Analysis of invasive diagnostic techniques for pathological confirmation of pleural mesothelioma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mesothelioma is an infrequent neoplasm with a poor prognosis that is related to exposure to asbestos and whose peak incidence in Europe is estimated from 2020. Its diagnosis is complex; imaging techniques and the performance of invasive pleural techniques being essential for pathological confirmation. The different diagnostic yields of these invasive techniques are collected in the medical literature. The present work consisted of reviewing how the definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma cases in our centre was reached to check if there was concordance with the data in the bibliography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in the period 2019-2021, analysing demographic data and exposure to asbestos, the semiology of the radiological findings and the invasive techniques performed to reach the diagnosis. RESULTS: Twenty-six mesothelioma cases were reviewed. 22 men and 4 women. Median age 74 years. 9 patients had a history of asbestos exposure. Moderate-severe pleural effusion was the most frequent radiological finding (23/26). The sensitivity of the invasive techniques was as follows: Cytology 13%, biopsy without image guidance 11%, image-guided biopsy 93%, surgical biopsy 67%. CONCLUSIONS: In our review, pleural biopsy performed with image guidance was the test that had the highest diagnostic yield, so it should be considered as the initial invasive test for the study of mesothelioma.

Pictorial Review of Pleural Disease: Multimodality Imaging and Differential Diagnosis.

The pleura is a thin, smooth, soft-tissue structure that lines the pleural cavity and separates the lungs from the chest wall, consisting of the visceral and parietal pleurae and physiologic pleural fluid. There is a broad spectrum of normal variations and abnormalities in the pleura, including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and pleural thickening. Pneumothorax is associated with pulmonary diseases and is caused by iatrogenic or traumatic factors. Chest radiography and US help detect pneumothorax with various signs, and CT can also help assess the causes. Pleural effusion occurs in a wide spectrum of diseases, such as heart failure, cirrhosis, asbestos-related diseases, infections, chylothorax, and malignancies. Chest US allows detection of a small pleural effusion and evaluation of echogenicity or septa in pleural effusion. Pleural thickening may manifest as unilateral or bilateral and as focal, multifocal, or diffuse. Various diseases can demonstrate pleural thickening, such as asbestos-related diseases, neoplasms, and systemic diseases. CT, MRI, and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT can help differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Knowledge of these features can aid radiologists in suggesting diagnoses and recommending further examinations with other imaging modalities. The authors provide a comprehensive review of the clinical and multimodality imaging findings of pleural diseases and their differential diagnoses. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Case report of parapneumonic effusion and mesothelial subdiaphragmatic cyst: relationship or coincidence?

Parapneumonic pleural effusions are common in patients with pneumonia. When colonized by pathogenic bacteria or other microorganisms, these effusions can progress to empyema. Additionally, empyema formation may result in extension of the infection into the infradiaphragmatic region, further complicating the clinical scenario. Many subphrenic collections are found to be mesothelial cysts, which are congenital in origin. However, data regarding the potential association between mesothelial diaphragmatic cysts and parapneumonic effusions are limited. We herein describe a toddler with pneumonia complicated by parapneumonic effusion and a lung abscess with a subphrenic collection. After abscess drainage and a full course of antibiotics, imaging revealed clear lung parenchyma with an interval resolution of the effusion and a persistent unchanged subphrenic collection that was confirmed to be mesothelial diaphragmatic cyst. This case highlights the fact that not every subphrenic collection associated with parapneumonic effusion is a communicated collection formed by seeding. Such a collection can instead be an incidental cyst, which is congenital in origin and known as a mesothelial diaphragmatic cyst. A diaphragmatic mesothelial cyst is an uncommon benign congenital cyst that is unrelated to an adjacent parapneumonic effusion. It is usually incidental and can be monitored without invasive intervention.

Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Undergoing Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty Are at Increased Risk for Perioperative Complications.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are living longer and may be considered for total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Perioperative outcomes and implant survival after these procedures performed for those with CF have not been previously described. METHODS: Using the M151 PearlDiver database, a large, national, administrative database, THA and TKA patients with and without CF were identified and matched 1:10 based on age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. Ninety-day perioperative outcomes and 2-year revision rates were assessed and compared with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: For THA, 185 patients with CF were matched with 1,846 control subjects without CF. Patients with CF were at significantly increased odds of 90-day postoperative events including sepsis (odd radio [OR] 4.15), pneumonia (OR 3.40), pleural effusion (OR 2.77), minor events (OR 1.73), any adverse event (OR 1.64), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 1.63), and severe events (OR 1.60) ( P < 0.05 for each). For TKA, 505 patients with CF were matched with 5,047 control subjects without CF. Patients with CF were at significantly increased odds of 90-day postoperative events including pneumonia (OR 4.95), respiratory failure (OR 4.31), cardiac event (OR 2.29), minor events (OR 2.16), pleural effusion (OR 2.35), severe events (OR 2.06), urinary tract infection (OR 2.06), any adverse event (OR 1.96), atelectasis (OR 1.94), and acute kidney injury (OR 1.61) ( P < 0.05 for each). For both THA and TKA, those with CF were not at greater odds of 2-year rates of revision. DISCUSSION: After THA and TKA, those with CF were found to be at increased odds of multiple defined postoperative events (predominantly infectious/pulmonary), but not 2-year revision rates. These findings help define areas in need of focused optimization and are reassuring regarding risks of surgery.

Outcome and etiology of fetal pleural effusion, fetal ascites and hydrops fetalis after fetal intervention: retrospective observational cohort from a single institution.

OBJECTIVES: Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is the pathological accumulation of fluids in fetal compartments, without maternal isoimmunization. Fetal interventions (e.g. shunting, fetal paracentesis, fetal thoracocentesis, fetal pleurodesis) are used to alleviate fluid accumulations, but the outcome is uncertain because the underlying causes of NIHF vary. We aimed to explore the etiology and long-term outcome of NIHF after fetal intervention. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of fetuses with NIHF, defined by the presence of fetal ascites, pleural or pericardial effusion, skin edema or cystic hygroma, or a combination of these features, who underwent intervention at our institution during the period 2012-2021. Clinical surveillance, genetic analysis and viral infection screening were used to define the etiology. Chart reviews and telephone interviews were conducted to assess the long-term outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 55 fetuses were enrolled and 46 cases had final follow-up data after delivery. Etiology was identified in 33 cases, including four for which the underlying causes were not identified initially using small-gene-panel tests but which were later diagnosed with monogenic disorders by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Twenty-three cases with follow-up survived, having a follow-up period of 2-11 years at the time of writing, of which 17 were healthy. All 11 cases initially presenting as congenital chylothorax survived with favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The etiologies of NIHF are heterogeneous, and the long-term (spanning 2-11 years) outcome of fetal intervention varies, according to the underlying etiology, with cases caused by congenital chylothorax having the best prognosis. Genome-wide tests, such as WES, may be helpful in determining the underlying condition in cases caused by a genetic disorder, and this may affect fetal therapy approaches in the future. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A Rare Presentation of Minimally Invasive Mesothelioma as a Large Tension Pneumothorax.

Development of mesothelioma is associated with asbestos exposure. Common presentations are with pleural-based plaques invading the chest wall and/or pleural effusion on chest imaging. The intent of this case report is to describe a rare presentation of mesothelioma, which presented atypically as a large tension pneumothorax. A 93-year-old male presented with a history of dyspnea that started after a coughing episode. On physical examination he was hemodynamically stable, but was hypoxic requiring 2L of supplemental oxygen. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a large right tension pneumothorax. A chest tube was placed and connected to suction (-20cmH20), but he continued to have an unresolving air leak over the following 2-week period. Upon video-assisted thoracotomy there were no blebs or adhesions seen. Right apical wedge resection and talc pleurodesis were performed. Pathologic examination revealed an atypical mesothelial cell proliferation with minimal, focal invasion into the pulmonary parenchyma. Tumor spread along the visceral pleura was thought to be the underlying cause of the pneumothorax. The surgical margins were uninvolved by the tumor, and the patient was later discharged home in stable condition. This was a rare presentation of what could best be described as minimally invasive mesothelioma arising in a background of probable mesothelioma in situ, which presented atypically as a large tension pneumothorax. This case highlighted the importance of establishing a pathologic diagnosis from pleural effusion cytology and/or pleural biopsy in persons presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax, and the difficulty in confirming a pathologic diagnosis of early mesothelial neoplasia.

Biliotórax: una entidad rara para un diagnóstico frecuente. Un reporte de caso / Bilothorax: a Rare Entity for a Frequent Diagnosis. A Case Report

Introducción: El biliotórax es una condición infrecuente definida por la presencia de bilis en el espacio pleural. Actualmente, hay alrededor de 70 casos descritos en la litera-tura. Sigue siendo relativamente desconocido, por lo tanto, poco sospechado. Esta entidad suele ser el resultado de una lesión iatrogénica, a menudo secundaria a cirugías o traumatismos del tracto biliar, que conduce a la formación de una fístula pleurobiliar.

Introduction: Bilothorax is a rare condition defined by the presence of bile in the pleural space. Currently, there are around 70 cases described in the literature. It remains relatively unknown and, therefore, little suspected. This entity is usually the result of an iatrogenic injury, often secondary to surgery or trauma to the biliary tract, leading to the formation of a pleurobiliary fistula

Disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans presenting with an isolated pleural effusion in a patient receiving temozolomide and long-term steroids.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous environmental organism found worldwide. Infection with this organism occurs predominantly in immunocompromised hosts, including persons living with HIV or those with impaired cellular immunity. Cryptococcal pleural effusions have been described in cases with extensive pulmonary involvement. Here we present the case of a woman receiving temozolomide and steroids for glioblastoma multiforme, who developed cough and dyspnoea and was found to have an uncomplicated pleural effusion. Pleural fluid culture grew Cryptococcus neoformans with negative culture on bronchoalveolar lavage. High serum cryptococcal antigen titre of 1:64 prompted lumbar puncture which demonstrated positive cerebrospinal fluid for Cryptococcus neoformans She was treated with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine, followed by consolidation and maintenance therapy with fluconazole. Pleural involvement in the absence of pulmonary involvement has rarely been reported. We review pulmonary and radiographic manifestations of cryptococcal infection, when to assess for disseminated infection, and management principles.

Surgical Interventions in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pleural and Pulmonary Complications: A Case Series of the Tertiary Thoracic Surgery Center Experience.

Background: In most cases of pulmonary or pleural post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications, surgical interventions are performed to treat these complications, but the method of the surgery and its outcome in these patients is not clearly defined. We present 40 patients with pulmonary and pleural complications after COVID-19 who required surgical intervention. Patients and Methods: In this case series, patients' data were prospectively collected from April to August 2022 at Masih Daneshvari Hospital. Inclusion criteria were patients with COVID-19 who were referred to the thoracic surgery department because of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, empyema, infected or non-infected pneumatocele, and lung cavity with suspected fungal infections. The required intervention for each patient was assessed. Results: Patients' mean age was 49.21 ± 11.5 (30-69 years). Nine patients (22.5%) were female. Pure pleural effusion was reported in five (12.5 %), pneumothorax in eight (20%), empyema in 29 (72.5%), and infected pneumatocele in two patients (5%). Twelve patients had bronchial fistulas that were clarified at the time of surgery that needed repair after resection. In 13 patients (32.5%) because of pleural effusion or pneumothorax, a chest tube was inserted and after two weeks lungs were fully expanded. All patients with pneumothorax were managed by chest tube initially but in the presence of continuous air leakage and non-expanding lungs surgical thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were considered for correction. In 10 patients who required thoracotomy, the chest tube was necessary for more than one month. In most of the patients, there were small cystic lesions or peripheral bronchopleural fistula. In 17 (42.5%) cases of empyema, necrotic pneumonia was documented and eight patients (20%) had aspergillus infection in the pathology report and two patients had a pulmonary abscess. Conclusions: Pleural COVID-19 complications can be treated with conventional surgical methods such as chest tube insertion, and debridement of infected tissue with no mortality and further complications.

A Case of Child Abuse Presenting With a Traumatic Chylothorax.

Chylothorax is a rare cause of pleural effusion in young children and may result from congenital lymphatic abnormalities, trauma, tumors, and systemic infections. Here we discuss a case of a previously healthy toddler who presented to the emergency department with fever and refusal to walk and subsequently developed respiratory distress with concern for impending respiratory failure. A large right sided pleural effusion was identified and ultimately determined to be consistent with chylothorax secondary to inflicted trauma.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Latent Malignant Lymphoma With Acute Exacerbation After Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Case Report.

Concomitant malignant lymphoma at the time of transplantation is usually considered a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignant lymphoma that was latent preoperatively and rapidly became aggravated after LT. A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital with an exacerbation of abdominal distension due to polycystic liver. As cystic infection, ascites, and deteriorated liver reserve function occurred after hepatic artery embolization, he underwent living-donor LT with his daughter as the donor. His respiratory condition worsened, and he was moved to the intensive care unit on postoperative day 34. Histopathologic examination of the excised liver returned around the same time revealed findings suggestive of EBV-associated malignant lymphoma in lymph nodes near the gallbladder. Subsequent computed tomography scans showed apparent neoplastic lesions in the abdominal cavity and worsening pleural effusion and ascites. Numerous atypical lymphocytes were observed in the pleural effusion and ascites, and the patient was diagnosed with exacerbation of EBV-associated malignant lymphoma. He was treated unsuccessfully with rituximab and died 66 days after LT. Caution should be exercised in elderly immunocompromised transplant candidates who may have comorbid EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease.

Differences in Pleural Fluid Amylase Levels in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion Based on Cancer Type, Histologic Type, and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations.

Objective High pleural amylase levels have been reported in patients with malignant pleural effusion; however, the characteristics of this association are uncertain. Therefore, this study investigated the factors, such as cancer type and oncogenic drivers, related to pleural amylase levels in patients with malignant pleural effusion. Methods We retrospectively collected the data of 362 cancer patients [lung adenocarcinoma (n=256), lung squamous carcinoma (n=12), small-cell lung carcinoma (n=32), other lung cancers (n=5), mesothelioma (n=31), and metastatic cancer (n=26)] with malignant pleural effusion at Fukujuji Hospital from January 2012 to October 2022. Pleural amylase levels were compared. Results Pleural amylase levels were significantly higher in patients with lung adenocarcinoma [median 58.6 IU/L (interquartile range (IQR) 33.8-139.3)] than in those with small-cell lung carcinoma [median 37.2 IU/L (IQR 26.3-63.7), p=0.012]. The median pleural amylase level was higher in patients with lung adenocarcinoma than in those with other cancer or histologic types, although the difference was not significant. Pleural amylase levels were higher in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive patients than in EGFR mutation-negative patients [median 95.8 IU/L (IQR 52.7-246.5) vs. median 51.2 IU/L (IQR 27.8-96.9), p<0.001]. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves of pleural amylase ≥75 IU/L were higher than those of pleural amylase <75 IU/L [log-rank test p<0.001, hazard ratio 0.54 (95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.71)]. Conclusion This study demonstrates that pleural amylase levels were elevated in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and EGFR mutations. Furthermore, a high pleural amylase level was associated with a good prognosis.

Ventriculopleural shunt outcomes for pediatric hydrocephalus: a single-institution experience.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze rates of ventriculopleural (VPL) shunt failure and complications among patients with pediatric hydrocephalus, and to analyze which factors may predict early (< 1 year) or late (> 1 year) VPL shunt failure in this sample. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all consecutive VPL shunt placements from 2000 to 2019 at our institution. Data was collected on patient characteristics, shunt history, and shunt type. Primary endpoints include rates of VPL shunt survival and rates of symptomatic pleural effusion. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate shunt survival, and Fisher's exact test and t-test were used to compare differences between categorical variables and means, respectively (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with pediatric hydrocephalus underwent VPL shunt placement (mean age 14.2 years). Of the 27 patients with long-term follow-up (mean 46 months), VPL shunt revision was required in 19, seven of which were due to pleural effusion. Overall shunt survival rates at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 76%, 62%, 55%, and 46%, respectively. Mean duration of shunt survival was 26.74 months. Overall pleural effusion rate was 26%. No patient-specific factors, including shunt valve type, were significantly associated with shunt survival, risk of early revision, or risk of pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are comparable to those reported in the literature and represent one of the largest case series on the topic. VPL shunts are a viable second-line option when ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is not possible or desirable, though there are high rates of shunt revision and pleural effusion.

Comparative study of local versus general anesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for empyema.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the feasibility of performing non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with local anesthesia for parapneumonic effusion and empyema resistant to conservative treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 80 patients who underwent surgery for parapneumonic effusions and empyema between 2015 and 2021. Patients were divided into those who received non-intubated local anesthesia and general anesthesia during surgery. Patient demographics, characteristics, laboratory findings, treatment progress, and treatment outcomes were compared. The primary outcomes were duration of postoperative drainage, postoperative complication rate, and postoperative mortality rate within 30 days. RESULTS: Among patients who received local (n = 21) and general anesthesia (n = 59), there was a significant difference in age (median 79.0 years [interquartile range (IQR) 77.0-80.0] vs. 68.0 years [IQR 54.5-77.5]; p < 0.001), preoperative performance status (3.0 [IQR 2.0-4.0] vs. 2.0 [IQR 1.0-3.0]; p < 0.001), and operative time (69 min [IQR 50-128] vs. 150 min [IQR 107-198]; p < 0.001) but not in preoperative white blood cell count (12,100/µL [IQR 8,400-18000] vs. 12,220/µL [IQR 8,950-16,724]; p = 0.840), C-reactive protein (15.2 mg/dL [8.8-21.3] vs. 17.9 mg/dL [IQR 9.5-23.6]; p = 0.623), postoperative drainage period (11 days [IQR 7-14] vs. 9 days [7-13]; p = 0.216), postoperative hospital stay (22 days [IQR 16-53] vs. 18 days [IQR 12-26]; p = 0.094), reoperation rate (9.5% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.775), postoperative complication rate (19.0% vs. 18.6%; p = 0.132), or postoperative 30-day mortality rate (4.8% vs. 0%; p = 0.587). CONCLUSIONS: VATS using local anesthesia is feasible for patients with treatment-resistant parapneumonic effusion and empyema with poor general condition.

Surgical site wound infection, and other postoperative problems after coronary artery bypass grafting in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis.

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on surgical site wound infection, and other postoperative problems after coronary artery bypass grafting. A systematic literature search up to April 2022 was performed and 37 444 subjects with coronary artery bypass grafting at the baseline of the studies; 4320 of them were with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 33 124 were without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Odds ratio (OR), and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on surgical site wound infection, and other postoperative problems after coronary artery bypass grafting using the dichotomous, and contentious methods with a random or fixed-effect model. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects had a significantly higher surgical site wound infection (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01-1.60, P = 0.04), respiratory failure (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.55-2.18, P < 0.001), mortality (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.37-1.89, P < 0.001), pneumonia (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.97-2.68, P < 0.001), pleural effusion (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.12-2.83, P = 0.02), stroke (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.17-3.36, P = 0.01), and length of intensive care unit stay (MD, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.19-1.26, P = 0.008) after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with subjects without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects did not show any significant difference in length of hospital stay (MD, 0.83; 95% CI, -0.01 to 1.67, P = 0.05), and pneumothorax (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.98-2.59, P = 0.06) after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with subjects without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects had a significantly higher surgical site wound infection, respiratory failure, mortality, pneumonia, pleural effusion, stroke, and length of intensive care unit stay, and no significant difference in length of hospital stay, and pneumothorax after coronary artery bypass grafting compared with subjects without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The analysis of outcomes should be with caution because of the low sample size of 1 out of 11 studies in the meta-analysis and a low number of studies in certain comparisons.

Pleural metastasis from pulmonary primary signet-ring squamous cell carcinoma. Case report and literature review.

Signet-ring cells are morphologically defined by the presence of a large intracytoplasmic vacuole that compresses and displaces the nucleus to the periphery. In most cases, these cells are associated with adenocarcinomas of various locations, and with non-epithelial neoplasms. To date, less than 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma with signet-ring morphology have been described, mainly located on the skin. We present the case of a 73-year-old male with pleural effusion and a left lower lobe mass. The cytological study of the pleural effusion allowed the diagnosis of metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma, signet-ring cell variant. The treatment of lung cancer in advanced stages requires a precise diagnosis that allows the best therapy to be offered to the patient, depending on the clinical stage and the positivity of the biomarkers, among others. Our patient died 18 months after the initial diagnosis.

Cytological Assessment of Desmoplastic Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in an Autopsy Case.

INTRODUCTION: Desmoplastic malignant pleural mesothelioma (DMPM) is a sarcoma-type mesothelioma, comprising approximately 5% of malignant pleural mesotheliomas. Although effusion cytology is commonly used as the primary diagnostic approach for mesothelioma, it may not be useful for DMPM because of the presence of desmoplasia and bland cellular atypia. We report a case, and previously undescribed cytological features, of DMPM that was diagnosed during autopsy. CASE PRESENTATION: A man in his 60s with a history of occupational asbestos exposure was referred to our hospital with right chest pain. A chest CT scan showed right pleural effusion. Thirteen months later, the patient died of respiratory failure. During autopsy, scrape-imprint smears were prepared and cytology of pleural effusions was performed. The scrape-imprint smear samples showed spindle cells with mild nuclear atypia and grooves with fibrous stroma. Pleural effusion cytology revealed spindle cells with mild nuclear atypia, as well as grooves with loose epithelial connections. Histological examination of the right pleura showed spindle cells proliferating with dense collagen fibers, as seen in the cytological samples, thus indicating a diagnosis of DMPM, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION: Cytological procedures such as pleural effusion cytology and scrape-imprinting cytology may help in diagnosing rare tumors such as DMPM.

Cambios en la tendencia histológica del cáncer pulmonar / Changes in lung cancer's histological trend

El cáncer pulmonar se establece como la segunda causa de muerte en países desarrollados y en algunos en vías de desarrollo. Su diagnóstico es tardío, sus opciones de resección y su curación aun con terapias adyuvantes son limitadas, lo que incide en la pobre sobrevida a 5 años, es por ello que se necesitan mayores esfuerzos para combatir el hábito del tabaco, principal agente etiológico. Material y Métodos: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal en pacientes adultos atendidos de 01 de enero del 2011 al 31 de diciembre del 2021, ingresados al servicio de cirugía del Hospital San Vicente de Guatemala, con diagnósticos de cáncer pulmonar, masa pulmonar, derrame pleural o nódulo pulmonar solitario. Resultados: Se atendieron 202 pacientes con diagnósticos presuntivos de cáncer pulmonar, no encontrando diferencias significativas en relación al sexo. La edad mayormente afectada se estableció entre los 50 y 70 años. Prevalecieron los estadíos IIIA, IIIB y IV basados en los hallazgos clínicos, tomográficos y transoperatorios y solo al 10% se le sometió a una cirugía de resección pulmonar mayor. Los cánceres de células no pequeñas NSCLC fueron reportados en el 68.7% y el adenocarcinoma fue la variedad más frecuente con el 54.95% sobre el 7.29% del epidermoide. La mortalidad a los treinta días se estableció en 2.97%. Conclusión: El adenocarcinoma pulmonar ocupa el primer lugar en la incidencia de los cánceres pulmonares, desplazando así al carcinoma epidermoide popularizado desde la mitad del siglo pasado. Esta tendencia en el cambio histológico está firmemente asociado a las modificaciones en los hábitos del fumar (AU)

Lung cancer is established as the second cause of death in developed countries and in some developing ones. Its diagnosis is late, its resection options and its cure even with adjuvant therapies are limited, which affects the poor survival at 5 years, which is why greater efforts are needed to combat the tobacco habit, the main etiological agent. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study in adult patients treated from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2021, admitted to the surgery service of the Hospital San Vicente de Guatemala, with diagnoses of lung cancer, lung mass, effusion pleural or solitary pulmonary nodule. Results: 202 patients with presumptive diagnoses of lung cancer were treated, finding no significant differences in relation to sex and the most affected age was established between 50 and 70 years. Stages IIIA, IIIB, and IV prevailed based on clinical, tomographic, and intraoperative findings, and only 10% underwent major lung resection surgery. NSCLC non-small cell cancers were reported in 68.7% and adenocarcinoma was the most frequent variety with 54.95% over 7.29% of epidermoid. Thirty-day mortality was established at 2.97%. Conclusion: Pulmonary adenocarcinoma occupies the first place in the incidence of lung cancers, thus displacing squamous cell carcinoma popularized since the middle of the last century. This trend in histological change is strongly associated with changes in smoking habits.

Ensayo controlado y aleatorizado del uso de Heberkinasa® en el derrame pleural paraneumónico en niños / Randomized Controlled Trial of the Use of Heberkinase® in Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion in Children

Introducción: El derrame pleural paraneumónico resulta la complicación más frecuente de la neumonía bacteriana, de manejo complejo y muchas veces quirúrgico. No existen publicaciones en Cuba provenientes de ensayos clínicos controlados y aleatorizados ni del uso de la estreptoquinasa recombinante (Heberkinasa®) en el derrame pleural. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad de la Heberkinasa® en el tratamiento del derrame pleural paraneumónico complicado complejo y el empiema en niños. Métodos: Ensayo clínico fase III, abierto, aleatorizado (2:1), en grupos paralelos y controlado. Se concluyó la inclusión prevista de 48 niños (1-18 años de edad), que cumplieron los criterios de selección. Los progenitores otorgaron el consentimiento informado. Los pacientes se distribuyeron en dos grupos: I- experimental: terapia estándar y administración intrapleural diaria de 200 000 UI de Heberkinasa® durante 3-5 días y II-control: tratamiento estándar. Las variables principales: necesidad de cirugía y la estadía hospitalaria. Se evaluaron los eventos adversos. Resultados: Ningún paciente del grupo I-experimental requirió cirugía, a diferencia del grupo II-control en el que 37,5 por ciento necesitó cirugía video-toracoscópica, con diferencia altamente significativa. Se redujo la estadía hospitalaria (en cuatro días), las complicaciones intratorácicas y las infecciones asociadas a la asistencia sanitaria en el grupo que recibió Heberkinasa®. No se presentaron eventos adversos graves atribuibles al producto. Conclusiones: La Heberkinasa® en el derrame pleural paraneumónico complicado complejo y empiema resultó eficaz y segura para la evacuación del foco séptico, con reducción de la necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico, de la estadía hospitalaria y de las complicaciones, sin eventos adversos relacionados con su administración(AU)

Introduction: Paraneumonic pleural effusion is the most frequent complication of bacterial pneumonia, with complex and often surgical management. There are no publications in Cuba from randomized controlled clinical trials or the use of recombinant streptokinase (Heberkinase®) in pleural effusion. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Heberkinase® in the treatment of complex complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema in children. Methods: Phase III, open-label, randomized (2:1), parallel-group, controlled clinical trial. The planned inclusion of 48 children (1-18 years of age), who met the selection criteria, was completed. Parents gave informed consent. The patients were divided into two groups: I-experimental: standard therapy and daily intrapleural administration of 200,000 IU of Heberkinase® for 3-5 days; and II-control: standard treatment. The main variables: need for surgery and hospital stay. Adverse events were evaluated. Results: No patient in group I-experimental required surgery, unlike group II-control in which 37.5 percent required video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with a highly significant difference. Hospital stay (to 4 days), intrathoracic complications and infections associated to healthcare in the group that received Heberkinase® was reduced. No serious adverse events attributable to the product occurred. Conclusions: Heberkinase® in complex complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema was effective and safe for the draining of the septic focus, with reduction of the need for surgical treatment, hospital stay and complications, with no adverse events related to its administration(AU)

Machine Learning Assisted Real-Time Label-Free SERS Diagnoses of Malignant Pleural Effusion due to Lung Cancer.

More than half of all pleural effusions are due to malignancy of which lung cancer is the main cause. Pleural effusions can complicate the course of pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, or underlying systemic disease. We explore the application of label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a point of care (POC) diagnostic tool to identify if pleural effusions are due to lung cancer or to other causes (controls). Lung cancer samples showed specific SERS spectral signatures such as the position and intensity of the Raman band in different wave number region using a novel silver coated silicon nanopillar (SCSNP) as a SERS substrate. We report a classification accuracy of 85% along with a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 83%, respectively, for the detection of lung cancer over control pleural fluid samples with a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) area under curve value of 0.93 using a PLS-DA binary classifier to distinguish between lung cancer over control subjects. We have also evaluated discriminative wavenumber bands responsible for the distinction between the two classes with the help of a variable importance in projection (VIP) score. We found that our label-free SERS platform was able to distinguish lung cancer from pleural effusions due to other causes (controls) with higher diagnostic accuracy.