Gastroparesis, Thymoma, and Asymptomatic Myasthenia: A Rare Clinical Scenario

Background: Paraneoplastic gastroparesis is a gastrointestinal syndrome that rarely precedes a tumor diagnosis. To increase awareness of this rare clinical entity, we present a case of severe gastroparesis, which was later proven to be associated with a thymoma. Case report: A 55-year old man had the sudden onset of severe abdominal cramps and abdominal distension, early satiety with postprandial nausea, acid regurgitation, belching, and flatulence. He lost about 20 pounds. The physical and imaging examination revealed stomach distension, gastroparesis, and the presence of a solid mass in the anterior mediastinum. Radical surgery was performed to remove the thymoma and, given the high value of Mib-1, the patient was submitted to postoperative chest radiation therapy. After thymectomy, a diagnosis of paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis with subacute autonomic failure was made. Conclusion: Autoimmune gastroparesis should be considered as a potential paraneoplastic syndrome in patients with thymoma, myasthenia gravis, and delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction.

Case Report: An Unusual Case of Ectopic ACTH Syndrome Caused by Mediastinal Paraganglioma

Ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is not common, which is more unusual when caused by paraganglioma. We herein present a 40-year-old Chinese male who was diagnosed with ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. However, the localization of the ACTH source was troublesome due to the inconsistent results of the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test and the desmopressin stimulation test. Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling was performed, and ectopic ACTH syndrome was diagnosed. After 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET/CT and 18F-FDG-PET/CT were performed, it was localized in the anterior mediastinum. Post-operation histopathology demonstrated an ACTH-secreting mediastinal paraganglioma. The patient obtained complete clinical remission after a mediastinal tumorectomy.

Maternal Mortality Due to an Undiagnosed Large Thymoma in Puerperium: A Case Report

Introduction: Delayed or avoided medical care due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related concerns may increase morbidity and mortality associated with both acute and chronic health conditions. Thymoma is uncommon in pregnancy, although it could be accompanied with unfavorable outcomes. We report a puerperal woman presented with dyspnea and cardiac arrest with a recent diagnosis of thymoma that led to maternal mortality. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman with occasional dyspnea during pregnancy without medical referral was admitted to the hospital with severe dyspnea and orthopnea three days after cesarean section. Spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a 64 × 84-centimeter mass with soft tissue density in the left perivascular that was originated from the anterior mediastinum; in biopsy, thymoma was suggested. She died shortly after due to severe dyspnea and cardiac arrest. Conclusions: Prenatal care during COVID-19 pandemic should not be postponed. Indeed, any symptom similar to the physiologic changes in pregnancy needs to be evaluated for optimal clinical management.

Forensic Toxicological and Medico-Legal Evaluation in a Case of Incongruous Drug Administration in Terminal Cancer Patients

Background: In most cases, palliative care is prescribed to adults diagnosed with cancer. The definition of the most suitable therapy for an effective sedation in terminal cancer patients still represents one of the most challenging goals in medical practice. Due to their poor health, the correct dosing of drugs used for deep palliative sedation in terminal cancer patients, often already on polypharmacological therapy, can be extremely complicated, also considering possible drug-to-drug interactions that could lead to an increased risk of overdose and/or incongruous administration with fatal outcomes. The case of a terminal cancer patient is presented, focusing on the “adequacy” of administered therapy. Materials and Methods: A young male, affected by Ewing sarcoma, attending a palliative care at his own home, died soon after midazolam administration. Toxicological and histological analyses were performed on body fluids and organ fragments. Results and Discussion: Morphological reliefs evidenced a neoplastic mass, composed of lobulated tissue with a lardy, pinkish-gray consistency, extending from the pleural surface to the lung parenchyma, also present at the sacrum region (S1–S5), at the anterior mediastinum level, occupying the entire left pleural cavity, and infiltrating the ipsilateral lung. Metastatic lesions diffused to rachis and lumbar structures. The brain presented edema and congestion. Toxicological analyses evidenced blood midazolam concentrations in the range of 0.931–1.690 µg/mL, while morphine was between 0.266 and 0.909 µg/mL. Death was attributed to cardiorespiratory depression because of a synergic action between morphine and midazolam. The pharmacological interaction between midazolam and morphine is discussed considering the clinical situation of the patient. The opportunity to proceed with midazolam administration is discussed starting from guidelines recommendation. Finally, professional liability outlines are highlighted.

Mediastinal Mature Teratomas Penetrating the Chest Wall

Mediastinal mature teratomas (MMT) are benign and slow-growing tumors in the anterior mediastinum, which can reach a huge size. Surgical resection is often challenging, however, with proper surgical planning, complete resection is feasible with good outcomes. we report a rare case of MMT penetrating the chest wall as a result of chronic inflammation successfully treated with en bloc surgical resection.

7 DOACs: a new skyline in cancer-associated thrombosis resistant to heparin. A clinical case of seminoma in BEP chemotherapy protocol solved with edoxaban

Aims TEV is a common cancer complication with 20% incidence. LMWH is the standard therapy for efficacy, safety and ease of use. However, some scenarios are deeply challenging for intercurrent prothrombotic anticancer drugs. Methods A 35-year-old man reported dysphagia, EGDS: oesophagus ulcers, thyroid echography: thoracic mass compressing proximal borders. Vascular ultrasound: thrombosis of left internal giugular, subclavian, axillary and brachial veins; he began enoxaparin 6000 IU ×2/die (65 kg). CT-scan: solid anterior–superior mediastinum vascularized mass (16 × 13 cm) incorporating great thoracic vessels with 20 cm cranio-caudal longitudinal extension with trachea dislocation. PET-CT: massive superior-anterior mediastinum pathological 18F-FDG accumulation suggestive for malignancy. Lung perfusion scan: absence of left lung perfusion. Angio-CT: showed compression of pulmonary artery trunk and of branches. He presented marked asthenia, sweating and presyncope. D-dimer: 6026 µg/L, NT-proBNP: 1417 pg/mL. Mediastinum biopsy exhibited seminoma (ki67+: 65%), he started BEP Protocol (etoposide, cisplatin, bleomycin). TTE: periaortic cuff from mediastinum mass which ab extrinseco compressed pulmonary artery trunk and branches with occlusion of left one, right chambers dilatation, sovra-epatic veins and inferior vena cava (21 mm) ectasia, decreased inspiratory collapse, pulmonary hypertension (SPAP: 52 mmHg), EF: 55%. After 2 months of enoxaparin, vein ultrasound: persistent DVT and positive CUS. So, we replaced enoxaparin with edoxaban 60 mg/die. After 2 months of edoxaban, overall regression of vein thrombosis with minimal residual thrombosis of left internal giugular vein; D-dimer: 1554 µg/L. Results After 2 months of BEP Protocol, CT-scan: decrease mediastinum mass (6 × 12 cm) dimensions. Conclusions Cancer associated thrombosis is a frequent complication, worsening mortality, morbidity and decision-making. Cancer stage and drugs favour development of severe thrombosis, not solvable with LMWH, the cornerstone of anticoagulant therapy in cancer-related thrombosis. DOACs appear as a new and successful therapeutical option, especially in the most challenging cases of highly thrombotic profile after ‘heparin failure’.

Robotic thymectomy: A surgical point of view

Robotic thymectomy is the most innovative surgical approach for treating disease of the anterior mediastinum. Robotic surgery offers low postoperative morbidity, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, and better cosmetic results, without compromising surgical radicality. During the operation, the patient is placed in a supine position at the left edge of the operating table with the left hemithorax upward; the position is maintained with sandbags. The target area for the autodocking should be toward the jugulum. The first surgical step is to isolate the inferior thymic horns via the dissection that starts from the inferior portion of the mediastinal tissue and proceeds toward the right side, following the contralateral pleural reflection. Afterward, it is necessary to move toward the superior horns, following the phrenic nerve, the first landmark, to the innominate vein, our second landmark. Finally, we dissect the superior horns while searching for the thymic veins, which could appear atrophic, and clip the vessels to safely isolate the innominate vein. During this step, it is useful to use a retraction movement to progressively dissect the horns from the jugulum. The thymus gland is removed en bloc with the perithymus fat using an endoscopic bag inserted through the right port incision.

Differential Diagnosis of Anterior Mediastinal Masses in Children (Literature Review with Their Own Clinical Observations)

The article is devoted to the description of the X-ray anatomy of the mediastinum, the evolution of the classification of this anatomical region. As well as systematization of radiological signs of the most common formations of the anterior (prevascular) mediastinum in children. Based on these data, a table of the most characteristic radiographic features of various neoplasms of different groups. Reflected basic criteria differential diagnosis of various tumors of the anterior mediastinum.