idiopathic fibrosing mediastinitis
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Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis
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Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis
Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis
General Discussion Mediastinal fibrosis is the least common, but the most severe, late complication of Histoplasmosis. Many physicians believe mediastinal
fibrosis to be an abnormal immunologic response to antigens released by the soil-based fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. It should be differentiated
from the many other less-severe mediastinal complications of Histoplasmosis, and from other causes of mediastinal fibrosis, which are
termed idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis. Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis is even less common, but may have multiple causes, none of which are
related to Histoplasmosis. Accordingly, there are two types of Fibrosing Mediastinitis; Histoplasmosis-related Fibrosing Mediastinitis, and idiopathic
Fibrosing Mediastinitis which may have multiple causes unrelated to Histoplasmosis.
Both types are rare disorders caused by proliferations of collagen, fibrosis
tissue and associated inflammatory cells within the mediastinum (the space between the lungs).
Post Histoplasmosis mediastinal fibrosis is characterized by invasive, calcified
fibrosis centered on lymph nodes, which, by definition, occludes major vessels or airways.
Often symptoms of Fibrosing Mediastinitis do not develop until the disease has
progressed to a level at which there is damage to some vessel or organ. The build up of the scar tissue can be slow growing in some cases and in
others the scar tissue may grow at a rapid rate.
Symptoms of Idiopathic FM?Possibly chronic cough, night sweats, fever, fluid accumulation in the
lungs and pericardial sac, shortness of breath, chest pain would be included.
Idiopathic FM can have any or all of the symptoms listed above. Other symptoms may include swelling of face, neck and arms from
compression of the superior vena cava. Some patients with this form of FM may also have fibrosis in remote locations, including
the neck, the thyroid gland, or behind the abdomen (retro peritoneum), which may cause symptoms related to disease in
those sites.
Cough and shortness of breath occur with many lung diseases, so they are nonspecific symptoms. In Idiopathic FM cough may be
related to the direct compression on the airways, or to fluid accumulation in the lung caused by compression of vessels. The circulatory system can be affected by direct compression of the
pulmonary arteries (which carry blood to the lungs) or the pulmonary veins (which carry blood from the lungs). Compression of the superior vena cava may cause swelling of face or arms, and
enlargement of the veins on the chest.
Idiopathic FMBecause there are so few patients with Idiopathic FM, reliable information
about response to treatment is scarce. The only treatment data is from reports about short term treatment of individual patients. Some reports describe responses of individual patients to prednisone or tamoxifen, but
we need better information about the magnitude of response, its duration, and for what percent of patients.
Answer From Doctor James Loyd on death,In my experience the post Histo-related form of FM appears to be far more
common, perhaps 10 times as common as diffuse proliferative Idiopathic FM. I have seen about 100 patients with post Histo FM during the past 20 years, and about 10 patients with the Idiopathic diffuse form in the past 8
years. Patients in whom FM affects both lungs are at the greatest risk, and approximately 10-20% of patients with the post Histo form have both lungs affected. I know several patients (eleven) who died from FM affecting both lungs, usually because of respiratory failure or heart failure. Because the Idiopathic form is far less common, there is far less information about the
risk of death from it. I have seen some patients in whom this disease caused serious obstruction, so it has the potential to be life threatening,
Superior vena cava syndrome
Superior vena cava syndrome
Superior vena cava syndrome: The symptoms that result from compression of the large vein that carries blood down to the
heart.The superior vena cava is a large vein that transmits blood
from the upper body back to the heart. The superior vena cava is located in the middle of the chest and is surrounded
by rigid structures and lymph nodes. The structure bordering the superior vena cava include the trachea, aorta, thymus, right bronchus of the lung and pulmonary artery.
Compression of the superior vena cava by disease of any of the structures or lymph nodes surrounding the superior vena cava can cause the superior vena cava syndrome.
The superior vena cava syndrome is characterized by swelling of the face, neck and/or arms with visible widening (dilation)
of the veins of the neck. Patients often have a persistent cough and shortness of breath. Others symptoms can be present including hoarseness, swelling around the eyes,
fatigue, chest pain, headaches, and dizziness.
Superior vena cava syndrome
The causes of the superior vena cava syndrome include cancer (malignancies) and non-cancer (benign) conditions. The common forms of cancer that can cause the superior vena cava syndrome
are lung cancer, lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), and cancer that has spread (metastasis) to the chest, more commonly
breast and testicular cancer. Non-cancer causes of the superior vena cava syndrome include infections (such as tuberculosis,
fungus, and syphilis), benign tumors (such as teratomas, thymoma, dermoid cyst), aortic aneurysm, pericarditis,
sarcoidosis, irradiation treatment to the chest, air in the chest (pneumothorax), and complication of central line catheters and congenital heart surgery. The diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome can be made with the typical findings above. The
diagnosis is supported by identifying a cause for the superior vena cava syndrome, typically requiring X-ray imaging or CAT or MRI
scanning.The treatment of superior vena cava syndrome is directed toward the
exact underlying cause. Therefore, treatment might include radiation treatment, antibiotics, chemotherapy, clot-busting
(thrombolytic) drugs, blood thinners (anticoagulation), and balloon angioplasty, and even surgery. The outlook for patients with the superior vena cava syndrome depends on the underlying cause.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is scarring or thickening of the lungs without a known cause.
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsNo one knows what causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or why some people
get it. It causes the lungs to become scarred and stiffened. This stiffening may make it increasingly difficult to breathe. In some people the disease gets worse quickly (over months to a few years), but other people have
little worsening of the disease over time.
The condition is believed to be due to an inflammatory response to an unknown substance or injury. "Idiopathic" means no cause can be found. The disease occurs most often in people between 50 and 70 years old.
Symptoms Chest pain (occasionally)
Cough (usually dry)Decreased tolerance for activity
Shortness of breath during activity (this symptom lasts for months or years, and over time may also occur when at rest)
No known cure exists for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, no medication has been shown to improve the outcome of patients with this
condition.
Lumbo-sacral or Lumber Lumbo-sacral disease is a term used to describe compression of the nerve
roots and spinal cord as they pass through the lumbo-sacral portion of the lower spine, which is the lower back near the hips. The lumbar spine is
made up of five vertebral bodies in the lower back. Nerves coming off the spinal cord travel though the spinal canal and exit the canal through small
openings on the sides of the vertebrae called foramina (singular = foramen). These nerves transmit sensations from the buttocks and lower
extremities through the spinal cord to the brain and transmit motor signals from the brain to the lower extremities to produce movement of the legs,
toes, and joints of the lower extremities.
Lumbar stenosis (spinal stenosis) is a condition whereby either the spinal canal (central stenosis) or one or more of the vertebral foramina (foraminal
stenosis) becomes narrowed. If the narrowing is substantial, it causes compression of the nerves, which causes the painful symptoms of lumbar
spinal stenosis, including low back pain, buttock pain, and leg pain and numbness that is made worse with walking and relieved by resting.
The outlook for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis varies and depends on the
severity and duration of symptoms at the time of initiation of treatment. Ultimately, the outlook depends on an individual's response to treatment. The response to treatment is also dependent on the severity and cause of the lumbar spinal stenosis as well as the underlying medical condition of
the patient.
With God all things are possible, I will win the battle one day at a time. I REFUSE to be a VICTIM to Idiopathic Fibrosing Mediastinitis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Lumbo-sacral or Lumber,
Superior vena cava syndromeONE PERSON, ONE VOICES, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCES AND I CHOOSE TO BE THAT
PERSON!
FOR MORE INFO ON FIBROSING MEDIASTINITIS PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE AT,
http://fibrosingmediastinitis.webs.com/ Please take the time to read and learn, help save a life
maybe even yours!Awareness is Powerful!
All Copy Rights, Jeanieann Marie Janis
Ovarian Cancer Survivor2006 till 2012
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