Vanishing lung syndrome (VLS) is a rare condition characterized by giant emphysematous bullae. It is frequently misdiagnosed as pneumothorax. We describe a case of a 30-year-old male who presented with shortness of breath, reduced effort tolerance, and pleuritic chest pain for three months. He was initially diagnosed with bilateral pneumothorax based on clinical examination and chest radiograph findings. However, further imaging with a high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax confirmed bilateral giant emphysematous bullae. Our patient subsequently underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and bullectomy. In this report, we discuss the clinical presentations, radiological features, and the management of VLS. We also highlight the differentiating features of VLS from a pneumothorax.
Necrotizing sialometaplasia refers to a benign, uncommon, and self-limiting inflammatory reaction concerning the salivary gland tissue, which both clinically and histologically may be easily mistaken for mucoepidermoid carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. This may cause irrelevant surgical intervention. Minor salivary glands are the most commonly affected salivary gland, with the hard palate being the most usual site. However, it can involve the other areas in which salivary gland tissue is present in the other oral subsites and pharyngeal areas. Due to the lack of knowledge about this entity and its histological similarities with carcinomas, particularly mucoepidermoid carcinoma, the differential diagnosis of this lesion is difficult. Local ischemia is thought to be the primary cause, leading to the pathogenesis of necrotizing sialometaplasia, and the infiltration of local anesthesia following dental procedures at the palatal region is the leading cause.
Sonic pressure wave should be taken into consideration in all ballistic injury. We review a young gentleman with ballistic injury of his lateral chest wall. The bullet trajectory passed through the lateral chest wall. Chest radiograph shows a wedge-shaped consolidation adjacent to the wound with blunted right costophrenic angle. Subsequent CT scan confirms the consolidation adjacent to the bullet trajectory. This case report emphasizes on value of CT in ballistic chest trauma and indirect injury caused by the sonic pressure wave of the bullet.