[Diaphragmatic hernia by blunt trauma].

Two cases of diaphragmatic hernia by blunt trauma were experienced. One patient was a 21-year-old man who had been injured in a car collision 4 days before was transferred to our division from another hospital. Another patient was a 66-year-old man who was admitted in an emergency after a fall from a height. Both patients were suspected from chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) to have traumatic rupture of left diaphragm, and were successfully performed repair of the diaphragm by thoracic approach. Since the diagnosis of ruptured diaphragm is frequently missed in the acute phase, a careful scrutiny of the chest X-ray is required. Laparotomy is the operative approach of choice in the case with the associated abdominal injuries. On the other hand, thoracotomy is selected for the patients accompanied with the lung injury or in the latent phase. Although diaphragmatic rupture can be managed by the appropriate treatment, the associated injuries or complications are responsible for the high mortality.

Immediate surgical rescue for mediastinal compression by giant metastatic lung tumor.

Mediastinal compression by a large metastatic lung tumor is a life-threatening condition and needs immediate decompression. We performed palliative surgical rescue for 2 patients aged 42 and 30 years with these conditions, and were able to control their symptoms. Patients were free of symptoms soon after the operation. Palliative surgical rescue can relieve the symptoms immediately and improve the general condition dramatically. We think that surgical rescue is worthwhile, especially for younger patients.

[Evaluation of therapeutic method for malignant tumors involving the tracheal carina].

We evaluated 9 patients with malignant tumors involving the tracheal carina. In 2 patients, carinal reconstruction was performed using Miyamoto's method and sleeve pneumonectomy was performed in another patient. All 3 patients had no anastomotic complications after the operation and were ambulatory at discharge. Two patients are still alive, and the others died by 15 months after surgery. Dynamic stenting was performed in 4 patients and a Dumon stent was used in 2 patients. Respiratory symptoms were relieved soon after stent placement, but none of the stented patients survived more than 3 months, except for one who also had surgery. Sometimes surgery is avoided because of its high morbidity and mortality, but the prognosis is very poor without resection. We think surgery should be performed where possible, when the disease is resectable. Miyamoto's method is superior to others and causes few complications.

[A case of collision tumor involving the mouth of the left lower lobe bronchus treated by left lower sleeve lobectomy].

A 72-year-old man was admitted because of hemoptysis. Further examination revealed adenocarcinoma involving the orifice of the left lower lobe bronchus. We performed left sleeve lower lobectomy and the postoperative pathologic examination revealed a collision tumor comprising adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Traumatic rupture of the bronchus.

We experienced a case of incomplete traumatic rupture of the bronchus which was operated on two months after a traffic accident. Traumatic rupture of the bronchus is rare after blunt chest injury but it can have serious consequences. Early surgical repair is recommended without repeated attempts to remove granulation tissue if the initial attempt at non-surgical repair results in failure, even in the case of incomplete rupture.

[Carinal reconstruction with wide airway resection by a new technique].

Carinal reconstruction with wide airway resection by a new technique was conducted in two cases. A 61-year man with tracheal stenosis by tracheal cancer, 6 tracheal rings, 2 left bronchial rings, total right main bronchus, for which carina was resected and reconstructed by a new technique and for a 69 year man with lung cancer in right upper lobe, for which right upper-middle bilobectomy, S6 segmental resection and circumferential pulmonary artery resection were performed. The tracea, left main bronchus, and right basal segment bronchus were anastomosed by new technique and the right main pulmonary artery and basal segment artery was anastomosed subsequent to chemotherapy. Both patients discharged within seventeen postoperative days in consideration of the absence of postoperative complication. Bronchoscopic findings after reconstruction indicated neither stenosis nor dehiscence at the site of anastomosis. The new reconstructive method of carina permits simple anastomosis, the possibility of carina reconstruction even in the case of wide airway resection and loss tension at the site of anastomosis.

Tumors involving the tracheal carina: new technique of carinal reconstruction.

Carinal reconstruction is one of the most difficult operations, and postoperative complications occur frequently. Two patients were treated surgically using this new technique. With this technique, bronchial end to side anastomosis was added to the tracheobronchial end to end anastomotic site. No postoperative complications occurred. This new technique is technically easy and causes few complications. We think this technique is superior to other methods in suitable patients.

[A case of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal lung with lateral chest pain and palpitation followed by left basal segmentectomy].

A 38-year-old man was admitted because of left lateral chest pain and palpitation. A further examination revealed anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal lung. As pulmonary arteriography showed a complete lack of pulmonary arterial supply to these segments, we performed a ligation of the aberrant artery and left basal segmentectomy. Eight months after surgery, a lung perfusion scan showed improved uptake in the apical segment of the lower lobe.

[A case of the cancer of an unknown primary site with elevated titer of serum CEA which was followed by the right sleeve upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection].

A 63-year-old man was admitted because of right pneumothorax. As serum CEA revealed high titer, we underwent further evaluation, but we were not unable to find any lesion except mediastinal and hilar lymph node swelling. Though we performed sleeve resection of right upper lobe and mediastinal lymph node dissection, we were not unable to find primary lesion. But serum CEA was reduced markedly after surgery and we are not able to find the apparent primary site after that.

[A case of pulmonary sequestration with atypical mycobacterial infection].

A 30-year-old woman complaining of cough, bloody sputum and left chest pain was admitted to our hospital. She had a history of recurrent pneumonia in the left lower lobe. On admission an abnormal shadow was recognized in the left lower lobe on chest radiograph. An enhanced CT scan showed an abnormal blood vessel extending from the descending aorta to the left lower lung. Aortography also indicated one aberrant artery, 15 mm in diameter, extending from the thoracic aorta to the left lower lobe. Pulmonary sequestration was subsequently diagnosed, and left lower lobectomy was later performed. Pathological examination after surgery revealed epithelioid cell granulomas and atypical Mycobacteria avium were detected on sputum culture. Cases of pulmonary sequestration complicated by atypical mycobacterial infection are rare.

[A case report of surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma with intrathoracic metastasis].

Reported herein is a surgical resection of rare intrathoracic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma. A 50-year-old man was admitted because of dispnea. Chest roentgenogram and computed tomogram (CT) revealed massive left pleural effusion, diffuse pleural thickening and multiple pleural tumors. Pleural biopsy with video assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed and the pathological diagnosis of the pleural tumor was adenocarcinoma or malignant mesothelioma. Furthermore, abdominal CT showed a left renal tumor of 5 cm in diameter. For these information, the patient was diagnosed with pleural metastasis of renal cell carcinoma or renal metastasis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. Because there is no effective medical treatment for these two diseases, and the functions of patient's other organs were good, a left pleuropneumonectomy and left nephrectomy was performed at once. The final pathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma. Most of the metastatic lesions were localized in the pleura, though minute subpleural metastasis was seen.

[Assay of specific anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies by ELISA method. 2. studies on clinical usefulness and serological diagnostic standards].

We measured anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) specific antibody titers by means of a newly-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using an anti-C. pneumoniae specific antibody detection reagent. The clinical usefulness of this method was hereby evaluated. The IgG, IgA and IgM titers in 418 serum specimens obtained from patients with respiratory tract infections were measured by this new ELISA method, and the results were compared with the titers determined for the same specimens with the micro immunofluorescence (Micro-IF) method. The results showed good correlation coefficients for IgG, IgA and IgM. The two assay methods showed high agreement rates for positivity and for negativity. Specimens which did not yield the same results with the ELISA method and the Micro-IF method were subjected to analysis by the Western blot method, and the rates of agreement with the ELISA results were high. In addition, the child (0 approximately 15 yrs old; n = 122) and adult (16 approximately 90 yrs old; n = 133) cases were classified on the basis of being antigen-positive or antigen-negative at the initial examination, and their antibody-positive rates were determined. The adults showed no statistically significant differences in the antibody-positive rates for either IgG or IgA antibodies as a function of the pretreatment antigen status. However, the children showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) differences in the antibody-positive rates for both IgG and IgA antibodies as a function of the antigen status in the antigen-positive group compared with the rates in the antigen-negative group. Furthermore, the IgM-positive rates for the children were high in the antigen-positive group compared with the rates in the antigen-negative group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The IgM-positive rates in the adults were also significantly (p < 0.05) different between the antigen-positive group and the antigen-negative group. The Micro-IF method was applied to 34 specimens from antigen-positive patients, and 22 specimens were found to show an IgG titer of > or = 512 or an IgM titer of > or = 16. The diagnoses of these patients were acute respiratory disease in sixteen, pneumonia in four. Application of the ELISA-method to those 22 specimens showed all of them to exhibit IgG absorbance of > or = 0.6 and IgA absorbance of 0.2. The results described above indicate the clinical usefulness of our new ELISA method for the detection of antibodies specific for C. pneumoniae. The significance of this ELISA method for serological diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infections and the criteria for diagnosis of acute infections were also discussed.

[Correlation between DNA content and amplification of oncogenes (c-myc, L-myc, c-erbB-2) and correlation with prognosis in 143 cases of resected lung cancer].

DNA content analysis using flow cytometry and amplification of c-myc, L-myc, and c-erbB-2 oncogenes in 143 cases of resected lung cancer were analyzed using the same specimen, and we examined the correlation with prognosis of DNA content and amplification of oncogenes. There were 54 DNA diploid cases (38%), 81 DNA aneuploid cases (57%) and 8 DNA multiploid cases. Analysis of oncogene amplification revealed 22 cases of c-myc, 4 cases of L-myc, and 22 cases of c-erbB-2. In curatively resected cases, the 5-year survival rate was 65% in 31 DNA diploid cases, and 36% in 40 DNA aneuploid cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.02). However, in non-curatively resected cases, the 5-year survival rate was 11% in 23 DNA diploid cases, and 33% in 49 DNA aneuploid cases. There were no statistically significant differences among these groups. The correlation between DNA content and amplification of oncogenes was as follows. In DNA diploid cases, there were 4 cases of c-myc, and 6 cases of c-erbB-2. In DNA aneuploid cases, there were 15 cases of c-myc, 4 cases of L-myc, and 15 cases of c-erbB-2. In DNA multiploid cases, there were 3 cases of c-myc, and 1 cases of c-erbB-2. Amplification of oncogenes was seen more frequently in DNA aneuploid and multiploid cases than in DNA diploid cases. In 71 curative resected cases, the 5-year survival rate for amplified cases of c-myc (10 cases) was 0%, and that of cases with no amplification was 61% (no statistically significant difference). The 5-year survival rate for amplified cases of c-erbB-2 (10 cases) was 40%, against 52% for cases with no amplification. DNA content analysis using flow cytometry was more convenient than analysis of amplification of oncogenes, and reflects the prognosis of resected lung cancer better than oncogenes. There was no relation between DNA content and gene amplification.

[A case of neurinoma combined with testicular feminization syndrome].

A 23-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of a mediastinal tumor. She complained of primary amenorrhea, and abdominal echosonography was therefore performed, revealing the absence of a uterus. Chromosome analysis revealed a 46 XY genotype, indicating the patient to be a male, not a female. Left renal venography demonstrated residual blood vessels originating in the Mullerian ducts. Thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed, and the mediastinal tumor and bilateral testes were resected. Postoperative pathology revealed that the mediastinal tumor was a neurinoma. There was no spermatogenesis, but hyperplasia of Sertoli cells in the testes was seen. Neither the neurinoma nor the testes were malignant. Bioassay of the testes showed no androgen receptors, leading to the diagnosis of testicular feminization syndrome with the complete form of androgen insensitivity. There have been many reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and malignant tumors of the testes, but few reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and benign tumors such as neurinoma. Accordingly, the present case was considered to be unusual and worth reporting.

[A case of malignant thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia and high serum level of SCC antigen].

We present a case of 43-year-old man with pure red cell aplasia appearing 8 years after thymothymectomy. He underwent an operation and postoperative radiotherapy for malignant thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis in 1983. In 1991 high serum level of SCC antigen was noted and a metastatic tumor was found in the retroperitoneal region. After removal of the tumor pure red cell aplasia developed, which responded to steroid therapy. The serum level of SCC antigen is still abnormally high.

The role of mediastinoscopic biopsy in preoperative assessment of lung cancer.

Between 1970 and 1989, mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy were performed on 619 patients admitted to our clinic with lung cancer. When mediastinoscopy was analyzed by lymph node location, the highest sensitivity (95.7%) was for the left paratracheal nodes and the lowest (64.0%) was for nodes at the bifurcation (p < 0.01). The 5-year survivals according to the results of mediastinoscopy were 47% for negative results, 14% for false-negative results, and 6% for positive results. The 5-year survival rate however, was significantly higher (28%) in patients (n = 13) with positive mediastinoscopic findings who underwent complete resection of the primary tumor and all involved nodes than in patients (n = 78) who underwent incomplete resection (p < 0.01). These data support our opinion that patients with positive mediastinoscopic results should not always be excluded from treatment by thoracotomy. The role of mediastinoscopy is not to select patients for thoracotomy but to evaluate lung cancer at the pretreatment stage.

[Diagnosis, incidence, clinicopathology and surgical treatment of acquired tracheobronchomalacia].

We report our recent findings on the diagnosis, incidence, appearance of the trachea at autopsy, and surgical treatment of acquired trachobronchomalacia. In the diagnosis of this disease, continuous dynamic CT scanning (1 slice/0.6 second) from inspiration to deep expiration was better than X-ray cine recording. It is difficult to observe the most collapsed airway on coughing using bronchofiberscopic recording, because its duration time was estimated to be 1/10 second by X-ray cine recording, whereas the findings at one instant were easily recorded by video-bronchoscopy on coughing. The degree of severity of this disease was classified into three groups. 1st degree 0-50% narrowing of airway caliber, 2nd degree 50-75%; and 3rd degree 75-100%. Severity of 2nd or 3rd degree was present in 542 (12.7%) of 4283 patients suffering from chest disease who underwent bronchoscopy. Seventy-two percent of patients were aged 50 to 80 years. Third degree tracheomalacia was found in 131 patients with an incidence of 3.1%, which increased from 2.2% at 50 years to 6.2% at 80 years. The autopsy findings of the trachea consisted of fragmentation of the tracheal cartilage and extension of the membranous portion. The pathogenesis may be varied with different types of collapse of the airway, including the saber sheath type and the crescent type. Surgical treatment consists of prevention of the airway collapse by wrapping the airway with Marlex mesh and bonding Lyodura (lyophilized dura mata) with fibrin glue, which is more reliable than the span plasty proposed by Nissen.

[Surgical treatment of lung cancer with mediastinoscopic positive lymph nodes].

There are no definite criteria for the indication of surgery in lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node involvement. During the past 20 years, 100 patients (76 patients with adenocarcinoma and 24 patients with squamous cell carcinoma) have undergone thoracotomy for lung cancer with mediastinoscopic positive lymph nodes at our hospital. Of these, relatively curative resection was performed on 13 patients. The 5-year survival rate in these 13 patients was 28%, which was significantly higher than the 0% in 42 patients with relatively non-curative resection and the 0% in 26 patients with absolutely non-curative resection. The 5-year survival rate was 9% in both T1 (n = 14) patients and T2 (n = 37) patients. No T3 (n = 21) and T4 (n = 9) patients survived 3 years. The 5 year survival rate in patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 12% and that in patients with adenocarcinoma was 0%, but there was no significant difference. The survival rates of T1 and T2 patients were significantly higher than that of T3 patients (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.005) respectively. Contralateral mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N3) was observed significantly more frequently in patients with adenocarcinoma (38%) than in those with squamous cell carcinoma (13%), but there was no significant difference in the survival rate. In N2 patients, the survival rate was compared between those with mediastinal nodal involvement of an early stage (N2-1) and those with lymph node metastasis of more advanced stage (N2-2) according to the lobe bearing the primary cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Chest wall reconstruction using polyester mesh].

Using polyester, we prepared a new material for chest wall reconstruction. The polyester mesh has the same rigidity and elasticity as Marlex tracheal mesh. From January 1987 through July 1991, we performed chest wall reconstruction using the polyester mesh in 8 patients with lung cancer, 9 with empyema after open drainage, 2 with metastatic chest wall tumors, 1 with a primary osteogenic giant cell tumor originating from the rib and 1 with radiation dermatitis and costal chondritis. Three or more ribs were resected in 17 patients. The defects of the chest wall were reconstructed with the polyester mesh covered with a GORE-TEX soft tissue patch to achieve air tightness. Fifteen cases have passed at least one year with no sign of infection. In conclusion, the polyester mesh prevents flail chest and seems to be a satisfactory material for chest wall reconstruction.

[Surgical indications for thoracotomy in cases of small advanced lung cancer by use of DNA content analysis and mediastinoscopy].

Twenty-seven patients with small advanced lung cancer were treated at Kyoto Katsura Hospital. Of 27 patients, 19 patients underwent thoracotomy. The mean survival time of the 19 resected patients was 49 months, while that of the 8 unresected patients was 36 months. There was no statistically significant difference between these mean survival times. Of the 19 resected patients, 6 patients underwent a relative curative operation (RCO), 4 patients underwent a relative noncurative operation, and 9 patients underwent an absolute noncurative operation. The respective mean survival times were 79 months, 30, and 33. We compared the mean survival time of RCO cases with that of the unresected cases, and there was a significant difference in favor of the RCO cases. So we recommend thoracotomy for patients with small advanced lung cancer if RCO is possible, and that requires of a histological classification of less than N2. We performed mediastinoscopy for 18 of the 27 patients to check for mediastinal lymph node metastasis, and 16 of those patients were confirmed to have metastasis pathologically. Mediastinoscopy is useful and reliable for confirming lymph node metastasis, because it gives us a pathological diagnosis. We also performed DNA content analysis on the 19 resected cases. There were 7 DNA diploidy cases, 11 DNA aneuploidy cases, and 1 case couldn't be determined. There was no significant difference between the mean survival times of DNA diploidy cases and the DNA aneuploidy cases.