Dramatic response to nivolumab after local radiotherapy in pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with rapid progressive post-surgical recurrence.

Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) is resistant to anticancer drug treatment, outcomes are poor, and no standard therapy has been established. High PD-L1 expression has been found in PPCs, suggesting the possible efficacy of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in cancer immunotherapy; however, this approach requires further investigation through case accumulation. Herein, we report a case of rapid recurrence and progression of PPC early after surgery in a 70-year-old male ex-smoker. Surgery was performed for lung cancer of the right lower lobe, and a pathological examination indicated primary PPC with high PD-L1 expression (tumor proportion score: 90%). Because systemic metastasis recurred only six weeks after surgery, nivolumab was administered as second-line treatment. Marked tumor regression was observed on imaging after three cycles, revealing a near complete response. Palliative radiotherapy was applied to the bone metastasis region for pain relief before nivolumab was administered. This case suggests that an ICI can have an effect on PPC and that the efficacy of ICIs may be enhanced by radiotherapy-induced abscopal effects.

Sudden Death Due to Recent Hemorrhage From an Intrathoracic Chronic Expanding Hematoma.

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is a rare disease that can develop in any region of the body, but it most frequently develops in the thorax. When intrathoracic CEH is left untreated, gradually expanding hematoma can be life-threatening, leading to respiratory failure or hemoptysis. We encountered an 89-year-old man with cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival. He had been healthy, and it was unclear whether CEH had previously been detected. A very large mass was observed on chest computed tomography (CT), but the cause of death could not be determined. In the autopsy, this mass was identified as CEH and no malignant findings were noted. A fresh hemorrhage had occurred in the hematoma and perforated the bronchial lumen, which caused airway obstruction/asphyxia and resulted in sudden death. CEH should be suspected when a very large tumorous lesion occupying the entire hemithorax is observed on chest imaging, and it is important to recognize that sudden death can occur in the natural course of CEH.

Bronchoscopic local steroid spray to prevent bronchial tuberculosis-induced cicatricial bronchial stenosis: A case series.

RATONALE: Cicatricial bronchial stenosis or obstruction occurring in the healing process of endobronchial tuberculosis (ET) is a problematic complication of tuberculous airway lesions. Prevention by internal medical treatment is desired. PATIENT CONCERNS: This case series describes four patients who diagnosed ET with Type IIIb (protruding ulcer-type) based on Arai's classification of bronchoscopic findings of bronchial tuberculosis. DIAGNOSES: Endobronchial tuberculosis. INTERVENTIONS: A local steroid spray was applied bronchoscopically to active protruding ulcer-type lesions (which are likely to cause cicatricial stenosis) that extended in the transverse direction and occupied one-half or more of the circumference on bronchoscopy. OUTCOMES: Cicatricial stenosis was prevented in two of four patients. Treatment was discontinued in athird patient because tolerance could not be achieved, although the patient's condition had improved. In the fourth patient, treatment was switched to systemic steroid administration because of a problem with tolerance and the broad range of the lesion; however, stenosis remained. LESSONS: Local steroid spray-applied bronchoscopically to bronchial tuberculosis lesions in the ulcer formation and granulation periods may help prevent stenosis.

Tuberculous pleurisy mimicking Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in a previously healthy young adult: A case report.

RATONALE: Sometimes, pleural effusion accompanying an acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection or tuberculous pleurisy has similar analysis results. We report a case of tuberculous pleurisy which was initially diagnosed as acute M pneumoniae infection, which is of special interest because anti-Mycoplasma antibody results were positive, which served as a red herring. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 20-year-old woman visited the outpatient emergency romm of our hospital for chief complaints of high fever, dry cough, and pleuralgia persiting for 2 days. Since anti-mycoplasma antibody test results were positive, we treated acute M pneumoniae infection and drained her pleural effusion. The condition tended to improve, but on day 16 postadmission, the acid-fast bacterial culture of the pleural effusion was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. DIAGNOSES: Tuberculous pleurisy. INTERVENTIONS: After the diagnosis, the patient received antituberculous drugs. OUTCOMES: She completed treatment with no noticeable adverse events, and the right pleural effusion disappered and diffuse right pleural thickening improved. LESSONS: Exudative pleural effusion with lymphocyte dominance and a high adenosine deaminase level in M pneumoniae infection have been reported. Even though the condition suggests acute M pneumoniae infection, clinicians should be aware that tuberculous pleurisy and M pneumoniae infection can share similar clinical features, and should understand the usefulness and limitations of the anit-Mycoplasma antibody test.

Transbronchial drainage using endobronchial ultrasonography with guide sheath for lung abscess: A case report.

RATIONALE: Lung abscess was previously treated surgically, but is now mainly treated with antibiotics and ideally with direct drainage, although postural drainage canalso be used. PATIENT CONCERNS: A chest abnormal shadow was detected in an 82-year-old man and he was referred to our department in November 2017. On chest computed tomography (CT), a low-density mass shadow was present in the left S8 segment. Lung abscess and lung cancer were considered as differential diagnoses, and treatment with sulbactam sodium/ampicillin sodium (SBT/ABPC) was first initiated for lung abscess. The etiologic agent could not be identified by sputum examination, and the abscess shadow remained. DIAGNOSES: Lung abscess. INTERVENTIONS: Endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS)-guided bronchoscopy was performed on hospital day 21 to diagnose the lesion, identify the etiologic agent if the lesion was a lung abscess, and attempt drainage. Vacuum aspiration performed in the guide sheath after the probe was placed within the lesion produced 4-5 ml of gray turbid pus, and the abscess was judged to have been drained. OUTCOMES: A subsequent pathological examination did not detect malignant cells. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Prevotella spp. was identified as the etiologic agent in bacteriological tests. Antibiotics were changed based on sensitivity test results, and drainage was similarly performed on hospital day 28. The shadow gradually improved and disappeared. Therefore, this procedure and treatment led to identification of the etiologic agent and helped with cure of the disease. LESSONS: Based on the basic principle of treatment for abscess using as much drainage as possible, EBUS-GS-guided transbronchial drainage may be considered to be a "new procedure" for lung abscess.

Report on the breakage of the tip of a radial endobronchial ultrasonic probe sheath during bronchoscopy.

A lesion in a 73-year-old woman that was suspected to be right lung cancer was biopsied under ultrasound-guided bronchoscopy with a guide sheath. The procedure was completed without a noticeable problem, but after 3 days, it was found that the tip of the ultrasonic probe sheath was broken and that the broken fragment was missing. Based on the concern that the fragment had been left in the lung, the patient was examined by computed tomography scan 4 days after the biopsy, and bronchoscopy was repeated 38 days after the biopsy, but no fragment was detected. These procedures and an investigation by the Olympus Corporation led to the conclusion that the fragment was not in the lung, and it was not found in a subsequent surgical specimen. Breakage of devices may occur at any time regardless of progression of fatigue (wear) with increased use, and thorough device management before, during, and after use is important.

An Autopsied Case of Malignant Sarcomatoid Pleural Mesothelioma in Which Chest Pain Developed Several Months Earlier without Abnormality on Imaging.

The patient experienced chest pain for about 7 months, but a diagnosis could not be made until after death. He was diagnosed with malignant sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma on autopsy. In this case report, difficult aspects of the diagnosis are discussed. The 70-year-old Japanese man was a driver who transported ceramic-related products. Right chest pain developed in July 2013, but no abnormality was detected on a chest computed tomography (CT) performed in September 2013, and the pain was managed as right intercostal neuralgia. A chest CT performed in late October 2013 revealed a right pleural effusion, and the patient was referred to our hospital in early November 2013. Thoracentesis was performed, but the cytology was negative, and no diagnosis could be made. Close examination was postponed because the patient developed a subarachnoid hemorrhage. He underwent (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) after discharge from the neurosurgery department, and extensive right pleural thickening and (18)F-FDG accumulation in this region were observed. Based on these findings, malignant pleural mesothelioma was suspected, and a thoracoscopy was performed under local anesthesia in early December 2013, but no definite diagnosis could be made. The patient selected best supportive care and died about 7 months after the initial development of right chest pain. The disease was definitively diagnosed as malignant sarcomatoid pleural mesothelioma by a pathological autopsy. When chronic chest pain of unknown cause is observed and past exposure to asbestos is suspected, actions to prevent delay in diagnosis should be taken, including testing for suspicion of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Three Adult Cases of HPV-B19 Infection with Concomitant Leukopenia and Low Platelet Counts.

We encountered three adult patients with flu-like symptoms diagnosed with human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) infection. Blood serum analysis also revealed leukopenia, with white blood cell counts (WBCs) of 1,000-2,000/mL and low platelet counts of 89-150 × 10(9)/L. Typical skin rash was absent in one patient. Bone marrow examination of another patient showed hypoplastic marrow with <5% blast cells. All patients recovered without administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Therefore, HPV-B19 infection with leukopenia should be considered in adult patients with leukopenia during erythema infectiosum epidemics, even if typical clinical findings (ie, skin rash) are absent. Further, the fact that three cases were observed over the stated time period at our hospital, which is located in Nagoya city, showed a transition to a slightly higher level of incidence than the annual average.

Required thoracic drainage through the respiratory tract during transbronchial biopsy using EBUS-GS.

A 71-year-old woman was referred to our department due to an abnormal chest shadow. Imaging revealed a pulmonary nodule shadow in the left S6 segment, multiple small nodule shadows in the left pleura, and left pleural effusion. Transbronchial biopsy using endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) with a guide sheath was conducted. EBUS showed the probe of the sheath located in the lesion and biopsy was performed in this area. A yellow turbid fluid appeared in the sheath and vacuum aspiration resulted in collection of 200 mL of this fluid. We suspected that drainage occurred because the sheath tip had ruptured the pleural cavity. The pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. It is likely that the EBUS images reflected pleural effusion adjacent to the lesion, and that the complication occurred because the biopsy was performed without awareness of these findings. This complication may be prevented by closer examination of echo findings and rotation of the X-ray source to ensure performance of the biopsy directly under the pleura.