Performance of rapid on-site evaluation of touch imprints of bronchoscopic biopsies or lung tissue biopsies for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary filamentous fungi infections in non-neutropenic patients.

The diagnosis of invasive pulmonary fungal disease depends on histopathology and mycological culture; there are few studies on touch imprints of bronchoscopic biopsies or lung tissue biopsies for the diagnosis of pulmonary filamentous fungi infections. The purpose of the present study was to explore the detection accuracy of rapid on-site evaluation of touch imprints of bronchoscopic biopsies or lung tissue biopsies for the filamentous fungi, and it aims to provide a basis for initiating antifungal therapy before obtaining microbiological evidence. We retrospectively analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of 44 non-neutropenic patients with invasive pulmonary filamentous fungi confirmed by glactomannan assay, histopathology, and culture from February 2017 to December 2023. The diagnostic positive rate and sensitivity of rapid on-site evaluation for these filamentous fungi identification, including diagnostic turnaround time, were calculated. Compared with the final diagnosis, the sensitivity of rapid on-site evaluation was 81.8%, and the sensitivity of histopathology, culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and glactomannan assay of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was 86.4%, 52.3%, and 68.2%, respectively. The average turnaround time of detecting filamentous fungi by rapid on-site evaluation was 0.17 ± 0.03 hours, which was significantly faster than histopathology, glactomannan assay, and mycological culture. A total of 29 (76.3%) patients received earlier antifungal therapy based on ROSE diagnosis and demonstrated clinical improvement. Rapid on-site evaluation showed good sensitivity and accuracy that can be comparable to histopathology in identification of pulmonary filamentous fungi. Importantly, it contributed to the triage of biopsies for further microbial culture or molecular detection based on the preliminary diagnosis, and the decision on early antifungal therapy before microbiological evidence is available.

Performance of rapid on-site evaluation of touch imprints of lung tissue biopsies for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in patients without HIV infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis depends on serum testing, histopathology and mycological culture; there are few studies on touch imprints of lung tissue biopsies for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in patients without HIV infection. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the accuracy and timeliness of on-site touch imprint cytology in the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis during CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the diagnosis and treatment of 56 patients with final proof of pulmonary cryptococcosis through histopathology and culture or surgical resection from September 2015 to February 2021. Diagnostic methods and treatment and the turnaround time for diagnosis were analysed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of rapid on-site evaluation was 89.3%, and the sensitivity of serology, histopathology and mycological culture was 53.6%, 91.1% and 61.5%, respectively, compared with the final diagnosis. The average turnaround time to diagnose pulmonary cryptococcosis by on-site touch imprint cytology was 8.3 ± 0.9 min, which was significantly faster than serum testing, histopathology and mycological culture. CONCLUSION: On-site touch imprint cytology showed good sensitivity and timeliness in the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis. In addition, it contributed to the triage of biopsies based on the preliminary diagnosis. On-site touch imprint cytology should be applied and promoted in the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis during biopsy.

[CT-guided Percutaneous Lung Puncture for the Diagnosis of Solid Pulmonary Nodules: A Single-center Experience Summary].

BACKGROUND: To investigate the diagnostic significance of percutaneous lung puncture for solid pulmonary nodules (diameter ≤15 mm). METHODS: This study retrospectively included 20 patients with solid pulmonary nodules who underwent percutaneous puncture from January 2014 to December 2018, including 11 males and 9 females. The diameter of the lesion is between 0.5 cm-1.5 cm, excluding severe organ dysfunction, and patients with coagulopathy. RESULTS: All 20 patients were successfully selected, and 19 patients were diagnosed with pathological diagnosis. Among them, 11 patients found malignant tumor cells, which were clearly malignant tumors of the lungs, 5 cases of chronic inflammation of the lungs, 2 cases of fibrous tissue hyperplasia, and 1 case of lung cartilage tissue, no tumor cells were found in 1 case. One patient with a small amount of pneumothorax after puncture and one patient with a small amount of pleural effusion on the puncturesite. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous lung puncture has a high effectiveness and safety for the diagnosis of solid pulmonary nodules.

Pulmonary benign metastasizing leiomyoma: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary benign metastatic leiomyoma (PBML), which is very rare, is a type of benign metastatic leiomyoma (BML). Here, we report a case of PBML, finally diagnosed through multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions, and provide a literature review of the disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 55-year old asymptomatic woman was found to have bilateral multiple lung nodules on a chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan. Her medical history included total hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma. The patient was diagnosed with PBML, on the basis of her clinical history, imaging manifestations, and computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung puncture biopsy, via MDT discussions. As the patient was asymptomatic, she received long-term monitoring without treatment. A follow-up of chest HRCT after 6 mo showed that the PBML lung nodules were stable and there was no progression. CONCLUSION: For patients with a medical history of hysterectomy and uterine leiomyoma with lung nodules on chest CT, PBML should be considered during diagnosis based on the clinical history, imaging manifestations, CT-guided percutaneous lung puncture biopsy, and MDT discussions.

Perfusing chemotherapy by percutaneous lung puncture "holing" for pulmonary tuberculoma-a ten-year single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculoma is a special form of secondary pulmonary tuberculosis, with a poor response to drug treatment. We used the method of drug administration via percutaneous lung puncture "holing" to treat pulmonary tuberculoma and observe its short- and long-term efficacy, summing up our 10-year clinical experience. METHODS: A total of 54 patients with pulmonary tuberculoma were included in this study. They themselves were taken as the control group. Three to six months of conventional anti-tuberculosis treatment was conducted firstly. Then those patients with no changes of sizes in tuberculoma were recommended to receive drug administration via percutaneous lung puncture. Isoniazid (INH, 0.1 g) and amikacin (AMK, 0.2 g) were injected into tuberculoma (once or twice per week, 10 times as a course of treatment). RESULTS: After two months of drug treatment by lung puncture, the sputum smear test showed the negative conversion rate of tubercle bacillus was 87% (13/15), and the positive conversion rate was 8% (3/39). The tuberculosis bacillus culture indicated that the negative conversion rate was 100% (7/7). The reexamination after one year showed the negative conversion rate of tubercle bacillus in the sputum smear test was 80% (4/5). About 58% (31/54) of tuberculoma disappeared or significantly reduced, in which, 40% (21/54) of tuberculoma disappeared. The tuberculoma diameter reduced from 3.6 cm × 2.8 cm to 1.7 cm × 1.1 cm on average. Side-effects included postoperative pneumothorax 9% (5/54), hemoptysis 7% (4/54) and fever 11% (6/54). A total of 34 patients were followed up for five years, and the disappearance rate of tuberculoma was up to 47% (16/34), with no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The drug administration via percutaneous lung puncture-"holing" in pulmonary tuberculoma takes a significant effect obviously, good short- and long-term effects and less side effects.

Perfusing chemotherapy by percutaneous lung puncture in the treatment of extensive drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.

Although progress has been made to reduce global incidence of drug-susceptible tuberculosis, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) during the past decade threatens to undermine these advances. XDR-TB has been found to be associated with scarce therapeutic options and high mortality rates. We describe the first case of XDR-TB cured by percutaneous lung puncture and with post-hospital 4 years follow-up involving radiologic imaging and septum smear and TB culture. We also review the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis all the world.