thoracic cavity. He was admitted to our hospital and a chest tube was inserted into the left pleural cavity. The left lung expanded immediately and air leakage was stopped. He became asymptomatic and he was discharged from the hospital on the 8th day. Most Bochdalek hernias are observed in infancy, and adult cases combined with pneumothorax and bullas are very rare.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the rectal mesentery.

We report a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) arising from the rectal mesentery. GIST of the large intestine is a rare tumor that accounts for only 0.1% of all colorectal cancers. The patient presented to our hospital with constipation and abdominal distension. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a huge mass in the pelvic cavity, and laparotomy disclosed diffuse peritoneal dissemination from the primary tumor. Radiochemotherapy was commenced, but the patient became too ill to complete it and died of the disease 2 months after surgery. A large high-grade tumor with diffuse dissemination was recognized as an indicator of poor survival in this patient.

Diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia.

Obturator hernia is a rare type of hernia, but it is a significant cause of intestinal obstruction due to the associated anatomy. Correct diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia is important, because delay can lead to high mortality. Twelve patients with obturator hernia were managed during a 11-year period, including 11 women and 1 man with a mean age of 82 years. We compared our experience with the previously published data to establish standards for the diagnosis and treatment of this hernia. All 12 patients presented with intestinal obstruction. The median interval from admission to operation was 2 days. The Howship-Romberg sign was positive in 5 patients. A correct diagnosis was made in all 8 patients who underwent pelvic CT scanning. Surgery was performed via an abdominal approach (n = 7) or an inguinal approach (n = 5). The hernial orifice was closed using the uterine fundus (n = 6), a patch (n = 5), and direct suture (n = 1). Mean follow-up time was 33 months, and no recurrence has been detected. The poor physical condition of patients might have led to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. In troubled patients with nonspecific intestinal obstruction, CT scanning is useful for the early diagnosis of obturator hernia. Correct CT diagnosis of obturator hernia allows us to select the inguinal approach combined with patch repair, which is minimally invasive surgery.