September 2021 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A 45­-Year-Old Woman with Multiple Lung Cysts

No abstract available. Article truncated after the first 150 words. History of Present Illness A 45-year-old woman presented with increasing dyspnea on exertion and a history of recurrent pneumothoraces. In March 2018 she had laparoscopic ovarian cyst removal and noted some subsequent shortness of breath. In August 2018 she developed a right pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. In September 2018 she had recurrent right pneumothorax and had video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with a right pleurodesis. The operative note from the outside VATS indicates a RUL bleb was removed and a wedge biopsy was done from posterior segment of the RUL. Pathology from the wedge biopsy reported “minimal emphysematous disease without other diagnostic abnormality”. She continued to be short of breath after the operation. PMH, SH, and FH • In 1975 she reportedly had pulmonary tuberculosis. • In 2018 the pneumothoraces, pleurodesis and the right ovarian cyst resection noted above. She is a never smoker and has no family history…

Retrospective review of two-port thoracoscopic (VATS) wedge bullectomy and lung wedge biopsy

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) involving wedge resection of bulla and lung biopsy can be done by two or three-port incisions. Controversy exists as to which approach is superior. We communicate our experience with two-port VATS for these procedures. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the charts of all patients who underwent a VATS procedure by two-port incisions from July 2001 to July 2007 by two thoracic surgeons (S.C., S.C.) We included in the study all patients who underwent wedge resections for primary or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and biopsies for pulmonary infiltrates and small nodules. Results: A total of 319 patients’ charts were examined, and 217 of whom had undergone two-port incisions fitted in the inclusion criteria. There were 136 (65.7%) males and 81 (37.3%) females with a mean age of 47 years. Pneumothorax was the main diagnosis for 98 (45%) patients, followed by pulmonary infiltrates for 69 (32%) patients and lung nodules for 50 (23%) patients. The mean operative time and the number of post-op days for chest tube removal and to discharge home in each group have also been recorded. There were few post-operative complications, such as 11 (5%) cases of persistent air leak, 11 (5%) cases of transient fever of unknown origin, 3 (1.4%) cases of pneumonia, 3 (1.4%) cases of bleeding within, one reoperated, and 1 (0.46%) case of C. difficile colitis. The 30-day mortality was 0%. Conclusion: The thoracoscopic (VATS) wedge biopsy via two-port incisions is a safe operation for patients presenting with pneumothorax or requiring a lung biopsy. A two-port approach seems to be a reasonable alternative to three-port incision procedures for these types of diagnosis, regarding post-operative pain and cosmetic benefits particularly for young patients.

Eccrine porocarcinoma from the abdominal wall in an elderly female: a case report

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignancy arising from the sweat gland. It is commonly seen in elderly female patients. There is no characteristic appearance for this malignancy and so making a clinical diagnosis is difficult. The diagnosis is confirmed by histopathological examination (HPE). Authors present a case of a 53-year-old female who presented with an ulceroproliferative lesion on the left side of the abdominal wall. After the lesion was radiologically ascertained to be localized and having a diagnosis of porocarcinoma from wedge biopsy, a wide local excision was done. The HPE confirmed the diagnosis of EPC.

Recurrent leiomyoma of the vulva mimicking peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Leiomyoma, a benign monoclonal tumour, is very rarely found in extrauterine sites, especially in the vulval region. Histopathology of the soft tissue tumours affecting this region is similar and immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be essential to confirm the diagnosis. We report a case of a 63-year-old postmenopausal woman who presented with a recurrent vulval mass involving the clitoris and left labia majora with suspected urethral involvement. Although the wedge biopsy was reported as peripheral nerve sheath tumour, staining with smooth muscle actin clinched the diagnosis of leiomyoma, highlighting the importance of IHC for diagnosis.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and interstitial pneumonitis: a case report of the west of Iran

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. Herein, a 20-year-old lady referred to the hospital with a dry cough for two years. The chest X-ray findings were bilateral reticulonodular opacities in both lungs and honeycomb appearance suspicious for miliary tuberculosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A wedge biopsy of lung showed that there were several intraalveolar laminated concretions in the pathology report compatible with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis and interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils compatible with interstitial pneumonitis. PAM is a rare progressive disease with the production of microliths in pulmonary alveoli. The pathologist, radiologist, and clinician should be familiar with this entity for diagnosis and appropriate management. The family of the patient especially siblings must be evaluated for earlier diagnosis.

Malignant nodular hidradenoma-inguinal region clinically masquerading as squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

Malignant Nodular hidradenoma is an extremely rare aggressive tumour originating from eccrine sweat glands with an incidence of <.001%. So far less than 80 cases have been reported in the literature. It’s known for its local recurrence (50%) and metastasis (60%) and hence early diagnosis and radical treatment is mandatory. But differentiating it from its benign counterparts and other skin tumour mimics is challenging, due to its histopathological similarity & lack of diagnostic immunomarkers. Authors report a case of 65-year-old female who presented with a short 4-month history of rapidly growing ulceroproliferative growth in the right inguinal region with bilateral inguinal node enlargement, associated with pain and discharge. Wedge biopsy of left inguinal lymph node showed malignant cutaneous adnexal tumour deposits, which after excision was typed as malignant nodular hidradenoma. It was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Patient presented with recurrence 8 months after excision.

Spontaneous cholecystocutaneous fistula: empirically treated for a missed diagnosis, managed by laparoscopy

A 70-year-old woman was referred to our hospital from primary health centre with complaints of pain in the abdomen, swelling and discharging sinus in the right hypochondrium since 2 years. She had received anti-tubercular treatment for 18 months as the wedge biopsy of the sinus tract suggested granulomatous lesion. As the symptoms did not subside she was referred to our hospital. Her blood investigation reports at our hospital were normal. Ultrasound of the abdomen suggested cholelithiasis with normal common bile duct. CT fistulogram findings were diagnostic of cholecystocutaneous fistula (CCCF). She underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and excision of the sinus tract. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Indiscriminate usage of anti-tubercular drugs should be discouraged and possibility of CCCF should be considered in patients presenting with discharging sinus in the anterior abdominal wall. CT fistulogram is helpful in making diagnosis of CCCF. Cholecystectomy with excision of the sinus tract is the treatment of choice.