1/119. radiation-induced bronchial stenosis: a new cause of platypnea-orthodeoxia.Platypnea-orthodeoxia is encountered in a variety of cardiac, pulmonary, and hepatic disorders. We report its occurrence in a 59-year-old man who had had combined external-beam and high dose-rate iridium brachytherapy for a stage I non-small-cell carcinoma of the right upper lobe 2 years earlier. The post-radiation course was complicated by a severe radiation bronchitis; the onset of platypnea-orthodeoxia signalled the development of severe bronchial stenosis that was transiently relieved, initially by dilatation, and later by stent placement, though the patient ultimately died of a pulmonary hemorrhage. The dosage of brachytherapy given, the combined external-beam therapy, and the long survival after completion of radiation therapy were likely factors in the development of bronchial stenosis. We discuss the tomographic and bronchoscopic features of radiation-induced bronchial stenosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/119. pulmonary blastoma: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.pulmonary blastoma (PB) is an extremely uncommon intrathoracic neoplasm in children. It accounts for 0.5% of all primary malignant tumors of the lung, and 20%-25% of the cases present in childhood. A new case of PB in a 3-year-old girl is discussed with special emphasis on diagnosis and treatment. The authors point out that the possibility of a primary lung tumor should be considered for any childhood cases with intractable signs and symptoms of a space-occupying lesion. A primary lung malignancy should not be excluded only on the basis of the patient's age, and childhood lung disorders should receive the same detailed and vigorous diagnostic evaluation and appropriate treatment given to adults.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.4272207166738keywords = tract (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/119. A smoker with paroxysmal dyspnea.A 40-year-old woman who had experienced recurring episodes of dyspnea for 28 years presented to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath, wheezing, and dry cough of three days' duration. She had been seen at another hospital shortly after symptoms began but left against medical advice. She did not have fever, chills, or other symptoms of upper respiratory infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/119. Acute mercury vapour poisoning in a shipyard worker--a case report.Acute mercury vapour poisoning is a serious, potentially fatal but fortunately rarely encountered problem. It is most commonly due to industrial accidents. The vapour is a direct respiratory tract irritant as well as a cell poison, exerting its greatest effects in the lungs, nervous system, kidneys and liver. We present a case of mercury vapour poisoning in a shipyard workers presenting as an acute chemical pneumonitis, which resolved with aggressive supportive therapy. Further investigations later revealed transient mild neuropsychiatric symptoms, and residual peripheral neuropathy. No chelation therapy was instituted. The detailed investigative work that led to the discovery of the source of mercury is also presented. This case alerts us to the potential hazard to shipyard workers who may work in ships previously carrying oil contaminated with mercury. There have been no previous reports of mercury poisoning in shipyard workers. A high index of suspicion leading to early diagnosis and institution of appropriate supportive measures in suspected cases can be life-saving.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 209.86972138139keywords = respiratory tract, tract (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/119. Inspiratory pressure threshold training for glottal airway limitation in laryngeal papilloma.A single-subject design was used to determine if inspiratory pressure threshold training increases inspiratory muscle strength and reduces the sensation of dyspnea during exercise and speech. The subject was a 23-year-old female with congenital juvenile papilloma which has been in remission for 10 years. A 4-week inspiratory muscle training program was implemented using an inspiratory pressure threshold trainer. The pressure threshold of the trainer was set by the experimenter. The pressure threshold setting of the trainer was based on a percentage of the subject's maximum inspiratory pressure measured prior to training. The average range of the pressure threshold was 40 to 70 cmH2O. In order for inspiratory air to flow, the subject generated inspiratory pressure, independent of airflow rate. Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) was the dependent variable used as the index of inspiratory muscle strength. exercise dyspnea was a dependent variable rated by the subject during a progressive treadmill test. dyspnea associated with speech was rated following production of a comfortable and loud speech task. MIP increased by 57% following the training program with a 2-scale point reduction in the perception of dyspnea during exercise. dyspnea during loud speech decreased from moderate to mild. The changes in dyspnea, both during exercise and speech, are directly related to inspiratory muscle strengthening. The results suggest that inspiratory muscle training may improve respiratory related function in patients with restrictive upper airway disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/119. Pulmonary thromboembolism after spinal instrumentation surgery.A 57-year-old woman was hospitalized because of gait disturbance and dysuria. Close examination revealed a cauda equina tumor at the level of L2 and L3. Tumor resection was performed, with posterolateral fusion and spinal instrumentation. On the eleventh day after the surgery, she experienced dyspnea and chest pain during standing and walking exercise. Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed, based on: (1) blood gas analysis findings of hypoxemia and (2) defective images in both of the upper lobes on urgent pulmonary blood flow scintigram. Her clinical status improved with urgent thrombolytic therapy (with tisokinase and urokinase) and anticoagulation therapy (with heparin and warfarin), and her life was saved. When pulmonary thromboembolism occurs, early diagnosis by pulmonary blood flow scintigram and early thrombolytic and anticoagulative therapies are necessary. Special attention should be paid to symptoms of pulmonary thromboembolism in patients after spinal surgery.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/119. Vascular rings of the thoracic aorta in adults.Vascular rings have been well documented to cause respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in infants and children. Few reports document symptomatic vascular rings in adults, and most have emphasized dysphagia as the predominant symptom. We present the case of a 36-year-old white male with a double aortic arch and progressive dyspnea on exertion. This led us to review previous reports of vascular rings in adults. Criteria for review consisted of anatomically complete vascular rings of the aortic arch in adults age 18 years or older. We identified 25 prior cases for review and included our recent patient. The most common vascular ring anomalies in our review of adults is double aortic arch (n = 12; 46%) followed by right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery and ligamentum arteriosum (n = 8; 30%). Of 24 patients (66%), 16 were symptomatic. Reported symptoms involving the respiratory tract (n = 10 of 24; 42%) included dyspnea on exertion (n = 5), bronchitis (n = 2), recurrent pneumonia, stridor, and unspecified respiratory ailment (n = 1 each). Dysphagia was less common, occurring in eight patients (33%). Previously proposed mechanisms for respiratory tract symptoms include tracheomalacia, static or dynamic compression of the airways, intravascular volume infusion, and aspiration. We also propose exercise-induced dilatation of the aortic arch and age-dependent changes in thoracic compliance as potential mechanisms of dyspnea.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 419.73944276278keywords = respiratory tract, tract (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/119. Xanthoma disseminatum with respiratory tract involvement and fatal outcome.Xanthoma disseminatum (XD) is a rare mucocutaneous xanthomatosis classified as a benign form of non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. The case history is presented of a 61 year old woman with XD who developed dyspnoea and spirometric features of airflow obstruction. bronchoscopy and computed tomography confirmed involvement of the large and medium sized bronchi and she subsequently died from acute respiratory failure. The post-mortem findings and the importance of respiratory tract disease in this unusual condition are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1049.348606907keywords = respiratory tract, tract (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/119. Two year follow-up of a garbage collector with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).BACKGROUND: Separate collection of biodegradable garbage and recyclable waste is expected to become mandatory in some western countries. A growing number of persons engaged in garbage collection and separation might become endangered by high loads of bacteria and fungi. Case history and examination A 29 year old garbage collector involved in emptying so-called biological garbage complained of dyspnea, fever, and flu-like symptoms during work beginning in the summer of 1992. Chest x-ray showed streaky shadows near both hili reaching into the upper regions. IgE- and IgG-antibodies (CAP, Pharmacia, sweden) were strongly positive for aspergillus fumigatus with 90.5 kU/L and 186%, respectively. Total-IgE was also strongly elevated with 5430 kU/L. Bronchial challenge testing with commercially available aspergillus fumigatus extract resulted in an immediate-type asthmatic reaction. Two years later he was still symptomatic and antibodies persisted at lower levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our diagnosis was allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) including asthmatic responses as well as hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis) due to exposure to moldy household waste. A growing number of persons engaged in garbage collection and handling are exposed and at risk to develop sensitization to fungi due to exposure to dust of biodegradable waste. Further studies are necessary to show if separate collection of biodegradable waste increases the health risks due to exposure to bacteria and fungi in comparison to waste collection without separation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.4272207166738keywords = tract, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/119. Respiratory distress due to esophageal perforation caused by ball point ingestion.A 15-month-old girl who developed respiratory distress which persisted for three days prior to admission demonstrated pleural effusion on the chest x-ray which was determined to be due to esophageal perforation caused by the ingestion of a ball point. A gastrotomy was performed to extract the ball point. A gastrostomy was performed and a chest tube was inserted. The esophagus was normal radiologically within one month. Foreign body ingestion may cause esophageal perforation in childhood. If it goes unnoticed and a diagnosis is delayed, there is danger of the more hazardous development of mediastinitis. It is important that a child with respiratory distress also be evaluated for esophageal foreign body ingestion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.4272207166738keywords = tract (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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