Tracheopathia osteoplastica: clinical, radiologic, and pathological correlations.

The clinical, radiologic, and pathological features of tracheopathia osteoplastica are reviewed and three new cases are reported. Tracheopathia osteoplastica is usually not diagnosed until autopsy. However, it may be a surprise finding to the endoscopist and occasionally it may produce signs and symptoms of upper airway obstruction and enter into the differential diagnosis of a tumor of the trachea. The chest radiograph may permit the correct clinical diagnosis to be made. The pathological diagnosis is easy with adequate tissue. Because tracheopathia is a lesion predominantly of old age with little associated morbidity or mortality, the correct clinical diagnosis will prevent unnecessary operation.

Evaluation of the effect of sodium selenate on the growth of mycobacterial stock cultures.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of sodium selenate supplementation (5 micrograms/mL) on the growth characteristics of a variety of mycobacterial isolates. Supplemented Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 agar were compared to nonsupplemented media. Eighteen mycobacterium stock isolates were tested. Selenate supplementation had no predictable or consistent growth stimulatory effect as compared with nonsupplemented media.

Fibrous histiocytoma of the trachea.

The light and electron microscopic features of a fibrous histiocytoma of the trachea that occurred in a 15-year-old Caucasian girl are presented. Emphasis is placed on the aggresive behavior and the importance of early recognition of the lesion in an unusual location.

Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium in pregnancy.

Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with intrauterine pregnancy is extremely rare. This report presents the finding of an adenoacanthoma of the endometrium discovered during therapeutic abortion and compares it with 6 other cases previously published. Four of the 7 tumors were adenocanthomas, a neoplasm that accounts for 20-30% of endometrial adenocarcinoma in the general population. Follow-up on 4 of the 6 previously reported patients indicates that 3 are well more than 5 years after diagnosis. The 1 patient who died of disease had an adenoacanthoma and was the only patient with extensive myometrial invasion at hysterectomy. The patient described in the present report is well 2 1/2 years after hysterectomy.

Cephalexin-supplemented Jones-Kendrick charcoal agar for selective isolation of Bordetella pertussis: comparison with previously described media.

Four agar media, Jones-Kendrick (JK) charcoal agar unsupplemented, JK agar supplemented with 0.5 U of penicillin per ml, JK medium supplemented with 2.5 micrograms of methicillin per ml, and JK medium supplemented with 40 micrograms of cephalexin per ml, were evaluated to determine their ability to support growth of Bordetella pertussis, their ability to selectively inhibit normal pharyngeal flora while maintaining growth of B. pertussis, and their stability during storage. Five stock cultures of B. pertussis were plated on each of the media. Penicillin- and cephalexin-supplemented media were more inhibitory for early growth of B. pertussis than was medium supplemented with methicillin. However, after 5 days of incubation at 35 degrees C, all media supported good growth of this organism. When employed to detect B. pertussis in sham specimens, prepared by mixing normal pharyngeal material with each of the five B. pertussis stock cultures, the medium containing cephalexin was judged superior to all other media tested in its combined ability to suppress the growth of normal pharyngeal flora and to allow early detection of Bordetella colonies. All media tested retained their efficacy after 9 weeks of storage at 2 to 8 degrees C.