Giant intrathoracic teratoma presenting with cachexia and severe dyspnea

Background: This case highlights the challenges of preoperative differential diagnosis and management in a patient with an uncommon clinical presentation of giant intrathoracic teratoma. The age of the patient, location and size of the tumor, and clinical presentation makes this case unique. Typically, intrathoracic teratomas are found between the ages of 20-30, they are located in the anterior mediastinum, and tumors larger than 25 cm clinically present with cough or dysphagia. Case presentation: A giant intrathoracic teratoma presents in a 51-year-old female as a mid to posterior mediastinal mass compressing the whole left lung with symptoms of depression, anorexia, unintentional weight loss, and cachexia. Due to her severe deconditioning she was optimized for 1 month in a skilled nursing facility with aggressive physical therapy and enteral nutrition. She underwent left thoracotomy with complete resection of the tumor. In follow up her BMI had improved, and she was regaining strength. Conclusions: Complete resection was achieved via left thoracotomy after aggressive rehabilitation.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

EACTS/ESCVS best practice guidelines for reporting treatment results in the thoracic aorta

Endovascular treatment of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) is rapidly expanding, with new devices and techniques, combined with classical surgical approaches in hybrid procedures. The present guidelines provide a standard format for reporting results of treatment in the thoracic aorta, and to facilitate analysis of clinical results in various therapeutic approaches. These guidelines specify the essential information and definitions, which should be provided in each article about TEVAR: Definitions of disease conditions Extent of the disease Comorbidities Exact demographics of the patient material Description of the procedure performed Devices which were utilized Methods for reporting early and late mortality, and morbidity Reinterventions and additional procedures Statistical evaluation It is hoped that strict adherence to these criteria will make the future publications about TEVAR more comparable, and will enable the readership to draw their own, scientifically validated conclusions about the report

EACTS/ESCVS best practice guidelines for reporting treatment results in the thoracic aorta

Endovascular treatment of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) is rapidly expanding, with new devices and techniques, combined with classical surgical approaches in hybrid procedures. The present guidelines provide a standard format for reporting results of treatment in the thoracic aorta, and to facilitate analysis of clinical results in various therapeutic approaches. These guidelines specify the essential information and definitions, which should be provided in each article about TEVAR: It is hoped that strict adherence to these criteria will make the future publications about TEVAR more comparable, and will enable the readership to draw their own, scientifically validated conclusions about the reports

Bronchoalveolar lavage in lung transplantation

One of the dilemmas in the management of lung allotransplant recipients is our inability to precisely determine the cause of graft dysfunction. Differentiating between lung allograft infection, rejection, atelectasis, or ischemic injury remains a difficult task. Tests directed at identifying systemic abnormalities such as peripheral blood analysis so far have been nonspecific and unlikely to accurately and promptly represent changes occurring within the lungs. Transbronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage have emerged as two methods with the most potential for aiding in the establishment of diagnosis. This review attempts to provide the readers with a current knowledge of the cellular events in lung aliograf t and the status of bronchoalveolar lavage in experimental and clinical lung transplantation