Obstructive Fibrinous Tracheal Pseudomembrane.

Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) is a rare and potentially severe complication of endotracheal intubation characterized by a tubular pseudomembrane that obstructs the trachea and induces clinical symptoms of airway obstruction after extubation. In this report, we reviewed and summarized all published cases of OFTP (n = 58) between 1981 and 2015. Twenty-three of 52 patients were men, and the mean age was 36 ± 22 years. Intubation was emergent in 41 of 53 cases. OFTP was revealed by acute symptoms in 19 of 39 cases and led to acute respiratory failure in 13 of 39 cases. Symptoms occurred 3 ± 3 days after extubation. A tracheal obstruction ≥70% was observed in 14 of 18 cases. Bronchoscopic removal was performed in 49 of 58 cases with no recurrence. In conclusion, OFTP is characterized by a typical clinical and endoscopic presentation, with no recurrence after bronchoscopic removal. Early recognition and bronchoscopy are key elements for efficient diagnosis and treatment.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C and sensibility of a selective screening questionnaire in patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Reactivation of hepatitis B or C virus can occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Recommendations for selective or systematic hepatitis B virus testing prior chemotherapy for solid tumors differ. The primary aim was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B or C in a low endemic country. The second objective was to assess the relevance of a questionnaire on hepatitis B/C risk factors to consider a selective screening. METHODS: Patients were prospectively tested for hepatitis B/C markers. HBs antigen positive patients and isolated anti-HBc positive patients with detectable viral load received antiviral preventive treatment. Patients or physicians completed the questionnaire on infection risk factors. RESULTS: Among the 450 patients included, 388 were tested for all serological markers and had gastrointestinal (63.7%), lung (31.2%) and skin (4.6%) cancers. The prevalence of subjects exposed to hepatitis B virus was 8.5% (33/388). One patient tested positive for HBs antigen and received preventive treatment. Prevalence of subjects exposed to hepatitis C was 1.3% (5/388). The questionnaire sensitivity was 45.5%, 100% and 50% for detecting carriers of hepatitis B, C and one or the other, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B was low. Selective screening with the questionnaire was insufficiently sensitive. Systematic screening with serological tests prior to chemotherapy in patients with solid tumors is therefore relevant.

Incidental gastrointestinal 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake associated with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is increasingly used for the initial staging and restaging of lung cancer. Incidental gastrointestinal findings are often observed on (18)F-FDG PET/CT. The objective of this study was to assess incidental 18F-FDG uptake by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Two hundred thirty consecutive 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations performed for lung cancer over a 3-year period were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of incidental FDG uptake in the GIT. The charts of patients with positive FDG uptake were then reviewed and analysed to determine the GIT uptake sites, the standardized uptake value (SUV) max and the final clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (52/230, 23%) demonstrated incidental FDG uptake in the GIT. Thirty-three patients (63.5%) had diffuse uptake (oesophagus, n = 2, colon, n = 31) and 19 patients (36.5%) had focal uptake (oesophagus, n = 1, small bowel, n = 1, ascending colon, n = 5, descending colon, n = 4, sigmoid, n = 4, rectum, n = 3, and anal margin, n = 1). Twelve of the 52 patients with GIT uptake were further investigated, revealing, a diagnosis of malignancy in 4 patients with focal FDG uptake. No significant differences in mean SUVmax were observed between patients with malignant and benign GIT diseases. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high incidence of FDG uptake in the GIT associated with lung cancer. Focal GIT uptake was frequently associated with malignant disease. These results suggest that further GIT investigations should be performed in patients with focal GIT uptake.

Delay of airway epithelial wound repair in COPD is associated with airflow obstruction severity.

BACKGROUND: Airway epithelium integrity is essential to maintain its role of mechanical and functional barrier. Recurrent epithelial injuries require a complex mechanism of repair to restore its integrity. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an abnormal airway epithelial repair may participate in airway remodeling. The objective was to determine if airway epithelial wound repair of airway epithelium is abnormal in COPD. METHODS: Patients scheduled for lung resection were prospectively recruited. Demographic, clinical data and pulmonary function tests results were recorded. Emphysema was visually scored and histological remodeling features were noted. Primary bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) were extracted and cultured for wound closure assay. We determined the mean speed of wound closure (MSWC) and cell proliferation index, matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and cytokines levels in supernatants of BEC 18 hours after cell wounding. In a subset of patients, bronchiolar epithelial cells were also cultured for wound closure assay for MSWC analyze. RESULTS: 13 COPD and 7 non COPD patients were included. The severity of airflow obstruction and the severity of emphysema were associated with a lower MSWC in BEC (p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.15-0.80]; p = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.77;-0.03] respectively). Cell proliferation index was decreased in COPD patients (19 ± 6% in COPD vs 27 ± 3% in non COPD, p = 0.04). The severity of COPD was associated with a lower level of MMP-2 (7.8 ± 2 10(5) AU in COPD GOLD D vs 12.8 ± 0.13 10(5) AU in COPD GOLD A, p = 0.04) and a lower level of IL-4 (p = 0.03, 95% CI [0.09;0.87]). Moreover, higher levels of IL-4 and IL-2 were associated with a higher MSWC (p = 0.01, 95% CI [0.17;0.89] and p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.09;0.87] respectively). Clinical characteristics and smoking history were not associated with MSWC, cell proliferation index or MMP and cytokines levels. Finally, we showed an association of the MSWC of bronchial and corresponding bronchiolar epithelial cells obtained from the same patients (p = 0.02, 95% CI [0.12;0.89]). CONCLUSION: Our results showed an abnormal bronchial epithelial wound closure process in severe COPD. Further studies are needed to elucidate the contribution and the regulation of this mechanism in the complex pathophysiology of COPD.

Nuclear protein in testis carcinoma of the mediastinum: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Nuclear protein in testis carcinoma is a rare and very aggressive undifferentiated cancer which characteristically arises in the midline of the head, neck, and mediastinum. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a 46-year-old white woman admitted for superior vena cava syndrome revealing a mediastinal tumor. Pathological examination of specimens obtained by mediastinoscopy revealed an undifferentiated tumor with solid growth and positive immunoreactivity for p40 and negative immunoreactivity for cytokeratin markers. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for nuclear protein in testis, allowing the diagnosis of nuclear protein in testis midline carcinoma of the mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: We present a rare case of mediastinal nuclear protein in testis carcinoma with diagnosis based on nuclear protein in testis protein positivity and atypical immunohistochemical features including p40 positivity and anti-cytokeratin negativity. Physicians must remain aware of the possibility of nuclear protein in testis carcinoma especially in young patients with thoracic symptoms and suspicion of neoplasm.

Tracheobronchial Involvement of Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD) is a rare non-neoplastic entity, also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML), characterized by a benign proliferation of histiocytes in lymph nodes. Localized forms of RDD involving the tracheobronchial tree are very rare. There is no consensus regarding the management of central airway forms and recurrence is frequent. We report the case of an 81-year-old Caucasian woman admitted in 2014 for chronic cough. Her main medical past history included a diagnosis of sinonasal RDD in 1996 with recurrent obstructive rhinosinusitis requiring repeated sinonasal surgery, and a diagnosis of tracheal RDD in 2010 with 2 asymptomatic smooth lesions (5 and 7 mm) on the anterior tracheal wall. Physical examination was normal in 2014. Pulmonary function tests showed an obstructive pattern. Computed tomographic scan revealed a mass arising from the anterior wall of the trachea that projects into the tracheal lumen. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a hypervascular multilobular lesion (2 cm) arising from the anterior tracheal wall and causing 50% obstruction of the tracheal lumen. Mechanical resection with electrocoagulation of the tracheal mass was performed by rigid bronchoscopy with no complication. Histological examination demonstrated tracheal RDD. One year after endotracheal resection, the patient presented no recurrence of cough and the obstructive pattern had resolved. Reports on tracheobronchial involvement are scarce. Symptomatic tracheobronchial obstruction requires mechanical resection by rigid bronchoscopy or surgery. Recurrence is frequent, justifying long-term follow-up.