Pulmonary aspergilloma - clinical findings and surgical treatment.

The management of pulmonary aspergilloma is still a topic of discussion. Demonstrating several cases of pulmonary aspergilloma, their clinical course and their follow-up, we try to contribute some arguments for the preference of an early operation. Between 1992 and 1998, 18 patients underwent thoracotomy for treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma. The most common indication for operation were hemoptysis [6] and indeterminate mass [6]. Lobectomy was the most frequent operation [11]. Underlying diseases were bronchiectasis [10], tuberculosis [3], carcinoma [2], blebs [2], and epitheloid granuloma. Two patients had postoperative complications, another three died later in the clinical course because of liver failure, septicemia, and persisting air leakage and sepsis. We recommend early resection of symptomatic, cavitating aspergilloma in the simple form and even with an inflammatory reaction of the surrounding tissue. Especially low-risk patients profit highly from an early operation. High-risk patients should be operated on only in cases of life-threatening complications.

Complete spontaneous remission in a patient with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Case report, review of the literature, and discussion of possible biological pathways involved.

Spontaneous remission of cancer (SR) is defined as a complete or partial, temporary or permanent disappearance of all or at least some relevant parameters of a soundly diagnosed malignant disease without any medical treatment or with treatment that is considered inadequate to produce the resulting regression. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who presented with extensive metatastic disease five months after pneumonectomy for poorly differentiated large cell and polymorphic lung cancer. A vast metastatic tumour mass of the abdominal wall was confirmed histolologically and there was clinical and radiographic evidence of liver and lung metastases. Eight months later, the patient was operated on for a hernia, which had developed in the inguinal biopsy scar and the surgeon confirmed complete clinical SR of the abdominal wall metastases. Again five months later there was no longer any radiologic evidence of liver and lung metastases. Complete remission has persisted more than five years. Histology of the primary and of the abdominal metastases were reviewed by several independent pathologists. SR is an extremly rare event in lung cancer. This is the first documented case of clinically evident visceral metastases of a bronchiogenic adenocarcinoma developing after complete resection of the primary and then showing complete SR. The epidemiology of SR is reviewed and possible mechanisms involved in SR are discussed.

[Lymph- and haemangiosis carcinomatosa--an important prognostic factor in non-small-cell bronchial carcinoma (NSCLC)]. / Lymph- und Haemangiosis carcinomatosa--ein wichtiger Prognosefaktor beim nicht-kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinom (NSCLC).

Between 1 Jan 1984-1 Jan 1990, 199 patients underwent curative (R0) surgery for non-small cell lung cancer. The pathohistological findings showed that a carcinomatous lymphangiosis and haemangiosis (L/H pos.) were present in 26 patients. In six patients, no lymph node metastases were detected. The median (22 mo. vs. 74 mo.) and 5-year survival (25% vs. 41%) were significantly (p < 0.001) higher compared to patients with and without lymphangiosis and haemangiosis carcinomatosa (L/H neg.). There were also significant (p < 0.05) differences in the survival time between pNO L/H neg. and pNO L/H pos. patients (median 74 mo. vs. 15 mo.-5 years 43% vs. 0%).

[The reduction of the extent of vascular lesions during angioplasty by the use of a sheath]. / Reduktion des Ausmasses von Gefässläsionen im Rahmen der Angioplastie bei Gebrauch einer Schleuse.

PURPOSE: To document the protection of the vessel using an introducer sheath. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In eleven in situ specimens we compared in the inguinal vessel the macroscopic and histologic trauma to the vascular wall during antegrade percutaneous balloon dilatation either without or with a sheath. RESULTS: Significant differences we observed regarding both the puncture site configuration and the puncture hole border, which were evaluated macroscopically. During the histological assessment we found only small intimal trauma in the puncture track in the group where a sheath had been used. Severe intimal damages and the media showed tears if no sheath had been used (100/36% vs. 0/64%). CONCLUSION: It is evident that using a sheath during angioplasty reduces the risk of intimal damage and, consequently, of complications such as recurrent haematoma, stenosis at the puncture site or formation of aneurysms due to the puncture.

[Cushing syndrome in a neuroendocrine pancreatic tumor. Clinicopathologic case report]. / Cushing-Syndrom bei einem neuroendokrinen Pankreastumor. Klinisch-pathologischer Fallbericht.

A 59-year-old female patient with mild clinical features of a Cushing syndrome underwent surgery for a suspected hormonally active tumor of the left adrenal gland. Surprisingly, the adrenal gland was unremarkable, however, a tumor in the pancreatic tail was found. A left pancreatic resection with splenectomy resulted in curative removal of the tumor. The pathohistological examination of the tumor established the diagnosis of an ACTH-producing pancreatic carcinoid. Morphology and pathogenesis of pancreatic carcinoids which are tumors of the APUD-cell-system are discussed in detail.