Rigid versus flexible bronchoscopy in interventional pulmonology: perspective from the master clinicians.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review explores the evolving roles and comparative effectiveness of rigid versus flexible bronchoscopy in interventional pulmonology. This topic is particularly timely due to recent technological advancements and the growing body of literature highlighting the strengths and limitations of each technique. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature reveals significant advancements in rigid and flexible bronchoscopy, with studies comparing their efficacy, safety profiles, and clinical outcomes. Key themes include improved diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, procedural innovations, and patient-centered outcomes. SUMMARY: While rigid and flexible bronchoscopies have distinct advantages, their complementary use can enhance patient care. Future research should focus on developing minimally invasive, high-precision bronchoscopic tools, comparative studies to inform evidence-based practice, exploring hybrid approaches that combine the strengths of both techniques, and enhancing patient-centered outcomes through improved procedural protocols, education, and technologies.

Advancements in airway stents: a comprehensive update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an overview of the evolving field of airway stenting (AS), highlighting its relevance in the management of central airway obstruction (CAO). It discusses recent advancements, including 3D-printed silicone stents (3DPSS), metallic stents, biodegradable stents (BS), and drug-eluting stents (DES), which are transforming clinical practice. The review underscores the ongoing challenges in patient selection, stent choice, and long-term management in the context of an evolving landscape. RECENT FINDINGS: Innovations, particularly 3DPSS, have shown promise in providing patient-specific solutions. These stents offer improved symptom relief, enhanced quality of life, and lower complication rates, especially for complex airway diseases. The use of BS and DES is explored, raising prospects for future applications. SUMMARY: The evolution of AS reflects a deepening understanding of airway obstructions. Recent innovations, such as 3DPSS, BS, and DES, show considerable promise in addressing the limitations of conventional stents. However, challenges related to complications, patient selection, and long-term management persist, demanding further research. Wide practice variations in the management of AS highlight the need for more clinical data and standardized guidelines. The search for the ideal stent continues, driven by the pursuit of better outcomes for patients with CAO.

The use of pretest probability increases the value of high-resolution CT in diagnosing usual interstitial pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that non-definitive patterns on high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan provide sufficient diagnostic specificity to forgo surgical lung biopsy in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The objective of this study was to determine test characteristics of non-definitive HRCT patterns for identifying histopathological usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). METHODS: Patients with biopsy-proven interstitial lung disease (ILD) and non-definitive HRCT scans were identified from two academic ILD centres. Test characteristics for HRCT patterns as predictors of UIP on surgical lung biopsy were derived and validated in independent cohorts. RESULTS: In the derivation cohort, 64/385 (17%) had possible UIP pattern on HRCT; 321/385 (83%) had inconsistent with UIP pattern. 113/385 (29%) patients had histopathological UIP pattern in the derivation cohort. Possible UIP pattern had a specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 87.2% to 94.3%) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 62.5% (95% CI 49.5% to 74.3%) for UIP pattern on surgical lung biopsy. The addition of age, sex and total traction bronchiectasis score improved the PPV. Inconsistent with UIP pattern demonstrated poor PPV (22.7%, 95% CI 18.3% to 27.7%). HRCT pattern specificity was nearly identical in the validation cohort (92.7%, 95% CI 82.4% to 98.0%). The substantially higher prevalence of UIP pattern in the validation cohort improved the PPV of HRCT patterns. CONCLUSIONS: A possible UIP pattern on HRCT has high specificity for UIP on surgical lung biopsy, but PPV is highly dependent on underlying prevalence. Adding clinical and radiographic features to possible UIP pattern on HRCT may provide sufficient probability of histopathological UIP across prevalence ranges to change clinical decision-making.

Telomere-related lung fibrosis is diagnostically heterogeneous but uniformly progressive.

Heterozygous mutations in four telomere-related genes have been linked to pulmonary fibrosis, but little is known about similarities or differences of affected individuals.115 patients with mutations in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) (n=75), telomerase RNA component (TERC) (n=7), regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) (n=14) and poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) (n=19) were identified and clinical data were analysed.Approximately one-half (46%) had a multidisciplinary diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); others had unclassifiable lung fibrosis (20%), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (12%), pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (10%), interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (7%), an idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (4%) and connective tissue disease-related interstitial fibrosis (3%). Discordant interstitial lung disease diagnoses were found in affected individuals from 80% of families. Patients with TERC mutations were diagnosed at an earlier age than those with PARN mutations (51±11 years versus 64±8 years; p=0.03) and had a higher incidence of haematological comorbidities. The mean rate of forced vital capacity decline was 300 mL·year-1 and the median time to death or transplant was 2.87 years. There was no significant difference in time to death or transplant for patients across gene mutation groups or for patients with a diagnosis of IPF versus a non-IPF diagnosis.Genetic mutations in telomere related genes lead to a variety of interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnoses that are universally progressive.

[Necrotizing tracheobronchial aspergillosis in an immunosuppressed patient. Report of one case]. / Aspergilosis traqueobronquial necrotizante en paciente crítico.

Necrotizing tracheobronchitis due to Aspergillus spp is a rare form of invasive aspergillosis. This infection is limited to or predominant in the bronchial tree. The clinical evolution is gradual: from mild non-specific manifestations of acute tracheobronchitis to severe acute respiratory insufficiency determined by a bronchial obstruction syndrome. We report a 38 years old female with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. She developed an invasive aspergillosis, severe respiratory failure with predominant tracheobronchial damage and upper respiratory complications.

Patient-specific airway stent using three-dimensional printing: a review.

The primary function of an airway stent is to reestablish patency, impeding restenosis, supporting the tracheobronchial wall, or occluding fistulas. But stent-related complications are prevalent and can have devastating consequences. For this reason, stents are considered a last resort when there are no alternatives in treatment. Additionally, commercially available airway stents often poorly fit patients with complex airways, and they can cause various complications. At the end of the 20th century, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology was created. It has been transformative in healthcare and has been used in several applications. One of its first utilizations was the anatomical modeling of body structures that helps preoperative planning. In respiratory medicine, this technology has been essentially used in central airway diseases to produce 3D airway models and to create airway splints and prostheses. In the last decade, it has led to a transformation and allowed progress in personalized medicine, making patient-specific stents for individuals with complex airway problems. A patient-specific stent using 3D printing may minimize complications, improve quality of life, and reduce the need for repeated procedures. This review describes the recent advances in 3D printing technology, its use for developing airway prostheses to treat complex airway diseases, and the current evidence that supports its use.

Innovation in rigid bronchoscopy-past, present, and future.

German laryngologist Gustav Killian performed the first "Direkte Bronchoskopie" using a rigid bronchoscope to extract a foreign airway body from the right main bronchus over a hundred years ago, transforming the practice of respiratory medicine. The procedure instantaneously became popular throughout the world. Chevalier Jackson Sr from the United States further advanced the instrument, technique, safety, and application. In the 1960s, Professors Harold H. Hopkins and N.S. Kapany introduced optical rods as well as fiberoptics that led Karl Storz to develop the cold light system improving endoluminal illumination, achievements that ushered in the modern era of flexible endoscopy. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures became possible such as transbronchial needle biopsy, transbronchial lung biopsy, airway electrosurgery, or cryotherapy. Dr. Jean-François Dumon from France advanced the use of Nd-YAG laser in the endobronchial tree and created the dedicated Dumon silicone stent introducing the whole new field of interventional pulmonology (IP). This major milestone revitalized interest in rigid bronchoscopy (RB). Now, advancements are being made in stenting, instrumentation, and education. RB robotic technology advancements are currently anticipated and can potentially revolutionize the practice of pulmonary medicine. In this review, we describe some of the most substantial advances related to RB from its beginning to the modern era.

[A clinical teaching course for residents improves self-perception about preparation to teach]. / Un curso de docencia clínica para residentes mejora la autopercepción de preparación para enseñar.

BACKGROUND: Medical doctors need to be competent to teach patients, their families, students, and the health care team. In a previous study we determined that although the residents attach great importance to have teaching skills, they do not feel prepared to meet this role. AIM: To assess self-perception of learning in a formal course of training how to teach for residents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2004 we implemented the course "Residents as Clinical Teachers", based on the Stanford Faculty Development Center for Medical Teachers Model (SFDC), for residents of a Medical School. Residents of all the post graduate programs were invited to take the course as an elective during the period 2004-2011. At the end of the course each resident completed the pre/post Seminar Series Housestaff/student Questionnaire; assessing perceptions of learning, expressed in a Likert scale from 1-5. RESULTS: The implementation of the course in 111 residents significantly improved self-perception of general preparation for teaching and improved self-perception of preparedness in each educational category. The personal goals most commonly established by participants were on feedback (52,2%), control of session (44%) and communication of goals (40%). Barriers for teaching most frequently identified were lack of time to do clinical teaching (51,3%) and environmental limitations (16,2%). The main impact of the course reported by residents were acquisition of teaching skills or tools for teaching (39,6%), enhancing of motivation (14%), and a richer understanding of teaching principles (14%). CONCLUSIONS: A clinical teaching course for residents improves their self-perception of preparation to teach and enhances motivation for clinical teaching.

Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: Prospective External and Temporal Validation of the HAL and HOMER Models.

BACKGROUND: Two models, the Help with the Assessment of Adenopathy in Lung cancer (HAL) and Help with Oncologic Mediastinal Evaluation for Radiation (HOMER), were recently developed to estimate the probability of nodal disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as determined by endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The objective of this study was to prospectively externally validate both models at multiple centers. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are the HAL and HOMER models valid across multiple centers? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This multicenter prospective observational cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with PET-CT clinical-radiographic stages T1-3, N0-3, M0 NSCLC undergoing EBUS-TBNA staging. HOMER was used to predict the probability of N0 vs N1 vs N2 or N3 (N2|3) disease, and HAL was used to predict the probability of N2|3 (vs N0 or N1) disease. Model discrimination was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC-AUC), and calibration was assessed using the Brier score, calibration plots, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. RESULTS: Thirteen centers enrolled 1,799 patients. HAL and HOMER demonstrated good discrimination: HAL ROC-AUC = 0.873 (95%CI, 0.856-0.891) and HOMER ROC-AUC = 0.837 (95%CI, 0.814-0.859) for predicting N1 disease or higher (N1|2|3) and 0.876 (95%CI, 0.855-0.897) for predicting N2|3 disease. Brier scores were 0.117 and 0.349, respectively. Calibration plots demonstrated good calibration for both models. For HAL, the difference between forecast and observed probability of N2|3 disease was +0.012; for HOMER, the difference for N1|2|3 was -0.018 and for N2|3 was +0.002. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was significant for both models (P = .034 and .002), indicating a small but statistically significant calibration error. INTERPRETATION: HAL and HOMER demonstrated good discrimination and calibration in multiple centers. Although calibration error was present, the magnitude of the error is small, such that the models are informative.

Convex probe endobronchial ultrasound: historical, contemporary, and cutting-edge applications.

The use of convex-probe endobronchial ultrasound (CP-EBUS) has revolutionized bronchoscopy. It has provided the option of a relatively safe, minimally invasive approach for the assessment of various intrathoracic diseases. In current practice, its most dramatic impact has been on the diagnosing and staging of lung cancer. It has served as an invaluable tool that has replaced mediastinoscopy in a variety of clinical scenarios. Many pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons consider CP-EBUS the most significant milestone in bronchoscopy after the development of the flexible bronchoscope itself. In this review, we summarize the historical aspects, current indications, technical approach, and future direction of CP-EBUS.

The utility of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration in patients with suspected extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis without thoracic lymphadenopathy.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis can be difficult, and a biopsy is usually required. We evaluated the utility of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in patients with suspected extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis with thoracic lymph nodes ≤10 mm on chest computed tomography (CT) and no or minimal pulmonary infiltrates. METHODS: The Cleveland Clinic bronchoscopy registry was screened. Patients with thoracic lymph nodes >10 mm on short axis or significant pulmonary infiltrates in the chest CT scan were excluded. Two separate analyses using expert consensus (before and after release of bronchoscopy results) were the reference standard. RESULTS: 15 patients met the inclusion criteria. 40% had suspected ocular, 33% cardiac and 27% neurologic sarcoidosis. Six patients (40%) had EBUS-TBNA compatible with sarcoidosis. When the reference standard was the consensus diagnosis blinded to bronchoscopy results, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA were 56%, 83%, 83%, and 56% respectively. The combination of a positive EBUS-TBNA and BAL CD4/CD8 improved the specificity from 83 to 100%, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.074). When the reference standard was the consensus diagnosis with the bronchoscopic results, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA were 75%, 100%, 100%, and 78% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis, the EBUS-TBNA may be useful in the diagnosis of patients with thoracic lymph nodes ≤10 mm and no or minimal pulmonary infiltrates on chest CT. Larger and prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis: a review.

Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a fibrotic disease of unclear etiology that produces obstruction of the central airway in the anatomic region under the glottis. The diagnosis of this entity is difficult, usually delayed and confounded with other common respiratory diseases. No apparent etiology is identified even after a comprehensive workup that includes a complete history, physical examination, pulmonary function testing, auto-antibodies, imaging studies, and endoscopic procedures. This approach, however, helps to exclude other conditions such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). It is also helpful to characterize the lesion and outline management strategies. Therapeutic endoscopic procedures and surgery are the most common management modalities, but medical therapy can also play a significant role in preventing or delaying recurrence. In this review, we describe the morphology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evaluation, management, and prognosis of iSGS.

Role of Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis and Management of Mediastinal Cyst.

BACKGROUND: Foregut cysts account for >50% of cystic lesions in the mediastinum, of which bronchogenic cysts are most common. Surgical resection is the most definitive approach for its diagnosis and treatment. A recent systematic review, however, suggests that endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has a role in the management of bronchogenic cyst. We report our experience with EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis and management of bronchogenic cysts. METHODS: Medical records of patients with evidence of mediastinal cysts who underwent EBUS-TBNA between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed.The primary aims of this study were to assess EBUS-TBNA diagnostic yield of peri-bronchial cysts and their specific type/origin and to determine its short-term and long-term drainage efficacy. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients met the inclusion criteria. The cytopathology diagnosis was compatible with bronchogenic cyst in 4 cases, pleural-pericardial cyst in 3 cases, and 19 were indeterminate cysts. Successful long-term treatment occurred in 5.5% of the subjects. One patient developed inflammatory pericarditis after EBUS-TBNA. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic and therapeutic yield of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal cysts is limited and surgical resection remains the treatment of choice.

Use of Mycophenolate Mofetil or Azathioprine for the Management of Chronic Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (cHP) often includes systemic oral corticosteroids, but the optimal pharmacologic management remains unclear. The morbidity associated with prednisone has motivated the search for alternative therapies. We aimed to determine the effect of treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) on lung function in patients with cHP. METHODS: Patients with cHP treated with either MMF or AZA were retrospectively identified from four interstitial lung disease centers. Change in lung function before and after treatment initiation was analyzed using linear mixed-effects modeling (LMM), adjusting for age, sex, smoking history, and prednisone use. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included: 51 were treated with MMF and 19 with AZA. Median follow-up after treatment initiation was 11 months. Prior to treatment initiation, FVC and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) % predicted were declining at a mean rate of 0.12% (P < .001) and 0.10% (P < .001) per month, respectively. Treatment with either MMF or AZA was not associated with improved FVC (0.5% at 1 year; P = .46) but was associated with a statistically significant improvement in Dlco of 4.2% (P < .001) after 1 year of treatment. Results were similar in the subgroup of patients treated with MMF for 1 year; the FVC increased nonsignificantly by 1.3% (P = .103) and Dlco increased by 3.9% (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with MMF or AZA is associated with improvements in Dlco in patients with cHP. Prospective randomized trials are needed to validate their effectiveness for cHP.

Minimally Invasive Methods for Staging in Lung Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a procedure that provides access to the mediastinal staging; however, EBUS cannot be used to stage all of the nodes in the mediastinum. In these cases, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is used for complete staging. Objective. To provide a synthesis of the evidence on the diagnostic performance of EBUS + EUS in patients undergoing mediastinal staging. Methods. Systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EBUS + EUS compared with surgical staging. Two researchers performed the literature search, quality assessments, data extractions, and analyses. We produced a meta-analysis including sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio analysis. Results. Twelve primary studies (1515 patients) were included; two were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ten were prospective trials. The pooled sensitivity for combined EBUS + EUS was 87% (CI 84-89%) and the specificity was 99% (CI 98-100%). For EBUS + EUS performed with a single bronchoscope group, the sensitivity improved to 88% (CI 83.1-91.4%) and specificity improved to 100% (CI 99-100%). Conclusion. EBUS + EUS is a highly accurate and safe procedure. The combined procedure should be considered in selected patients with lymphadenopathy noted at stations that are not traditionally accessible with conventional EBUS.

Pirfenidone for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

UNLABELLED: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with poor prognosis. In the last decades pirfenidone an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic agent has shown benefit in inhibit collagen production and has also demonstrated benefit in decline progression in IPF in physiological outcomes as Forced vital capacity (FVC), in clinical outcomes such as progression free survival (PFS) and a benefit in mortality but no in clinically relevant outcomes as exacerbations or worsening of IPF. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of physiological and clinical outcomes of pirfenidone compared to placebo in IPF. We performed a search with no language restriction. Two researchers performed literature search, quality assessment, data extraction and analysis. And was performed a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach. RESULTS: We included 5 RCTs (Randomized controlled trials) in analysis. The meta-analysis resulted in a decrease in all cause-mortality (RR 0.52 IC 0.32-0.88) and IPF related mortality (RR 0.32 IC 0.14-0.75); other outcomes evaluated were worsening of IPF (RR 0.64 IC 0.50-0.83) and acute exacerbation (RR: 0.72 IC 0.30-1.66 respectively). Also there was a decrease in the risk of progression (RR of PFS: 0.82 IC 0.73­0.92) compared to placebo. Conclusions: We observed significant differences in physiologic and clinically relevant outcomes such as reduction in all-cause mortality, IPF related mortality, worsening of IPF and improvement of PFS. So pirfenidone treatment should be considered not only for its benefits in pulmonary function tests but also by its clinically relevant outcomes [corrected].

CT and physiologic determinants of dyspnea and exercise capacity during the six-minute walk test in mild COPD.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore physiological responses to the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and assess computed tomographic (CT) features of the lungs and thigh muscle in order to determine contributors to dyspnea intensity and exercise limitation in dyspneic and non-dyspneic subjects with GOLD-1 COPD and controls. METHODS: We compared Borg dyspnea ratings, ventilatory responses to 6MWT, and CT-measures of emphysema, airway lumen caliber, and cross-sectional area of the thigh muscle (RTMCT-CSA) in 19 dyspneic, 22 non-dyspneic, and 30 control subjects. RESULTS: Dyspneic subjects walked less and experienced greater exertional breathlessness than non-dyspneic (105 m less and 2.4 Borg points more, respectively) and control subjects (94 m less and 2.6 Borg points more, respectively (P < 005 for all comparisons). At rest, dyspneic subjects had significant greater expiratory airflow obstruction, air trapping, ventilation/perfusion mismatch, burden of emphysema, narrower airway lumen, and lower RTMCT-CSA than comparison subjects. During walking dyspneic subjects had a decreased inspiratory capacity (IC) along with high ventilatory demand. Dyspneic subjects exhibited higher end-exercise tidal expiratory flow limitation and oxygen saturation drop than comparison subjects. In regression analysis, dyspnea intensity was best explained by ΔIC and forced expiratory volume in 1 s %predicted. RTMCT-CSA and ΔIC were independent determinants of distance walked. CONCLUSIONS: Among subjects with mild COPD, those with daily-life dyspnea have worse exercise outcomes; distinct lung and thigh muscle morphologic features; and different pulmonary physiologic characteristics at rest and exercise. ΔIC was the main contributor to dyspnea intensity and ΔIC and thigh muscle wasting were determinants of exercise capacity.

Patrón de lectura radiológica digital para la clasificación de imágenes compatibles con silicosis / Digital reading radiation pattern for classification of image about silicosis (P0140-2013)

La silicosis es una enfermedad sin tratamiento. El programa de vigilancia de trabajadores expuestos a sílice está diseñado para detectarla lo más precozmente posible mediante una radiografía de tórax. A pesar de su rol fundamental, esta adolece de una gran variabilidad técnica y de interpretación. Para disminuir estos fenómenos, la OIT creó un sistema de clasificación ampliamente usado en Chile y el mundo. Este se basó en la radiografía análoga, la que ha sido reemplazada por el mismo set análogo, digitalizado. Si bien la OIT permite el uso de este nuevo tipo de imagen, indica que el patrón de comparación debe seguir siendo el análogo. Muchos estudios han demostrado que es mejor utilizar patrones de comparación digitales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue generar un set de radiografías digitales que representen las profusiones centrales de opacidades redondas del sistema de clasificación OIT. De un universo de 32.826 radiografías de pacientes expuestos a sílice, se obtuvo 252 radiografías, de las cuales 54 fueron informadas por 3 lectores acreditados, seleccionándose 8 casos que contaban con opacidades redondas puras de diferentes profusiones, las que se proponen como patrón digital para Chile.

Silicosis is a disease without treatment. The surveillance program for workers exposed to silica is designed to detect as early as possible by a chest radiograph. Despite its fundamental role, it suffers from a great technique and interpretation variability. To reduce these phenomena, the ILO created a classification system widely used in Chile and the world. This was based on analog radiography, which has been replaced by the same analog set, digitized. While the ILO permits the use of this new type of image it indicates that the pattern comparison must remain analog. Many studies have shown that it is best to use digital comparison patterns. The objective of this work was to generate a set of digital x-rays representing the central profusion of round opacities of ILO classification system. From a universe of 32,826 x-rays of patients exposed to silica, 252 films, of which 54 were reported for 3 accredited readers, selected 8 cases that had pure round opacities of different profusions was obtained, which are proposed as digital pattern for Chile.

[Are residents and interns prepared for teaching? Perceptions of undergraduate and graduate medical students]. / ¿Están preparados los residentes e internos para enseñar? Percepción de estudiantes de medicina de pre y postgrado.

BACKGROUND: Every doctor is expected to be competent in teaching. There are few initiatives to prepare medical students for this role. AIM: To explore residents (graduate students) and interns (final year undergraduate students) perceptions of the importance of acquiring teaching skills and how prepared they feel to meet this role. To determine the importance that undergraduate students give to such teaching. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Residents and interns participated in focus groups, and completed the Medical Education Readiness Questionnaire (METRQ), 5th year medical students were also invited to complete it. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy seven subjects answered the questionnaire. The perceived importance of having teaching skills was 6.1 +/-1.2 among residents and 5.7 +/- 1.6 among interns, in a scale 1 to 7. Their perception of their own preparation for teaching was 4.3 +/- 1.6 for both groups in the same scale. Students evaluated the preparation of the residents for teaching as 5.2 +/- 1.6 and that of the interns as 4.4 +/-1.7. Seventy-eight percent of 5th year medical students reported to learn more than two. 5 hours a week from residents. Fifty-nine percent of residents and 66% of interns reported to teach up to 2.5 hours per week to the same students. Focus groups participants agreed that teaching is an important role for a physician, and that to do it properly requires personal characteristics, along with teaching skills. They also found that the best opportunities to learn how to teach are during practical training. CONCLUSIONS. Our study contributes to the recognition of the teaching role of physicians and the need for teaching training among medical students.