• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.767-771
• /
• 1995

The bronchial artery-pulmonary vein malformation should be called the systemic artery-to-pulmonary vein arterioveonus malformation in the lung. Although pulmonary arteriovenous malformation has been well documented in intrapulmonary arteriovenous malformation, the systemic artery-to-pulmonary vein arteriovenous malformation is rare. Most patients with systemic artery-to-pulmonary vein arteriovenous malformation is asymptomatic and the diagnosis of these anomaly may be done by continuous murmur or abnormal chest X-ray on the physical examination. The pathogenesis of this condition is congenital malformation which explains these anastomoses between the pulmonary vein and accessory brachial arteries and acquired malformation which explains development of new blood vessel to supply large enough to cause significant systemic-pulmonary shunts due to inflammation secondary to infection, trauma, or previous surgery. We experienced a case of the bronchial artery-pulmonary vein malformation which was detected on angiography in 20-year-old women whose chief complain is hemoptysis. This massive hemoptysis was controlled by selective brachial artery embolization with Gelfoam and Ivalon particles.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.516-521
• /
• 2003

The Aspergillus species produces metabolic products that play a significant role in the destructive processes in the lung. We experienced a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus niger infection, which contained numerous calcium oxalate crystals in the necrotic lung tissue. A 46-year-old man, who had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, presented with high fever, intermittent hemoptysis and pulmonary infiltrations with a cavity indicated by the chest radiograph. Despite being treated with several antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis regimens, the high fever continued. The sputum cultures yielded A. niger repeatedly, and intravenous amphotericin B was then introduced. The pathological specimen obtained by a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed numerous calcium oxalate crystals in a background of acute inflammatory exudates with no identification of the organism. Intravenous amphotericin B was continued at a total dose of 1600 mg, and at that time he was afebrile, although the intermittent hemoptysis continued. On the $63^{rd}$ hospital day, a massive hemoptysis (about 800 mL) developed, which could not be controlled despite embolizing the left bronchial artery. He died of respiratory failure the next day. It is believed that the oxalic acid produced by A. niger was the main cause of the patient's pulmonary injury and the ensuing massive hemoptysis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2008

Chronic expanding hematoma of the thorax is a specific subtype of the chronic empyema. It presents as a slowly expanding intrathoracic mass which result in dyspnea or recurrent hemoptysis. The symptoms develop months or years after tuberculous pleurisy, trauma or surgery. Usually, it shows three common findings: a giant mass lesion in the thorax, some surrounding calcifications, the absence of signs or symptoms of infection. We report a case of chronic expanding hematoma of the thorax, initially presenting as massive hemoptysis through bronchopleural fistula which resulted in radiologic findings of new air-fluid level within the previous pleural lesion filled with unknown materials.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.65 no.3
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2008

A chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) in the thorax is a rare and specific condition of chronic empyema. CEHs in the thorax are often associated with tuberculosis and/or previous surgical procedures. While the incidental detection of a pleural mass and dyspnea are common clinical manifestations, a few cases present with hemoptysis. We encountered a case of CEH in the thorax. This case is unique in that it developed without a prior history of tuberculosis or surgery and presented with massive hemoptysis accompanied by bronchopleural fistula. We report the third case of CEH in the thorax in Korea with a summary of the clinical characteristics of previous cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.75 no.6
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2013

Endobronchial metastasis of leiomyosarcoma is rare, but it can cause life-threatening complications, such as massive hemoptysis, respiratory failure or even death. The development of new endoscopic modalities allows for effective endobronchial management. We report three patients with endobronchial metastases from advanced leiomyosarcomas which caused bronchial obstruction. The bronchoscopic examinations revealed masses obstructing the left main bronchus in all three patients. After removing the endobronchial tumor via interventional bronchoscopy, there was symptomatic and radiologic improvement. Moreover, the patients were able to undergo additional palliative chemotherapy. Therefore, endobronchial management of endobronchial tumors should be considered in the treatment of endobronchial metastasis, even in patients with advanced malignancies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.763-773
• /
• 1996

Background : Behçet's syndrome is a chronic multisystemic disease affecting many organs such as skin, mucosa, eye, joint, central nervous system and blood vessels. Lung involvement occurs in 5% of Behçet's syndrome and is thought to be due to the pulmonary vasculitis leading to thromboembolism, aneurysm and arteriobronchial fistula. Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's syndrome is a unique clinical feature, differing from other vasculitis affecting the lung and is one of the major causes of death. Therefore, we examined the incidence, the clinical features, the radioloic findings and the clinical courses of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiologic studies of 10 cases of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome diagnosed at Yongdong Severance Hospital and Severance Hospital from 1986 to 1995. We analysed the clinical features, the radiological findings, the treatment modalities and the clinical courses. Results: 1) The incidence of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome was 2%(10/487). The male to female ratio was 8 : 2 and the mean age was 34 years. The presenting symptom was hemoptysis in 5 of 10 cases, and massive hemoptysis was noted in 2 cases. Other pulmonary symptoms were cough(6/10), dyspnea(4/10), and chest pain(2/10). Other manifestations were oral ulcers(10/10), genital ulcers(9/10), skin lesions(7/10), and eye lesions(6/10). 2) The laboratory findings were nonspecific. The posteroanterior views of chest radiographies showed multiple infiltrates(6/10), nodular or mass-like opacities(4/10), or normal findings(2/10). The chest CT scans showed multifocal consolidations(6/8), and aneurysms of the pulmonary aneries(4/8). The pulmonary angiographies were performed in 3 cases, and showed pulmonary artery aneurysms in 2 cases. The ventilation-perfusion scans in 2 cases of normal chest x-ray showed multiple mismatched findings. 3) The patients were treated with combination therapy consisting of corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and colchicine or anticoagulant agents. Surgical resection was performed in one case with a huge aneurysm. 4) We have followed up nine of ten cases. Three cases are well-being with medical therapy, two cases are severely disabled now and four cases died due to massive hemoptysis, massive pulmonary embolism, or sepsis. Conclusion : Pulmonary vasculitis is a main feature of the lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome, causing hemorrhage, aneurysmal formation, and/or thromboemboism. The lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome is uncommon but is one of the most serious prognostic factors of the disease. Therefore, an aggressive diagnostic work-up for early detection and proper treatment are recommended to improve the clinical course and the survival.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.68-76
• /
• 1998

Background: Patients with centrally recurred bronchogenic carcinoma make a complaint of many symptoms like hemoptysis, cough & dyspnea. At these conditions, the goal of treatment is only to relieve their symptoms. High dose rate brachytherapy(HDR-BT) is the palliative treatment modality of centrally located endobronchial tumor regardless of previous external irradiation(XRT) on the same site in symptomatic patients. Methods: We studied the effects of HDR-BT in 26 patients with symptomatic recurrent lung cancer. Patients(male: 24, mean age: 54yrs)were treated with HDR-BT underwent bronchoscopic placement of $^{192}Ir$ HDR after loading unit(Gammamed$^{(T)}$, Germany) to deliver 500cGY intraluminal irradiation at a depth of 1cm every lwk on 3 occasions. Evaluation at base line and 4wks after HDR brachytherapy included chest X-ray, bronchscopy, symptoms (Standadized Scale for dyspnea,cough,hemoptysis), and Karnofsky performance scale. Results: Endobronchial obstruction was improved in 11/26 patients(37%). Atelectasis in chest X-ray was improved in 5/15 patients(33%). Hemoptysis, dyspnea & cough were improved in 5/10 patients (50%), 5/8 patients (62%) & 10/18 patients (56%) respectively. Karnofsky performance status was changed from 76.4 scores in pretreatment to 77.6 scores after treatment. During HDR-BT, massive hemoptysis (2 patients) and pneumothorax(1 patient) were occurred as complications. Conclusion: We concluded that HDR-BT gave additional benefits for the control of symptoms and general performance and endobronchial obstruction & atelectasis. And HDR-BT will be an additional treatment for the recurrent and endobronchial obstructive lung cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.677-684
• /
• 1995

Background: Broncholithiasis is uncommon but clinically important because it may cause a variety of nonspecific symptoms and signs prior to the onset of lithoptysis, and rarely massive hemoptysis. Method: A retrospective clinical study was done on 11 case of broncholithiasis diagnosed at Kyungpook National University Hospital from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1993. The study investigated the clinical features, radiologic findings, bronchoscopic findings and management. Results: 1) The common symptoms included cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, fever and purulent sputum. Lithoptysis occurred in 3 patients. 2) The radiologic findings were variable and nonspecific. Hilar calcification and parenchymal calcification were the most common findings. 3) The bronchoscopy was performed in 10 patients and revealed broncholiths in 9 patients. 4) Chemical composition of broncholiths was analyzed in 2 patients. Calcium carbonate was main component. 5) In 6 out of 9 patients in whom broncholiths was revealed by bronchoscopy, broncholiths were successfully extracted through the flexible bronchoscope. 6) In 9 patients, broncholithiasis was related to tuberculosis and in 1 case, related to silicosis. Conclusion: Broncholithiasis shows a variable clinical spectrum. Tuberculosis is the most common cause of broncholithiasis. In the case of no accompanied complication, nonsurgical management such as bronchoscopic removal and conservative therapy is an effective measure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.1117-1123
• /
• 1988

Prolapse of the aortic valve is the main cause of insufficiency of the aortic valve as a complication of ventricular septal defect. Aortic insufficiency gets worse by the progress of prolapse of aortic valve due to lack of support of the valve and the hemodynamic effect of blood flow through the ventricular septal defect. This produces typical clinical picture, that may be serious and threatening when it is untreated. Type and timing for the surgical treatment of the ventricular septal defect with aortic insufficiency is considered. Among 113 ventricular septal defect, 9 patients of ventricular septal defect with associated aortic insufficiency were experienced from June. 1983 to June 1988 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chon-Buk University Hospital. Male was 6 patients and female was 3 patients. Ages were from 7 years to 24years. 5 patients were from 10 to 19 years age. 3 patients were below 10 years age. The ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic f low [Qp/Qs] was 1.53 and in pulmonary vascular resistance, normal or slight increase was 7 patients, moderate 1 patient, and severe 1 patient. Ventricular septal defect was subpulmonic in 5 patients and infracristal in 4 patients. Prolapse of right coronary cusp was 7 patients, right and non coronary cusp 1 patient and non coronary cusp 1 patient. Teflon patch closure of ventricular septal defect was undertaken in 3 patients and primary closure in 1 patient. Among the 4 patients of defect closure alone, one patient performed valve replacement 7 months later due to progressive regurgitation and cardiac failure and the result was good. The other 3 patients were good result. Closure of ventricular septal defect and aortic valvuloplasty performed in 4 patients. 2 patients of these required valve replacement for the sudden intractable cardiac failure and died due to low cardiac output. The cause of intractable cardiac failure was tearing of repaired valve at the fixed site. The other 2 patients were good result. Closure of ventricular septal defect and valve replacement performed in 1 patient with good result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.473-482
• /
• 1987

The records of 65 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of primary lung cancer who underwent surgical therapy at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of the Keimyung University Hospital were analyzed during the period of 8 years and 4 months, from August, 1978 to December, 1986. The peak incidence was observed in the 5th decade of life and the mean age was 52.9 years old. Male versus female ratio was 8.3:1 Cough was the most frequent presenting symptom, 76.9% then chest discomfort, hemoptysis and dyspnea followed in order. 44.6% of the patient had 2 months of prediagnostic symptomatic period, 72.3% had 5 months, and the mean was 5.7 months. As for preoperative diagnosis, 62 of total 65 patients revealed the mass lesion on simple chest x-ray, and 56 of 65 patients on bronchoscopic biopsy, 10 of 37 patients on sputum cytology and 15 of 15 patients on computerized tomography of the chest were positive. Of the 65 patients, 35 [53.9%] had squamous cell carcinoma, 18 [27.7%] adenocarcinoma, 3 [4.6%] large cell carcinoma, and 3 [4.6%] small cell carcinoma all which was oat cell carcinoma. 83.1% of the total patient was resectable, and 34 underwent pneumonectomy and 20 lobectomy. Of these 65 operations, 29 was radical resection, 25 palliative, and 11 exploratory thoracotomy. As for clinical stagings, 23 patients were in Stage, I, another 23 in Stage II and 19 in Stage III, while 16 was in stage, I, 14 in stage ll and 35 in stage III in postoperative staging evaluation. In correlation of postoperative TNM classification and radical resection, those patients who had lung cancer of stage I [14/16] and stage II [9/13] had more radical resection. As postoperative complications, one patient had massive bleeding, two empyema, one empyema with bronchopulmonary fistula, and one cardiac herniation. Operative mortality rate was 1.5% [1 patient]. Mean duration between 1st operation and discovering recurrence in 18 patients was 12.7 months.