Mediastinal paraganglioma irrigated by coronary vessels in a patient with an atypical chest pain.

We present a case of non-functioning anterior mediastinal paraganglioma in a 61-year-old woman. The tumour was accidentally discovered on a coronary angiography performed in an atypical precordial pain and dyspnea. The coronary angiography showed a vascular tumour in the paraaortic localization irrigated from two branches of coronary arteries. Diagnosis was confirmed by a thoracic tomographic scan which revealed an anterior mediastinal tumour. Complete tumour resection was done through a sternotomy with extracorporeal circulation without cardiac arrest. The histological examination of the operative specimen was characteristic of paraganglioma.

[Videothoracoscopy in the surgical treatment of pneumothorax: report of 46 cases]. / Videotoracoscopia en el tratamiento quirúrgico del neumotórax: a propósito de 46 casos.

We report our 3-years experience with video-thoracoscopy for pneumothorax. Forty-six endoscopies (34 men, 12 women; mean age 27 +/- 9 years) were performed. Patients were under general anesthesia and intubation was selective. The conventional approach was used, with 3 incisions through which the camera and endoscopic instruments were inserted. Results were good in 39 (84.7%) patients. Pneumothorax recurred in 4 (8.7%) patients during the 3 years of follow-up. Thoracotomy was performed in 3 patients, because of lack of lung expansion in 1, persistent leak in another and encapsulated empyema in the third. Mean hospital stay after surgery was 7.3 days. Video-thoracoscopy can be considered a good therapeutic alternative to thoracotomy in the surgical treatment of patients with pneumothorax.