Scandinavian journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1982
Comparative StudyThe postoperative prognosis of primary pulmonary sarcomas. A review with a comparison between the histological forms and the other primary endothoracal sarcomas based on 474 cases.
On the basis of 41 personally observed cases from 1957 to 1974 and 435 case reports in the literature from 1957 to 1972, a scale of malignancy of the histological forms of primary pulmonary sarcomas is presented. A fairly continuous rise in the rate of malignancy according to the differentiation of the tissues can be convincingly recognized. The more mature a pulmonary sarcoma is, the better is the postoperative prognosis. ⋯ At the same time it is shown that the postoperative prognosis of endothoracal sarcomas is determined not only by their histological structure, but also by their localization in the lungs, mediastinum, or chest wall. Forty-one primary pulmonary sarcomas were compared with 22 sarcomas of the mediastinum and 17 sarcomas of the chest wall. Due to their long period of development, with rare symptoms and late diagnosis, sarcomas of the lungs and the mediastinum have a similar postoperative prognosis, in contrast to the endothoracal sarcomas of the chest wall which have a clearly more favourable prognosis.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1982
Surgical treatment of acute superior vena caval syndrome. A report of two cases.
The syndrome caused by the acute obstruction of the superior vena cava with central nervous system symptoms as well as with symptoms related to the oedema of the upper respiratory tract is often very severe and fatal to the patient. Conservative treatment is usually of no help, and consequently the palliative reconstruction of the superior vena cava may be indicated. Two cases of acute superior vena caval syndrome with reconstruction of the superior vena cava are presented. ⋯ In the second case the obstruction of the superior vena cava was caused by anaplastic carcinoma of the upper lobe of the right lung. The acutely obstructed superior vena cava was reconstructed with a Dacron prosthesis. 9 months postoperatively the superior vena caval syndrome recurred and two months later the patient died of lung cancer. In both cases good palliation of the obstruction of the superior vena cava was obtained.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1982
Comparative StudyClosed pleural biopsy and fluid cytology in the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement.
In a retrospective study of 44 cases of suspected primary pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement, the diagnostic value of pleural biopsy a.m. Abrams was evaluated. ⋯ Among the patients under study, closed pleural biopsy combined with pleural fluid cytology proved malignancy in 96% of the cases in which neoplastic disease of the lungs and pleura was otherwise diagnosed. These findings indicate the value of using both fluid cytology and closed pleural biopsy at an early stage of the diagnostic procedure in cases of suspected pulmonary cancer with pleural involvement.
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Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Jan 1982
Case ReportsPancoast's syndrome following an intrapleural rupture of a hepatic echinococcus cyst.
A case of Pancoast's syndrome due to a hydatid cyst is described. The cyst developed secondarily, after intrapleural rupture of an echinococcus cyst situated in the liver. The patient was operated and the cyst excised. ⋯ The Horner's syndrome needed longer to subside. Three years after the operation there is still some constriction of the pupil of the right eye. The development of Pancoast's syndrome due to hydatid disease is very rare and this case--caused by a secondary cyst after intrapleural rupture of a similar hepatic echinococcus cyst--is the first described in the literature.