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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[CT-guided thoracal sympathicolysis for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic thoracal pain syndromes in 6 patients].

UNLABELLED: CT-guided thoracal sympathicolysis for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease and chronic thoracal pain syndromes in 6 patients. PURPOSE: Retrospective evaluation of the safety and effectivity of CT-guided percutaneous thoracal sympathicolysis (CT-TSL) in the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) of the upper limb and chronic thoracal pain syndromes. Comparison of our own experience with literature reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 6/96 and 12/99, 4 patients with PAOD of the upper limb and two with chronic thoracal pain syndromes caused by herpes zoster were treated by unilateral CT-TSL. RESULTS: 18, 21 and 32 months after the intervention 3 out of 4 patients treated for PAOD reported subjective improvements, and one remained unchanged. Two patients treated for pain syndromes showed no long-term benefit of the procedure. There were no serious complications. CONCLUSION: The CT-TSL is an alternative method in the treatment of PAOD in patients who are unsuitable for treatment by revascularization.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Role of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of diseases of the thoracic aorta].

The most frequent diseases of thoracic aorta in the adult population, aneurysms and dissection, can lead to dramatic complications. Therefore in these cases an early and careful diagnosis is required for a correct therapeutic choice. The close distance of the thoracic aorta to the esophagus allows a better visualization by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) compared with the transthoracic approach (TTE). Aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of TEE versus surgical data in patients with suspected aneurysms and/or dissection of the thoracic aorta. Eighteen patients with aortic aneurysm, confirmed at surgery, underwent B-mode, pulsed Doppler and color echocardiographic examination either by TTE or by TEE. TEE was concordant with surgical findings in all the cases of fusiform (8 patients) and saccular (2 patients) aneurysms, visualizing aortic wall thrombosis in 4 patients. Furthermore TEE, diagnosed all the type I (4 patients) and type III (2 patients) dissection, and 1 type II, identifying in all cases the intimal tear and, in 3 patients, the false lumen thrombosis; it demonstrated the presence of severe aortic regurgitation in 3 patients and of mild pericardial effusion in 2 patients. Only in 1 case of type II dissection TEE was not diagnostic because it is not able to visualize completely the aortic arch. In our experience TEE allowed accurate information in patients with aortic aneurysm or dissection. TEE can be considered the first choice diagnostic tool in patients with suspected dissection of the thoracic aorta.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Videothoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracic procedures in the diagnosis and therapy of diseases of the thoracic cavity (experience with 155 procedures)].

Videothoracoscopic procedures and video-assisted thoracic surgery (V.A.T.S.) are up-to-date procedures in thoracic surgery. The authors evaluated results from 155 cases. They reviewed especially indications, complications and results. The most frequent indications were spontaneous pneumothorax, fluidothorax, interstitial lung disease and lung carcinoma. Staging was main procedure in cases of lung carcinoma. Complications were observed in 14 cases (9%). Of these complications 5 developed at the time of surgery (3.2%) and 9 were postoperative (5.8%).

Humans↗
PubMed1998

Thoracoscopy in the horse: diagnostic and therapeutic indications in 28 cases.

Thirty-two thoracoscopies were performed in 28 horses. Sixteen horses were affected with pleuropneumonia whereas 12 were affected with various other thoracic conditions. The indications for thoracoscopy was diagnostic in 19 cases, therapeutic in 11 cases and both diagnostic and therapeutic in 2 cases. Twenty-six thoracoscopies were done standing whereas 6 were performed under general anaesthesia. The specific procedures performed during thoracoscopy were exploratory only (7), biopsy of the lung and lymph nodes (10), drain placement into pleural effusions (2) and abscesses (5), exploration prior to thoracotomy (2), transection of pleural adhesions and decortication (1) and window pericardectomy (2). Diaphragmatic hernia repair (2) and partial pneumonectomy (1) were initiated thoracoscopically but conversion to thoracotomy was necessary for completion. Standing thoracoscopy was well tolerated in most horses. Transient exacerbation of pulmonary compromise evidenced by tachypnoea was readily alleviated by reinflation of the lung. Standing thoracoscopy provided good visualisation of the dorsal and lateral structures of the thorax. The ventral thoracic structures and the cranial ventral diaphragmatic surfaces of the lungs were best visualised in dorsal or lateral recumbency under general anaesthesia. Thoracoscopy is a safe and useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in horses with thoracic diseases.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1976

[Palliative surgery in upper thoracic venous obstructions].

33 patients (4.6%) of 711 surgical patients with thoracic disease had symptoms of upper thoracic venous obstructions. Histological differentiations proved the majority of tumors to be malignant. New successes in oncology-treatments of these tumors made early histological diagnosis mandatory. Our results lead to mediastinoscopies in these patients, although literature considered the risk of mediastinoscopy in upper thoracic venous obstructions as to high. We found no major complications in this group of patients and would like to emphasize the need of early histological diagnosis through mediastinoscopy in upper thoracic venous obstructions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lymphatic drainage, CTV and molecular imaging in non-small cell lung cancer.

Prognosis for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who have locally advanced unresectable disease is poor for persistent thoracic disease and development of distant metastasis. In view of the poor rate of local control following conventional radiation therapy, there is a great need for methods to improve its efficacy. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) is a high precision radiotherapy able to deliver higher doses with smaller doses to the surrounding normal tissues. However, the real problem is: "what do I want to treat?" This question is addressed based on the clinical and biological target volume definition. Selection of the CTV is therefore basically the clinical compromise between the most radical possible CTV and the critical normal tissue tolerance. The clinical target volume includes the GTV plus a margin to encompass subclinical or microscopic malignant disease immediately adjacent to it. Standard radiation therapy consists of a dose of 40 Gy to the entire mediastinum, supraclavicular fossa, and ipsilateral hilum, even if there is no evidence of disease in these areas. Despite the high risk of nodal spread in lung cancer, the benefit of additional elective nodal irradiation (ENI) is not proven while it seems to significantly increase the rate of radiation morbidity. Several studies have been published where ENI was systematically omitted. The main arguments for omitting ENI and the principal clinical experiences, are discussed.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed1968

Evaluation of the forced oscillation technique for the determination of resistance to breathing.

Total respiratory resistance (R(T)) was measured by the application of a sine wave of airflow to the mouth at the resonant frequency of the respiratory system. The mean respiratory resistance of 42 normal subjects, measured at a mean functional residual capacity of 3.3 liters, was 2.3, SD +/- 0.5, cm H(2)O/liter per sec, and the resonant frequency was between 5 and 8 cycle/sec. The airway resistance measured in these same subjects with the body plethysmograph at a mean panting thoracic gas volume of 3.5 liters was 1.3, SD +/- 0.3, cm H(2)O/liter per sec. Total respiratory resistance was found to vary inversely with lung volume (V) measured plethysmographically; prediction formulae for normal subjects based on this relationship are: R(T) (mean) = 7.1/V, R(T) (range) = 4.0/V to 11.6/V where V is in liters and R(T) is in cm H(2)O/liter per sec. When these criteria were applied to subjects with thoracic disease the following results were obtained: 17 subjects with obstructive lung disease all had elevated total respiratory resistance; 9 subjects with diffuse lung disease without airway obstruction all had normal respiratory resistance; all but 1 of 5 obese subjects and all but 2 of a heterogeneous group of 9 subjects without airway obstruction had normal respiratory resistance. Failure to take lung volume into account resulted in a considerable decrease in the ability to discriminate between obstructive and nonobstructive lung disease on the basis of the forced oscillation test. The resonant frequency of the respiratory system of patients with obesity or nonobstructive lung disease was similar to that obtained in the normal group; accurate evaluation of resonant frequency in subjects with obstructive lung disease was frequently not possible. The combined resistances of lung, thoracic wall and abdominal tissues were found to account for less than 43% of the total respiratory resistance in normal subjects and were only slightly increased by the presence of obesity, restrictive diseases of the thoracic wall, and hyperinflation of the thorax. The forced oscillation method is potentially of value in the study of resistance to breathing of patients who cannot undergo body plethysmography, such as acutely ill, anesthetized, or unconscious subjects. Accurate evaluation of R(T) requires an independent measure of lung volume as well as careful attention during measurements to the airflow rate, phase of respiration, and the adequacy of cheek compression and laryngeal relaxation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Thoracic sonography in infancy and childhood].

Thoracic sonography has become an established imaging tool for evaluating specific paediatric thoracic diseases; particularly queries such as thymomegaly, pleural effusion, pulmonal sequester or thoracic small part pathology may be reliably addressed. Using appropriate ultrasound equipment the well trained and experienced investigator may diagnose these conditions without the need for a radiating imaging modality or help to evaluate equivocal findings on chest plain films. The important requisites as well as the established disease entities that pose an indication for thoracic ultrasound are listed and described. The restrictions and setbacks are discussed, and an algorithm for additional imaging and typical scenarios is supposed in order to help and encourage the meaningful and efficient use of this non-ionising, easy applicable imaging tool to chest queries. In conclusion, this review tries to give an overview of the restrictions and indications for thoracic sonography in neonates, infants and children as a useful imaging tool when indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: experience with 341 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Until recently, thoracoscopy had been used primarily for diagnostic purposes for more than 80 years in thoracic diseases. In this report we reviewed our video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery experience with 341 cases focusing on indications, operative procedures, complications or failure rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over the last 3 years, we performed 459 video-assisted thoracoscopic procedures. There were 206 male and 135 female patients. RESULTS: The indications were diagnostic in 171 cases, and therapeutic in 170 cases. There were no operative mortality. Non-fatal complications were seen in 15 cases (4.4%). The mean postoperative stay was 5 days. The specific procedures performed were operations on the pleura (237 cases), lung (158 cases), mediastinum (56 cases) and pericardium (four cases). Conversion to thoracotomy was needed in 43 cases (12.6%). Definitive diagnosis was obtained in 100% of patients with pulmonary nodule/mass or diffuse lung disease, and 95.2% of patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions. The success rate of thoracoscopic approach in non-tuberculous thoracic empyema was 87.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is an ideal procedure in the following situations: (1) undiagnosed pleural effusion, (2) recurrent pneumothorax or bullous lung disease, (3) stage II thoracic empyema, (4) lung cancer staging, (5) peripheral pulmonary nodule, and (6) wedge biopsy for diffuse lung disease.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1986

Diseases of the thorax.

Diagnostic ultrasound is an important adjunct to existing methods in the diagnosis of thoracic disease in the horse. This article discusses scanning techniques, anatomy of the thoracic cavity, and how diagnosis of pleural effusion, pulmonary abscessation, pneumothorax, and vegetative endocarditis may be facilitated by ultrasound.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Radiographic manifestations of AIDS related lymphoma in the thorax.

Intrathoracic disease in AIDS-related lymphoma (ARL) produces a range of radiographic appearances. This study aimed to determine the frequency, distribution and characteristics of these appearances. The case notes and findings on imaging of 116 consecutive cases of ARL were reviewed retrospectively. In 52 cases there were abnormalities present on chest imaging (chest radiography or chest CT scanning). In 20 patients abnormalities were judged to be due to lymphomatous involvement and in 15 cases the thorax was the major site of disease. Correlation with biopsy results from thoracic disease (9), other disease (5), or evidence of response to treatment (6) was made. The most frequent imaging findings were pleural or intrapulmonary masses (7), frequently peripheral and sometimes with cavitation. In one case this simulated mycetoma formation. Pleural effusions and mediastinal lymph nodes were also frequently present, either alone or in combination. AIDS-related lymphoma uncommonly involves the chest as a major site of disease. A pleural or intrapulmonary mass with cavitation may represent the only site of disease and in these cases CT guided biopsy is likely to provide the histological diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Mass radiography. The "pros and cons" of a classic method of preventive medicine (author's transl)].

The relation of expense to benefit of mass radiography (RRU) can no longer be referred to the tuberculosis discovery rate. Far more frequently other thoracic diseases are detected, e.g. tumors, cardiovascular diseases, pneumoconiosis, sarcoidosis, etc. The prerequisite and therefore the immediate objective is the limitation to the defined and detectable group of risks so as to increase the detection rate. In combination with other prophylactic investigations the benefit of RRU can still be increased -- it provides a valuable insight into the epidemiology of different social diseases.

Heart Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Endothoracic localization of the Von Recklinghausen disease. A case report].

OBJECTIVE: A case of a 45 years old man affected by the Von Recklinghausen disease with a rare neurofibroma of the thoracic wall is reported. MATERIALS: Starting from 2000 the Authors are using the V.A.T.S. (video assisted thoracic surgery) in their Department of surgery, as minimally invasive approach to diagnosis and treatment of some thoracic diseases: initially the patient was studied by a standard chest x-ray followed by tomography and magnetic resonance to determine the localization of the neoplasm of the chest wall. RESULTS: The neurofibroma was removed by V.A.T.S., through a minimal thoracic access. After treatment we observed the complete remission of symptoms. DISCUSSION: Single localization of the neurofibroma in the Von Recklinghausen disease can transform into a malignant neoplasm. The indication to surgery, in the case presented, was determined by the intense thoracic pain and by the risk of malignant degeneration. The minimally invasive approach showed to be the best option according to the dimensions of the neurofibroma. In the actual literature this approach represents the gold standard in the treatment of small intrathoracic neoplasm. CONCLUSION: In the chest wall localization of the Von Recklinghausen disease the Authors recommend the minimal surgical treatment by using V.A.T.S.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thoracic imaging features of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to determine the thoracic manifestations of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs). METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records and thoracic imaging studies of 88 patients (63 women, 25 men; mean age 47 years) with APAs to determine the spectrum of thoracic disease. RESULTS: Nine patients (10%) had thoracic abnormalities, including eight with pulmonary embolism (PE) and one with aortic thrombus. One patient with PE had subclavian vein thrombosis. Coexistent thromboses included deep venous thrombosis of the leg in six patients. CONCLUSION: PE was the most common thoracic abnormality in our patients. The presence of these antibodies should be suspected in patients with PE of otherwise unexplained etiology.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Analysis of equine thoracic fluid.

Eighteen clinically normal horses were used to study the characteristics of normal thoracic fluid. Thoracic fluid was obtained from each horse and was found to be similar to equine abdominal fluid. Total leukocytes averaged 3994/ul, total protein 1.8 g/dl, and specific gravity 1.015. Analysis of thoracic fluid from 16 horses with clinical signs of thoracic disease showed abnormalities in every case. Thoracic fluid analysis alone determined a specific diagnosis in 50% of the cases.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in spinal fluid of chronic spinal disease.

We studied total nitric oxide (nitrite + nitrate) (NO) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of chronic spinal diseases in nonsmokers (133 patients: 76 men and 57 women; mean age, 63 years; range, 15-92 years) by the Griess method to clarify the role of NO in different spinal diseases. The extent of compression in terms of numbers of disc level at the compressed spinal nerve and neurological evaluation were also assessed according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores. The spinal diseases included cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy (cervical disease group), ossification of yellow ligament (thoracic disease group), and lumbar disc herniation, lumbar canal stenosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis (lumbar disease group). NO levels in the spinal disease groups (4.98+/-2.28 micromol/l: mean +/- SD) were significantly higher than that in the control group (2.53+/-0.94 micromol/l). An inverse correlation was detected between the elevated levels of NO and the grade of clinical symptoms in the cervical disorders. The number of disc level at the compressed spinal nerve was positively correlated with elevated NO levels in CSF in the cervical and lumbar disorder groups. These results indicate that nerve compression may elevate NO levels in CSF, and that NO concentration in the CSF might be a useful marker of damage to nervous system in spinal disorders.

Adolescent↗