Sarcoidosis or cancer? That is the question.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Sarcoid like granuloma may develop concurrently or following cancer. Detection of granuloma in mediastinal lymph nodes biopsy in patient with pulmonary nodules may be a concern for undiagnosed lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a diagnostic modality of choice for the lung lesions. We discussed A 71-year-old man with history of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), who presented with a lung nodule and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. The nodule was 9.9 mm when detected and his endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) of lymph nodes in station 7 & 4R showed normal lymph node structure. Two years later, his surveillance chest CT scan indicated an increase in the size of the nodule to 15 mm, and PET/CT showed Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid nodule & mediastinal Lymph nodes. He complained of Shortness of breath after 2-3 climbs of stairs, without any history of cough or fever. He quit cigarette smoking recently and smoked 50 pack years before. He underwent another set of EBUS and was referred for sarcoidosis treatment due to finding non-necrotizing granuloma in 4L and 11L lymph nodes. The patient also underwent another biopsy of the nodule concerning the possibility of cancer sarcoid syndrome. A poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma positive for GATA3, positive for P63 and CK7, TTF-1 was reported. Concurrent lung cancer and granulomatous reaction in mediastinal lymph nodes are being reported more often. Recent studies have shown a better survival of patients with diagnosis of cancer and granulomatous findings of sarcoidosis. Performing lung biopsy from any nodular lesion in a patient with sarcoidosis is essential for the differential diagnosis and early therapeutic measures.

Lack of tocilizumab effect on mortality in COVID19 patients.

Off-label tocilizumab use in COVID-19 patients reflects concern for cytokine release syndrome. Comparison of matched COVID-19 pneumonia patients found elevated IL-6 levels correlated with mortality that did not change with tocilizumab administration. Correlating mortality with increased IL-6 doesn't imply causality however lack of improvement by tocilizumab requires further clinical trial alterations.

Signs, Symptoms and Complications of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma According to Grade and Stage in South Iran.

BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous type of neoplasm of the lymphatic system. To have a more accurate and early diagnosis we need to know signs, symptoms and complications of lymphoma in early stages besides pathology and immunohistochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 110 cases of NHL that were followed since February 2012 till November 2013. Biopsies were taken from all the patients besides bone marrow study. Signs and symptoms were categorized into "B" symptoms, general, lymphadenopathy and extranodal involvement and we compared the frequencies by stage and grade. RESULTS: Of 110 cases, 88.9% had B-cell and 11.1% T-cell type with mean age 48.5±18.6 years. "B" symptoms and lymphadenopathy were more common in men. Cervical lymphadenopathy was the most common sign (44.8%). and hematologic, bone marrow, bone and neurologic lesions were the most common complications. All complications were more common in males. "B" symptoms were seen mostly in stage III, general signs and symptoms in stage IV, and lymphadenopathy in stage II. Intermediate grade was also the most common in all signs and symptoms. In this study 12 (10.9%) patients had relapse, with neurologic and bone marrow as the most common sites of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: There is a meaningful relationship between male gender for NHL and anemia that can be due in part to higher incidence of bone marrow involvement and stage IV disease in male cases. We also found a strong relationship between low grade NHL and age. On the other hand extranodal involvement is more common in female groups.