An Unusual Presentation of Hydatid Disease in a Child: A Case Report

The subcutaneous localization of the hydatid cyst in the abdominal wall is rarely encountered particularly in the pediatric population and is sometimes difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Here, we report the case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with two isolated episodes of low abundant hemoptysis and in whom a mass on the right lumbar region already considered as a lipoma was studied. Laboratory and radiological examinations were requested and the parietal cyst was surgically managed. The macroscopic and the pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of the hydatid disease and helped in identifying the nature of the thoracic lesion that disappeared spontaneously after two episodes of hydatid vomiting. Hydatid cyst should be considered as a diagnosis for any masses of the abdominal wall. Moreover, biopsy and partial resection of the mass must be avoided.

Effects of Inactivated Mycobacterium bovis Vaccination on Molokai-Origin Wild Pigs Experimentally Infected with Virulent M. bovis

The wild pig population on Molokai, Hawaii, USA is a possible reservoir for bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, and has been implicated in decades past as the source of disease for the island’s domestic cattle. Heat-inactivated vaccines have been effective for reducing disease prevalence in wild boar in Spain and could prove useful for managing M. bovis in Molokai wild pigs. We designed an experiment to test this vaccine in wild pigs of Molokai genetics. Fifteen 3–4-month-old pigs were orally administered 106–107 colony forming units (cfu) of heat-inactivated M. bovis (Vaccinates; n = 8; 0.2 mL) or phosphate buffered saline (Controls; n = 7; 0.2 mL). Each dose was administered in a 0.5 mL tube embedded in a fruit candy/cracked corn mix. Boosters were given seven weeks post-prime in the same manner and dose. Nineteen weeks post-prime, pigs were orally challenged with 1 × 106 cfu of virulent M. bovis. Twelve weeks post-challenge, pigs were euthanized and necropsied, at which time 23 different tissues from the head, thorax, and abdomen were collected and examined. Each tissue was assigned a lesion score. Ordinal lesion score data were analyzed using non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d. Four of eight Vaccinates and four of seven Controls had gross and microscopic lesions, as well as culture-positive tissues. Vaccinates had statistically lower lesion scores than Controls in the following areas: gross thoracic lesion scores (p = 0.013 Cohen’s d = 0.33) and microscopic thoracic lesion scores (p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.39). There were no differences in head lesion scores alone, both gross and microscopic, nor were there differences when comparing combined gross and microscopic head and thoracic lesion scores. These results are indicative that this vaccination protocol affords a modest degree of infection containment with this vaccine in Molokai wild pigs.

Contribution of videothoracoscopy in the management of thoracic wounds with diaphragmatic lesions: A single African center experience

Background and aims The management of thoracic wounds induced by sharp objects outside an extreme emergency remains controversial. The means vary from exploratory thoracotomy to simple monitoring. Between these two extremes, videothoracoscopy as a means of exploration plays an important role and helps to avoid unnecessary thoracotomies, thus making it possible to make early diagnosis of diaphragmatic lesions. The aim of this study was to report our experience in videothoracoscopic management of thoracic wounds by penetrating objects. Material and methods From January 2010 to December 2015, 58 patients with an average age 22.5 years with a thoracic stab wound with a stable hemodynamic condition underwent videothoracoscopy. Results Thoracoscopy revealed a diaphragmatic injury in 17 patients, cardiac or pericardial wounds in four and a haemorrhagic pulmonary injury in 1; all were treated at video-assisted mini-thoracotomy. In the other 36 patients, videothoracoscopic exploration did not demonstrate any intra-thoracic lesion and the procedure consisted of aspiration of a residual hemothorax with the installation of a good view-controlled thoracic drainage. Hospital stay was between 48 and 72 h. Conclusion Videothoracoscopy is a safe and effective way to explore the thoracic cavity in patients with chest wounds with suspected diaphragmatic lesions. It avoids thoracotomy especially in hemodynamically stable patients.

Cystic Nephroma with Pleuropulmonary Blastoma: A Rare Dual Pathology

Cystic nephroma (CN) belongs to a heterogeneous group of renal cystic tumors while pleuropulmonary blastoma is an uncommon pediatric lung neoplasm, believed to be originating either from lung tissue itself or from the pleura. Synchronous development of pleuropulmonary blastoma following cystic nephroma is a rare entity in pediatric patients. The etiology and pathogenesis of this dual pathology is still unknown. We report a case of a child who presented with an abdominal mass diagnosed as cystic nephroma on surgical resection, who later developed a thoracic lesion which was subsequently diagnosed as pleuropulmonary blastoma.

Upper Thoracic Disc Disease (T1–T9) in Large-Breed Dogs

The purpose of this study was to identify large-breed dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in the upper thoracic region (thoracic vertebrae 1–9 [T1–T9]). Medical records of all dogs that were diagnosed with IVDD on MRI between February 2008 and September 2011 were reviewed. Of 723 dogs diagnosed with IVDD based on MRI, 527 (72.9%) were small-breed dogs. There were 21 (10.7%) large-breed dogs with IVDD in the T1–T9 region, whereas no small-breed dogs were identified with lesions in that region. The most common upper thoracic lesion sites were T2–T3 (33.3%) and T4–T5 (25.9%). The majority of dogs with T1–T9 lesions were German shepherd dogs (52.4%). Larger, older dogs were more likely to have T1–T9 lesions and more likely to have multiple regions with IVDD, in particular German shepherd dogs (35.1%). Dogs with T1–T9 IVDD were more likely to have IVDD in another region (66.7%). All large-breed dogs presenting with T3–L3 myelopathy should have diagnostic imaging performed of their entire thoracic and lumbar spine.