INTRODUCTION Neuroendocrine tumors are a rare but diverse group of malignancies that arise in a wide range of organ systems, including the mediastinum. Differential diagnosis includes other masses arising in the middle mediastinum such as lymphoma, pericardial, bronchogenic and enteric cysts, metastatic tumors, xanthogranuloma, systemic granuloma, diaphragmatic hernia, meningocele and paraverte...

BACKGROUND A traumatic sternal fracture with extensive mediastinal abscess and concomitant native valve endocarditis is an extremely rare but catastrophic situation. CASE PRESENTATION For 2 weeks, the co-infected patient was treated with aggressive debridement for the mediastinitis, change of vacuum-assisted closure therapy dressings, vegetectomy and valve repair through lower partial sternot...

A 31-year-old female was referred from other hospital due to migrating chest pain, mild cough, and blood-tinged sputum for three days before admission. Laboratory tests were unremarkable. Chest computed tomography revealed an elliptical necrotic mass at the left anterior mediastinum, measuring 7×3×4 cm. With the impression of mediastinal abscess or loculated empyema, thoracoscopic resection was...

We report an unusual case of Gram-negative mediastinitis following aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy. The patient presented two months after surgery following a urinary tract infection in septic shock with a discharging sternal wound and blood cultures positive for Proteus mirabilis. Imaging revealed a large anterior mediastinal abscess and aortic pseudoaneurysm which subsequently ...

Intraoperative ventilatory failure is not an uncommon complication; however, acute endotracheal obstruction by a foreign body or blood clot can be difficult to quickly discriminate from other causes. Once the diagnosis is made, quick action is needed to restore ventilation. The ultimate solution is to exchange the endotracheal tube; however, there can be other ways of resolving this in situatio...

Background: Biological agents such as tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors are known to cause mycobacterium infections. Here, we report a disseminated non-tuberculosis case caused by TNF-α inhibitor therapy and a probable paradoxical response to antimycobacterial therapy. Case presentation: A 68-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis was refractory to glucocorticoid therapy; adalimumab was th...

structures that lie between the right and left pleura between the thoracic inlet and the diaphragm. Mediastinitis can be divided into the acute and chronic forms according to the etiology and the clinical course. Acute suppurative mediastinitis is an uncommon and life threatening condition (1). The main causes of acute mediastinitis include esophageal perforation, post-operative complications a...

BACKGROUND Biological agents such as tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors are known to cause mycobacterium infections. Here, we report a disseminated non-tuberculosis case caused by TNF-α inhibitor therapy and a probable paradoxical response to antimycobacterial therapy. CASE PRESENTATION A 68-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis was refractory to glucocorticoid therapy; adalimumab was th...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is regularly isolated from the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. However, this organism does not usually spread to involve other sites in these patients as it can in other groups of patients [1]. We describe two patients with cystic fibrosis and choroidal abscesses due to P. aeruginosa; bacteremic spread of the organism from a distant source was presumed to have occ...