1/14. Bilateral elastofibroma dorsi: proper positioning for an accurate diagnosis.Elastofibroma dorsi is a rare, slow-growing, ill-defined soft tissue tumor of the chest wall, most commonly located beneath the rhomboid major and latissimus dorsi muscles. It is usually unilateral, and bilateral involvement occurs in only 10% of patients. We report herein a case of a 56-year-old woman with bilateral elastofibroma dorsi. The patient was found to have bilateral involvement of the tumor following a physical examination with proper positioning. An elastofibroma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors deeply located at the periscapular area. Meticulous physical examination may reveal a nonpalpable coexisting tumor with deep subscapular location and help the accurate diagnosis of bilateral elastofibroma dorsi, hence preventing a secondary operation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/14. Desmoid tumor: a case of mistaken identity.Desmoid tumors are rare tumors accounting for only 0.03% of all neoplasms. Mainly occurring in the fourth and fifth decades of life, these tumors originate in musculoaponeurotic tissues of the limbs, neck, trunk, abdominal wall, and mesentery. We present a rare case of a chest wall desmoid tumor that was mistaken for breast cancer on both physical examination and mammography, which highlights the unique risk these tumors present for confusion with other malignant processes. Although past literature contains numerous reports of other misdiagnoses, this case is unique in reporting the potential for misdiagnosis between chest wall desmoid tumors and breast cancer. In cases where suspicious breast findings do not correlate to usual diagnostic measures, such as fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy, the possibility of another pathology such as a chest wall desmoid tumor mimicking breast cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/14. Aspiration cytology of lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's lymphoma in a man infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. A case report.We describe the case of a 39-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive man who was noted to have a chest wall mass on physical examination. Fine needle aspiration of the mass showed atypical spindle cells. Excisional biopsy of the mass revealed Hodgkin's lymphoma with areas of lymphocyte depletion consisting of a proliferation of myofibroblastic cells. The myofibroblastic, lymphocyte-depleted areas in the Hodgkin's lymphoma mass corresponded to the spindle cells seen in the aspirate. While the presence of spindle cells in aspirates of masses in hiv-positive patients usually suggests Kaposi's sarcoma, other entities, including lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's lymphoma, should be considered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/14. Thoracic neuroblastoma presenting as a cystic hygroma.A case of thoracic neuroblastoma with extension into the supraclavicular fossa is described. By physical examination and ultrasound the patient was thought to have a cystic hygroma with mediastinal extension. A 'cystic' neck mass may be the initial presentation of a mediastinal neuroblastoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/14. Pseudotumor of the supraclavicular fossa.Minor musculoskeletal variants of the upper thoracic spine or of the ribs can cause effacement of the supraclavicular fossa, simulating a mass ("pseudotumor"). These variants may occur singly or in combination, and include unilateral prominence or asymmetry of the first rib, unilateral prominence or asymmetry of a cervical rib, and mild upper thoracic scoliosis causing prominence of the first rib on one side. The detection of variants by physical examination or more easily by review of the chest x-ray film may in selected instances obviate the need for costly diagnostic procedures and unnecessary biopsies. We call attention to this condition and describe our experience with four patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/14. Localized sarcoma of the chest wall.This 9-year-old white male suffered mild trauma to the left side of the chest on two occasions in April 1981, and then developed a low-grade fever. A chest x-ray film showed pneumonia. He was then given oral ampicillin for 2 weeks, and the fever and left chest pain resolved. Repeat chest radiograph one month later showed a persistent density, and a bone scan revealed increased uptake in the left fifth rib. osteomyelitis was diagnosed, and intravenous antibiotics were administered. In June 1981, the density had become larger on radiographic examinations, and a left chest wall mass was noted for the first time. He was referred to the Children's Hospital of philadelphia, with the suspected diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma of the left fifth rib. On arrival at the Children's Hospital of philadelphia on June 13, 1981, the physical examination was unremarkable except for a 1 X 2-cm mass overlying the fifth rib anterolaterally. Dr Hugh Watts of the Division of Orthopedic Surgery reviewed the radiographs and bone scan and felt that the appearance was not consistent with primary Ewing's sarcoma of the rib. The boy was then taken to surgery by Dr. Moritz Ziegler on June 23, 1981, at which time biopsy of the lesion was accomplished. The tumor had by then grown to a size of 3 X 5 cm.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/14. Lesions of the thoracic aorta and its arch branches simulating neoplasm.Abnormal radiographic densities in the midportion of the chest are most commonly caused by neoplasms, cysts, or inflammatory disease. However, vascular lesions may present an identical x-ray appearance, with no distinguishing clinical history or physical findings. The cardiothoracic surgeon must be aware of this similarity in order to ensure the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. In our experience, the most frequent problem in differential diagnosis is a lesion of the thoracic aorta or its arch branches simulating neoplasm. Nine such cases are presented, with pertinent conventional radiographs angiograms, and computed tomographic (CT) scans. These are considered in anatomic sequence: (1) ruptured sinus of valsalva aneurysm; (2) ascending aortic aneurysm; (3) tortuosity or aneurysm of the innominate and subclavian arteries; (4) transverse arch aneurysm; (5) pseudocoarctation; and (6) descending aortic aneurysm. Such vascular lesions must be considered early in the evaluation of any juxta-aortic chest density, particularly if the patient is hypertensive and has other manifestations of atherosclerosis. angiography and computed tomography establish the diagnosis in most instances, although both are less reliable when thrombus fills all or part of an aneurysm. If these methods fail to establish a vascular origin, the possibility of neoplasm is pursued. When neither a vascular nor neoplastic origin can be proved, surgical exploration is indicated in the otherwise good-risk patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.035345990331653keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/14. sweat gland carcinoma with metastases to the skin: response to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.A 68-year-old white man presented to the inpatient service at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital with a chief complaint of a progressively enlarging tumor of the right infraorbital region for many years and multiple, pink papulonodules on his head, neck, and trunk. A biopsy specimen of the right infraorbital and back lesions demonstrated an infiltrating adenocarcinoma with prominent signet ring cells, and small lumen formation. Results of an extensive work-up revealed bone marrow metastases and no evidence of a primary malignancy. We present a case of primary sweat gland carcinoma with metastases to the skin based upon history, clinical presentation, results of physical examination, histopathologic examination, immunohistochemical studies, and response to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Due to the rarity of the tumor, the diagnosis is usually not made until the tumor(s) is invasive. An excellent response to systemic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in metastatic sweat gland carcinoma was noted in this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/14. Radical forequarter amputation with hemithoracectomy and free extended forearm flap: technical and physiologic considerations.BACKGROUND: A radical forequarter amputation with partial chest wall resection (one to four ribs) has been reported for benign and malignant lesions involving the shoulder and chest wall region. Concerns about reconstruction and postoperative pulmonary function have previously limited more extensive chest wall resections. The current report describes the first case in which a complete unilateral anterior and posterior chest wall resection and pneumonectomy (hemithoracectomy) accompany a forequarter amputation. A novel reconstructive technique used the full circumference of the forearm tissue with an intact ulna as a free osseomyocutaneous flap. methods: In this case, a 21-year-old patient presented with an extensive recurrent desmoid tumor that involved the shoulder, brachial plexus, subclavian vein, and chest wall from the lateral sternal border to the midportion of the scapula and down to the eighth rib. The operative technique involved removal of the entire right hemithorax from the midline sternum to the transverse process posteriorly, down to the ninth rib inferiorly. Due to the absence of a rigid hemithorax, the uninvolved ipsilateral lung was also removed. The forearm flap was prepared before final separation of the specimen and division of the subclavian vessels. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the patient maintained excellent oxygenation without atelectasis or fever and was extubated on the 15th postoperative day. As expected after pneumonectomy, significant decreases from preoperative to immediate postoperative values were noted for the vital capacity (VC) (from 4.87 L to 1.29 L), forced 1-s expiratory volume (FEV1) (from 3.77 L to 1.02 L), and inspiratory capacity (IC) (3.33 l to 0.99 l). rehabilitation included a specially designed external prosthesis to provide cosmesis and prevent scoliosis. By the 15th postoperative week the patient had returned to normal social and physical activities, with a gradual improvement in all respiratory parameters: VC 1.52 L, FEV1 1.29 L, IC 1.04 L. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: This report provides evidence that a complete hemithoracectomy, pneumonectomy, and forequarter amputation can be safely performed for selective tumors involving the shoulder region with extensive chest wall invasion. Reconstruction may be achieved with an extended forearm osseomyocutaneous free flap with an excellent functional outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.035345990331653keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/14. Desmoid tumor occurring after reconstruction mammaplasty for breast carcinoma.We present a case of desmoid tumor associated with prior alloplastic breast reconstruction. Wide local excision that includes chest wall resection, if necessary, is the primary treatment of choice. patients with extensive nonresectable or recurrent disease may benefit from radiation therapy. Systemic therapy is a possibility in certain cases, but its toxicity generally precludes its use with this nonmetastatic tumor. Although this is the fourth reported case of desmoid tumor arising after implantation of a silicone prosthesis, we cannot claim a causal relationship. Careful follow-up consisting of yearly physical and mammagraphic examinations may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of locally aggressive desmoid tumors but is not warranted, except in the context of routine screening for breast carcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.035345990331653keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |