Does overgrowth of costal cartilage cause pectus excavatum? A study on the lengths of ribs and costal cartilages in asymmetric patients.

PURPOSE: The cause of pectus excavatum has been hypothesized to be overgrowth of the costal cartilage. According to this theory, the length of costal cartilages must be longer in the side of deep depression in asymmetric patients. To challenge this hypothesis, we measured the lengths of ribs and costal cartilages and investigated lateral differences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four adolescent and adult patients with asymmetric pectus excavatum (14-30 years of age) with no history of surgery were investigated in this study. The fifth and sixth ribs and costal cartilages were individually traced to measure their full lengths on 3-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) images. As an index of asymmetry, sternal rotation angle was measured in the chest CT images. Patients with a 21 degrees or greater angle of sternal twist were designated as an asymmetric group and those with an angle of smaller than 20 degrees as a symmetric group. Lateral differences in the fifth and sixth costal and costal cartilage lengths were compared between the groups. RESULTS: On comparison of the costal and costal cartilage lengths in the asymmetric group, the right fifth ribs and costal cartilages were significantly shorter than the left (P = .02 and .03, respectively), and right sixth ribs were also significantly shorter than the left (P = .004), but right sixth costal cartilages were not (P = .31). In the symmetric group, the lengths of the left and right fifth ribs and costal cartilages were showing no significant difference (P = .20 and P = .80, respectively), and those of the sixth ribs and costal cartilage were also showing no significant difference (P = .97 and P = .64, respectively). DISCUSSION: The ribs and costal cartilages on the right side with severer depression were significantly shorter or not different than those on the contralateral side. Based on these findings, the theory of costal cartilage overgrowth is contradictory. The etiology of asymmetric chest deformity should be reevaluated.

Successful reconstruction of communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation associated with laryngotracheoesophageal cleft.

A full-term newborn male infant presented with dyspnea and cleft lip and palate. He was thought to have esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. He underwent bronchoscopy before operation that showed a laryngotracheoesophageal cleft (LTEC) type III. The left main bronchus originated from the lower esophagus. His diagnosis was communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (CBPFM) type IA associated with LTEC type III. Enhanced chest computed tomographic scan showed the left pulmonary artery originated from the descending aorta. Staged operations were indicated. At first, reconstruction of the left pulmonary artery was done at 3 months of age. Then at 6 months of age, operations for LTEC (tracheoplasty and esophagostomy) and CBPFM left bronchoplasty were performed. Reconstruction of esophagus was performed at age of 1 year. He is now 3 years old and doing well with a mild degree of bronchomalacia. This is the first report of total reconstruction of CBPFM type IA associated with LTEC.

Evaluation of the Nuss procedure using pre- and postoperative computed tomographic index.

BACKGROUND: Objective assessment of the chest in patients with pectus excavatum after the Nuss procedure has not been published. This study evaluated the results of the Nuss procedure using computed tomographic (CT) index (CTi). METHODS: We have performed the Nuss procedure in 382 patients since 1998, and 150 patients who underwent bar removal were included in this study. Computed tomographic scans were obtained before the Nuss procedure and after bar removal, and then preoperative CTi (pre-CTi) and postoperative CTi (post-CTi) were calculated. Computed tomographic scans of 62 age-matched patients without chest deformity were collected as controls. Patients were divided at 10 years of age into the younger and older groups, and groups with mild and severe deformity were defined using a pre-CTi value of 5 as border. These CT indices were compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Mean pre-CTi in all cases was 5.97 +/- 3.31 and improved to 3.08 +/- 0.64. Postoperative CTi was not significantly different from that of the control (2.47 +/- 0.32, P = .17). In the group with mild depression, pre-CTi was 4.15 +/- 0.62, and post-CTi was 2.88 +/- 0.50. Preoperative CTi in the group with severe deformity (7.44 +/- 3.82) improved to 3.25 +/- 0.69. Postoperative CTi values between the severe and mild groups were not significantly different (P = .75). Computed tomographic index of the young group improved from 6.20 +/- 3.58 to 2.93 +/- 0.49 and in older group from 5.50 +/- 2.64 to 3.40 +/- 0.79. These 2 post-CTi values were not significantly different (P = .73). CONCLUSION: Postoperative CT scan could provide objective evaluation of sternal elevation. Mean CTi after the Nuss procedure was statically equivalent to that of the control cohort. Good sternal elevation can be achieved with the Nuss procedure regardless of the severity of chest depression or age.

Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroblastoma resected 8 years after mass screening: a case report.

An 8-year-old girl presented with abdominal tumor that was discovered incidentally. At surgery, the tumor originated from the retroperitoneal sympathetic trunk; and the histologic diagnosis was ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular (GNBn), unfavorable histology on Shimada's classification, International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage 1. This patient was found positive for neuroblastoma (NB) by mass screening at 6 months old. There was no tumor detected, and tumor markers decreased to normal range by 18 months of age. We examined her previous computed tomographic films retrospectively and noticed a mass in the same region indicating that the tumor had been there for 8 years without treatment. This is the first report of infantile mass screening-positive NB appearing after long-term follow-up with unfavorable histology. And the follow-up interval was the longest ever reported. This case is suggestive of considering the natural history and treatment strategies for infantile NBs, and the relationship between infantile NB and ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular. It is important to follow mass screening-positive cases of NB over the long term if wait-and-see policy is adopted.

Iliopsoas abscess in the neonate.

Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is rare, especially in the neonatal period. The major presenting symptoms of IPA are leg or groin swelling, limitation of leg motion, and pain. The etiologies of IPA in many cases remain unknown, and the etiologic agent in many cases is Staphylococcus aureus. Ultrasonography and computed tomography are useful in diagnosing this disease. Antibiotics therapy and appropriate drainage are effective, and the prognosis is good. The authors present a neonatal case of IPA and discuss clinical symptoms, etiologic agents, methods of diagnosis and therapy, and prognosis.

Huge arachnoid cyst of the posterior fossa with cerebellar tentorium dysplasia associated with juvenile polyposis.

We report an infant with a huge arachnoid cyst of the posterior fossa with dysplasia of the cerebellar tentorium and meningeal sinus and associated juvenile polyposis. Neuroimaging studies disclosed a huge median cystic lesion extending posterosuperiorly over the cerebellum. The cerebellar tentorium was raised to the parietal area; the vermis was normoplastic. Cystography showed no direct communication with the 4th ventricle or subarachnoid space. We discuss the differential diagnosis of median cysts of the posterior fossa and the association of juvenile polyposis.