Pulmonary chest

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) model for the classification of acute and chronic lung nodules from nontuberculous mycobacterial-lung disease (NTM-LD) on computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected a data set of 650 nodules (316 acute and 334 chronic) from the CT scans of 110 patients with NTM-LD. The data set was divided into training, validation, and test sets in a ratio of 4:1:1. Bounding boxes were used to crop the 2D CT images down to the area of interest...

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a global social and economic impact. An easy assessment procedure to handily identify the mortality risk of inpatients is urgently needed in clinical practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a simple nomogram model to categorize patients who might have a poor short-term outcome. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 189 COVID-19 patients was performed at Shanghai Ren Ji Hospital from December 12, 2022 to February 28, 2023...

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a potentially fatal complication and remains a surgical challenge. Concomitant problems, such as pulmonary infection and respiratory failure, are typically the main contributors to mortality from BPF because of improper contact between the bronchial and pleural cavity. We present the case of a 75-year-old male patient with a history of right upper lobe lung cancer resection who developed complex BPFs. Following appropriate antibiotic therapy and chest tube drainage, we treated the fistulas using endobronchial valve EBV placement and local argon gas spray stimulation...

Scimitar Syndrome is part of a complex spectrum of congenital cardiovascular anomalies related to anomalous pulmonary venous return. Depending on the extent of involvement, treatment can be either expectant or surgical. Prognosis and survival have been controversial, with some results supporting early surgical management. This research aims to disclose the outcomes and describe the management, clinical and imaging characteristics of patients diagnosed with Scimitar Syndrome treated in a tertiary referral healthcare center...

Amyloidosis presents a diagnostic challenge, particularly when concomitant with severe conditions like acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this report, we detail the case of a 73-year-old patient with acute exacerbation of IPF and simultaneous emergence of cardiac amyloidosis. The patient's clinical journey began with persistent exertional dyspnea, progressing to hypoxemia on admission. Chest CT scans showed extensive ground-glass opacities, consolidations, and pre-existing honeycombing-like cysts and reticular shadows, accompanied by a right-sided pleural effusion...

The presented case describes a 56-year-old male with adult-onset Still's disease, exhibiting polyserositis in 2019, who underwent pleurectomy and pericardiectomy. Despite treatment with tocilizumab and methylprednisolone, the patient developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in 2022, managed with apixaban. A contrast-enhanced chest tomography revealed no recurrent thromboembolic events. Over a year, the patient experienced progressive dyspnea, correlating with signs of constriction on transthoracic echocardiogram...

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling is a significant pathological characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In recent years, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), a member of the hypoxia-inducible factor protein family, has gained attention. However, the potential correlation between HIF-1α and COPD airway remodeling remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the expression patterns of HIF-1α in patients with COPD and its association with airway remodelling...

BACKGROUND: Few studies consider both radiological and functional outcomes in COVID-19 survivors treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). We investigated clinical findings and pulmonary abnormalities on chest computed tomography (CT) and compared outcomes of severe versus mild-moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on long-term follow-up. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study included 118 COVID-19 patients (median age, 58 years; 79% men). Thoracic CT scans were performed 4, 10, and 22 months after hospital discharge...

Best practices in cardiac arrest depend on continuous high-quality chest compressions, appropriate ventilatory management, early defibrillation of shockable rhythms, and identification and treatment of reversible causes. Although most patients can be treated according to highly vetted treatment guidelines, some special situations in cardiac arrest arise where additional skills and preparation can improve outcomes. Situations covered in this section involve cardiac arrest in context of electrical injuries, asthma, allergic reactions, pregnancy, trauma, electrolyte imbalances, toxic exposures, hypothermia, drowning, pulmonary embolism, and left ventricular assist devices...

BACKGROUND: An increased incidence of group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections has been observed in pediatric population post-COVID-19 pandemic. While the majority of reports refer to scarlet fever or invasive GAS disease, detailed data on pulmonary manifestations such as complicated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of GAS to complicated CAP in children during the 2022/2023 infectious season. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the etiology and clinical presentation of complicated CAP patients hospitalized in our tertiary care center in Warsaw, Poland, between August 2022 and May 2023...

RATIONALE: Conventionally considered irreversible, bronchiectasis reversibility in children has been demonstrated in small studies. However, the factors associated with radiographic reversibility in bronchiectasis have yet to be defined. OBJECTIVES: In a large cohort of children with bronchiectasis, we aimed to determine (a) if and to what extent bronchiectasis is reversible and (b) factors associated with radiographic chest high resolution computed tomography (cHRCT) resolution...

BACKGROUND: Although post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) is a known consequence of pulmonary tuberculosis (pTB), few studies have reported the prevalence and spectrum of PTLD in children and adolescents. METHODS: Children and adolescent (≤19 years) survivors of pTB in the Western Regions of The Gambia underwent a respiratory symptom screening, chest X-ray (CXR) and spirometry at TB treatment completion. Variables associated with lung function impairment were identified through logistic regression models...

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is very rare. In this report, we describe an interesting case of a 25-year-old male with a giant primary angiosarcoma invading the right heart. He was urgently admitted to the hospital for respiratory distress. Once the diagnosis was suspected by chest x-ray, echocardiography, and CT scan, and given the patient's hemodynamic and respiratory instability, an emergency open-heart surgery was necessary to prevent complications. Through a right atriotomy and a pulmonary infundibulotomy, the tumor was resected...

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hydatid cyst is an exceedingly uncommon condition. Typically, it manifests as hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, kidney, and spleen. In this report, we present a rare case of a hydatid cyst located in the brain, exhibiting atypical radiological characteristics, and successfully treated with complete microsurgical excision. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 45-year-old male, a former smoker, presented with a new-onset seizure. Brain imaging revealed a solitary, intra-axial, and cystic lesion with wall enhancement in the right temporal region...

During a routine physical examination three years ago, a 47-year-old woman received a diagnosis of a nodule in her right upper lung. Since then, she has been regularly attending outpatient clinic appointments for follow-up. Over time, the nodule has shown gradual growth, leading to a suspicion of lung cancer. Through the use of enhanced CT imaging, a three-dimensional reconstruction was performed to examine the bronchi and blood vessels in the patient's chest. This reconstruction revealed several variations in the anatomy of the anterior segment of the right upper lobe...

BACKGROUND: Sequelae post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, including lung and functional impairment, pose a significant challenge post-recovery. We explored the burden and risk factors for post-COVID-19 sequelae in an African population with prevalent comorbidities including tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study on hospitalised adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 20 March to 06 October 2021 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, South Africa...

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory condition characterized by noncaseating granulomas. Lung involvement is typical, while extrapulmonary manifestations, notably lymphadenopathy, are observed in a significant proportion of cases. The etiology involves complex interactions among immune cells and mediators, resulting in granuloma formation capable of independently producing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, leading to unregulated hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria. Diagnosis can be challenging, especially when hypercalcemia is the initial symptom...

A 59-year-old man suffered from fever and chest pain for three days following an accidental bite to a lip ulcer. His lower lip showed swelling and tenderness, and chest computed tomography showed multiple bilateral nodules. He was diagnosed with septic pulmonary embolism and a lip abscess, and blood, sputum, and lip abscess cultures confirmed the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Despite the initiation of vancomycin, he rapidly developed respiratory failure and septic shock, necessitating intubation and noradrenaline support...

BACKGROUND: The relationship between early life factors and childhood pulmonary function and structure in preterm infants remains unclear. PURPOSE: This study investigated the impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and perinatal factors on childhood pulmonary function and structure. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study included preterm participants aged ≥5 years born between 2005 and 2015. The children were grouped by BPD severity according to National Institutes of Health criteria...

BACKGROUND: Anti-synthetase syndrome (AS) is a rare autoimmune idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) with diverse manifestations, including arthritis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), Raynaud's phenomenon, unexplained persistent fever, and mechanic's hands. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 72-year-old woman, previously healthy, who was admitted to our hospital for treatment of cough and rapid breathing. The patient had elevated white blood cells and C-reactive protein, and tested negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2)...