Radiographic features in investigated for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) can be challenging to diagnose, often requiring bronchoscopy. Since most patients suspected of PJP undergo imaging, we hypothesized that the findings of these studies could help estimate the probability of disease prior to invasive testing. METHODS: We created a cohort of patients who underwent bronchoscopy specifically to diagnose PJP and conducted a nested case-control study to compare the radiographic features between patients with (n = 72) and without (n = 288) pathologically proven PJP. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify radiographic features independently associated with PJP. RESULTS: Chest x-ray findings poorly predicted the diagnosis of PJP. However, multivariable analysis of CT scan findings found that "increased interstitial markings" (OR 4.3; 95%CI 2.2-8.2), "ground glass opacities" (OR 3.3; 95%CI 1.2-9.1) and the radiologist's impression of PJP being "possible" (OR 2.0; 95%CI 1.0-4.1) or "likely" (OR 9.3; 95%CI 3.4-25.3) were independently associated with the final diagnosis (c-statistic 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Where there is clinical suspicion of PJP, the use of CT scan can help determine the probability of PJP. Identifying patients at low risk of PJP may enable better use of non-invasive testing to avoid bronchoscopy while higher probability patients could be prioritized.

Review of Thoracic Imaging Findings Unique to Women.

PURPOSE: Traditionally, indications for imaging studies of women are considered to be related to screening for and evaluation of disease of the female breast and pelvis. However, a number of chest diseases and associated intrathoracic imaging findings are unique to women and should be recognized by general radiologists, as well as chest and women-imaging specialists. CONCLUSIONS: The sex-specific findings unique to women include normal anatomical variants, primary lung disease, complications of breast and gynaecological disease, and pregnancy-related conditions. Classification, description, and illustration of gender-specific chest imaging findings are the objective of this article.

Maude Abbott and the Origin and Mysterious Disappearance of the Canadian Medical War Museum.

CONTEXT.­: In the early 1900s, it was common practice to retain, prepare, and display instructive pathologic specimens to teach pathology to medical trainees and practitioners; these collections were called medical museums. Maude Abbott, MD, established her reputation by developing expertise in all aspects of medical museum work. She was a founder of the International Association of Medical Museums (later renamed the International Academy of Pathology) and became an internationally renowned expert on congenital heart disease. Her involvement in the Canadian Medical War Museum (CMWM) is less well known. OBJECTIVE.­: To explore Abbott's role in the development of the CMWM during and after World War I and to trace its history. DESIGN.­: Available primary and secondary historical sources were reviewed. RESULTS.­: Instructive pathologic specimens derived from Canadian soldiers dying during World War I were shipped to the Royal College of Surgeons in London, which served as a clearinghouse for museum specimens from Dominion forces. The Canadian specimens were repatriated to Canada, prepared by Abbott, and displayed at several medical meetings. Abbott, because she was a woman, could not enlist and so she reported to a series of enlisted physicians with no expertise in museology. Plans for a permanent CMWM building in Ottawa eventually failed and Abbott maintained the collection at McGill (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) until her death in 1940. We trace the CMWM after her death. CONCLUSIONS.­: Sadly, after Abbott had meticulously prepared these precious teaching specimens so that their previous owners' ultimate sacrifice would continue to help their military brethren, the relics were bureaucratically lost.

Diagnostic concordance of non-small cell lung carcinoma subtypes between biopsy and cytology specimens obtained during the same procedure.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the diagnostic concordance of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) subtypes in cytology and biopsy specimens taken during the same procedure and evaluate the causes of discordance; and 2) to determine the frequency of immunohistochemistry (IHC) use for subtyping NSCLC. METHODS: Biopsy and cytology specimens that were obtained at the same procedure and diagnosed as NSCLC between January 2011 and December 2014 at the McGill University Health Center were identified (n = 226 pairs). The diagnostic concordance between the 2 methods was evaluated. The slides from discordant cases were reviewed, and final diagnoses were made based on IHC, resection specimens, or pathologist discussion. RESULTS: Concordance in subtype diagnosis was perfect (adeno-adeno or squamous-squamous) in 66.2% of cases and was partial (adeno or squamous vs non-small cell) in 23%; discordance (adeno vs squamous) was observed in 7.8%. Although subtyping was not possible (ie, the final diagnosis was NSCLC, not otherwise specified) in 12.8% of biopsy specimens and 16.3% of cytology specimens, specific subtyping was not achieved in only 3% of cases when both modalities were considered. IHC was used in 47% of biopsy cases and 13% of cytology cases. CONCLUSIONS: Subtyping of NSCLC can be achieved in most cases (97%) by considering findings in both biopsy and cytology specimens, and concordance in subtyping between cytology and biopsy specimens can be reached in a high percentage of cases (89.2%). Cancer Cytopathol 2016;124:737-43. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the aortic valves causing sudden cardiac death: a case report and review of the literature.

Cardiac inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare entity affecting predominantly infants, children, and young adults. Although most tumors have a benign clinical course after complete surgical resection, some have significant clinical effects. We report the case of a 9-year-old girl who had sudden cardiac death as a result of occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery. A review of 57 cases of cardiac IMTs reported in the literature in terms of epidemiology, clinical presentation, histologic and immunohistologic features, and outcome is presented. Recognition of this rare abnormality is important in order to initiate prompt surgical intervention.

Canadian anaplastic lymphoma kinase study: a model for multicenter standardization and optimization of ALK testing in lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is currently the standard for diagnosing anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged (ALK+) lung cancers for ALK inhibitor therapies. ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) may serve as a screening and alternative diagnostic method. The Canadian ALK (CALK) study was initiated to implement a multicenter optimization and standardization of laboratory developed ALK IHC and FISH tests across 14 hospitals. METHODS: Twenty-eight lung adenocarcinomas with known ALK status were used as blinded study samples. Thirteen laboratories performed IHC using locally developed staining protocols for 5A4, ALK1, or D5F3 antibodies; results were assessed by H-score. Twelve centers conducted FISH using protocols based on Vysis' ALK break-apart FISH kit. Initial IHC results were used to optimize local IHC protocols, followed by a repeat IHC study to assess the results of standardization. Three laboratories conducted a prospective parallel IHC and FISH analysis on 411 consecutive clinical samples using post-validation optimized assays. RESULTS: Among study samples, FISH demonstrated 22 consensus ALK+ and six ALK wild type tumors. Preoptimization IHC scores from 12 centers with 5A4 and the percent abnormal cells by FISH from 12 centers showed intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.68, respectively. IHC optimization improved the intraclass correlation coefficients to 0.94. Factors affecting FISH scoring and outliers were identified. Post-optimization concurrent IHC/FISH testing in 373 informative cases revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity for IHC versus FISH. CONCLUSIONS: Multicenter standardization study may accelerate the implementation of ALK testing protocols across a country/region. Our data support the use of an appropriately validated IHC assay to screen for ALK+ lung cancers.

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades del tórax / Diagnosis of disease of the chest

El tórax normal. Métodos de investigación radiológica y patológica. Métodos de investigación clínica, de laboratorio y funcional. Signos radiológicos en el diagnóstico de enfermedades torácicas

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades del tórax / Diagnosis of diseses of the chest

Enfermedades embólicas y trombóticas de los pulmones. Hipertensión y edema de pulmón. Enfermedades de las vías áereas. Enfermedades pleuropulmonares causadas por la inhalación de polvo inorgánico. Enfermedades pulmonares causadas por aspiración de cuerpos extraños

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades del tórax / Diagnosis of diseses of the chest

Enfermedades embólicas y trombóticas de los pulmones. Hipertensión y edema de pulmón. Enfermedades de las vías áereas. Enfermedades pleuropulmonares causadas por la inhalación de polvo inorgánico. Enfermedades pulmonares causadas por aspiración de cuerpos extraños

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades del tórax / Diagnosis of diseses of the chest

Anormalidades pulmonares originadas en el desarrollo. Enfermedades infecciosas de los pulmones. Enfermedades por alteraciones de la actividad inmunológica. Enfermedad neoplásica de los pulmones

Diagnóstico de las enfermedades del tórax / Diagnosis of disease of the chest

El tórax normal. Métodos de investigación radiológica y patológica. Métodos de investigación clínica, de laboratorio y funcional. Signos radiológicos en el diagnóstico de enfermedades torácicas