Up in smoke: An unusual case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage from marijuana.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) can be a serious and life threating condition. Illicit substance use has been associated with DAH, with cocaine being the most widely reported. Marijuana use has been associated with pulmonary complications in the form of pneumomediatsium, pneumothorax, bullous disease, and pulmonary aspergillosis. We present a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) resulting from marijuana inhalation, a finding rarely described in the literature. A 21-year-old male presented with several episodes of hemoptysis after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. He reported smoking 5-8 joints per day of marijuana (he denied use of bongs or other inhalant aids). His respiratory exam revealed bilateral fine rales. Laboratory evaluation included leukocytosis with left shift, normal platelets, coagulation profile, and a urine toxicology screen positive for tetrahydocanabinoid (THC). Chest CT revealed bilateral diffuse alveolar infiltrates suggestive of DAH. A bronchoscopy with BAL of bilateral upper lobes consistent with DAH with negative microbiologic studies, hemosiderin laden macrophages were present. Additional workup included a normal Echocardiogram, negative autoimmune serologies. His hemoptysis resolved with supportive care. DAH is a potentially fatal disease that has been associated with illicit substance use, most commonly cocaine. Recently, reports have surfaced associating marijuana use with DAH, though these cases have all involved the use of bongs or other inhalant aids, leading to the hypothesis that combustibles and inhaled particles may be the etiologic factor. This is the second report of DAH developing after smoking only marijuana, though the etiology for the association between marijuana use and DAH remains uncertain.

Supra-umbilical vertical midline abdominal incision in morbidly obese gynaecological oncology patients.

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing globally. Female malignancies linked to obesity comprise approximately 51% of newly diagnosed cancers. Endometrial, breast, ovarian and cervical cancers have been associated with obesity. Obesity presents problems with laparotomy incision placement and closure. Access to the pelvis can be challenging and there is a higher incidence of intraoperative complications. We review the outcome of seven patients where a supra-umbilical midline vertical laparotomy incision has been used in an attempt to minimise the surgical morbidity.

The accuracy of three-dimensional prediction planning for the surgical correction of facial deformities using Maxilim.

The motivation for orthognathic surgery is to improve facial appearance and quality of life. This study aimed to validate a three-dimensional (3D) orthognathic planning programme (Maxilim) for predicting soft tissue changes following Le Fort I advancements. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were taken before surgery (T(1)) and at 6-12 months after surgery (T(2)) for 13 patients. For each patient the 3D hard tissue changes between T(1) and T(2) were determined by CBCT superimposition on the cranial vault. Using Maxilim, each patient's skeletal movements were used to generate a 3D soft tissue prediction. The actual soft tissue mesh at T(2) was compared to the predicted mesh. The face was divided into areas: nose, right and left nares, right and left paranasal regions, upper and lower lip, and chin. The absolute distance between meshes for each region was calculated. A one-sample t-test showed the distances between the meshes for all of the areas were within 3 mm (P<0.05), except for the upper lip which was greater than 3 mm (P=0.577). Using Maxilim, 3D soft tissue predictions for Le Fort I advancements were clinically satisfactory in the regions assessed, but associated with marked errors around the region of the upper lip.

The management of squamous cell vulval cancer: a population based retrospective study of 411 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the epidemiology, management and outcome of vulval cancer in the West Midlands. DESIGN: A retrospective population based study using information obtained from Cancer Intelligence Unit records. SETTING: The West Midlands Health Region. SAMPLE: Five hundred and six women with vulval carcinoma notified to the Cancer Intelligence Unit, during two three-year periods: 1980-1982 and 1986-1988; 411 women had a proven histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. RESULTS: Histology was available for 454/506 women (90%); 411/454 women (91%) had squamous cell carcinoma: these formed the study population. The women were treated at 35 hospitals, 16 of which averaged one case or less per year. The median age at diagnosis was 74 years. Presentation was delayed by more than one year in 63/284 women with data (22%), and 97/284 cases (34%) had more than one symptom. A biopsy was taken in 268 women (65%) and surgery was the primary treatment in 344/411 cases (84%). Fifteen different operations were used. Simple vulvectomy (35%) and radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy (34%) were the commonest surgical procedures; 190/344 (55%) had a lymphadenectomy; of these 102 women had negative node histology and 78 women had nodal metastases, with results not recorded in 10 cases. Overall, only 46% of all women (190/411) studied had a lymphadenectomy. Recurrence was recorded in 123/411 women (30% of the total). Univariate analysis showed significantly worse five-year survival for older age, advanced stage, incomplete excision, poor differentiation, lack of lymph node resection, positive lymph node pathology and treatment in a hospital with less than 20 cases in total. A multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model identified the first five factors as independent predictors of five year survival. Omission of lymphadenectomy was independently associated with poorer survival (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.53-3.07). CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation in the management of vulval cancer with inadequate usage of lymphadenectomy and many centres treating few cases. Survival analysis shows prognostic variables as expected; omission of lymphadenectomy adversely affects survival.

Cytological prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3: does size of the lesion matter?

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that accurate cytological prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) is related to the size of the atypical transformation zone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on 340 women in whom CIN3 was diagnosed after large-loop excision of the transformation zone were recorded prospectively on a computerized database. These data were studied with regard to such variables as lesion size, age, parity, contraception use, and smoking status. RESULTS: No association was demonstrated between cytological findings and lesion size in accurately predicting CIN3 lesions. A weak association between cytological findings and age was demonstrated: Cytology is more likely to predict CIN3 accurately in women 25 years or older than in women younger than 25 years. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate cytological prediction of CIN3 is not related to the size of the atypical transformation zone seen at colposcopy. The CIN3 lesions may be present as discrete foci within a background of low-grade changes.

Randomised trial of immediate versus deferred treatment strategies for the management of minor cervical cytological abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: To compare immediate and deferred treatment in women with cervical smears showing borderline nuclear abnormalities or mild dyskaryosis. DESIGN: Prospective randomised trial. SETTING: Colposcopy clinics at Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women and the City Hospital NHS Trust, Dudley Road, Birmingham. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and thirty-five women with minor cytological abnormality younger than 35 years of age, of whom 353 were randomised to immediate treatment or deferred treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of histologies in the subsequent two years in the immediate and deferred treatment groups. RESULTS: Thirty-six women (21%) defaulted from follow up. The percentage of high grade abnormalities (CIN II and III) in the deferred treatment arm at two years is similar to that in the immediate treated arm at first colposcopy (25% vs 24%). Cytology failed to pick up two cases of CIN III and there was one case of early invasive carcinoma at the six month follow up. If treatment is deferred, the proportion with CIN I is almost halved (25% vs 13%); the proportion with koilocytic atypia is slightly reduced (51% vs 42%) and the proportion with no abnormality is substantially increased (0.6% vs 20%). CONCLUSION: Immediate referral and a select-and-treat management strategy of all women with any degree of dyskaryosis is recommended based on the case of invasive cervical cancer, high default rate and the failure of cytology to pick up two cases of CIN III.

Is loop excision adequate primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of cervical loop excision as primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ. DESIGN: A two-centre retrospective study. SETTING: Birmingham and Midlands Hospital for Women and City Hospital NHS Trust. POPULATION: Nineteen women with a histological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ (high grade CIGN) of the cervix made on diathermy loop excision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence or absence of adenocarcinoma in situ at loop specimen margins, results of cervical cytological examinations following loop excision, results of histopathological assessment of any surgical specimens taken after initial loop excision. RESULTS: Of the 19 women with confirmed adenocarcinoma in situ on loop excision, the median age was 31, and 8 (42%) were nulliparous. The median follow up of these women was 19 months. Eleven women were treated by loop excision alone and have had normal follow up to 18 months. Five women have undergone further surgical procedures, four had a hysterectomy and one had a repeat loop excision. No residual disease was found in any of these surgical specimens, confirming that loop excision was adequate primary management of the disease. Three women have had abnormal endocervical follow up cytology suggestive of residual disease. One of these three women may represent a case of residual endocervical disease. Excision margins of the loop specimen were not involved by adenocarcinoma in situ in 11 women. However, excision margin status of the loop specimen did not appear to be predictive of residual disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our small retrospective study suggests that diathermy loop excision of the cervix is adequate primary management of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix. Cytological and colposcopic follow up, including cytobrush endocervical cytological sampling and long term follow up, is recommended in these women.

Video colpography: a new technique for secondary cervical screening.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a new technique of cervical imaging and to consider its potential as a secondary cervical screening method. DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study with each case acting as its own control, comparing video colpography with colposcopy. SETTING: University of Birmingham colposcopy clinics, City Hospital and Birmingham Women's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty women referred for colposcopy. INTERVENTIONS: The women had a video colpogram recording made prior to colposcopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of technically suitable colpograms obtained and the level of agreement between colposcopist and video screener. RESULTS: The images were satisfactory or good in 94% cases, and there was a very high level of agreement between colposcopist and video screener (kappa = 0.79). If the technique had been used in a primary health care setting as a secondary screening method for women with low grade cervical smear abnormalities, 61% would have avoided referral for colposcopy. CONCLUSIONS: Video colpography is an accurate, portable and quick method of cervical imaging. It combines the simplicity of a video camera with the versatility of computerised digital imaging and has great potential in the fields of teaching, audit and screening of low grade smear abnormalities.

Observer variability among colposcopists from the West Midlands region.

OBJECTIVE: To assess variation in diagnoses and management decisions among colposcopists when presented with cervical images; to see the impact of the referral cytology report on diagnostic accuracy. DESIGN: A two-part video questionnaire study. PARTICIPANTS: Colposcopists from West Midlands Region. METHODS: Twenty cervical images displaying a range of transformation zones from normal through varying abnormalities up to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 were shown on video tape together with basic patient information. Two sets of videos were made, the second being identical to the first other than including the referral cytology. Participants recorded their diagnoses and management decisions on prepared questionnaires. The two sets of videos were viewed several weeks apart. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires to both videos were received from 30 colposcopists. Diagnostic accuracy improved with knowledge of the cervical cytology result in cases of CIN 2/3 (chi 2 = 19.45, P < 0.0001) but not where the histology was CIN 1 or less (chi 2 = 2.64, P = 0.10). Overall interobserver agreement improved slightly from kappa = 0.169 to kappa = 0.212 when the cytology was revealed. While only 2.6% of cases of CIN 2/3 would have been under-managed after the second questionnaire, 37.5% cases where the abnormality did not amount to CIN would have been overtreated. CONCLUSION: There is considerable inter-observer variability and variation in diagnostic accuracy in scoring cervical images particularly at the lower end of the spectrum of abnormality which has the potential to lead to over-treatment. We rely considerably on the cervical cytology result in forming a diagnosis. We recommend that a see-and-treat approach be abandoned when the referral smear shows minor abnormalities. The study has implications for both training and audit in colposcopy.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia: long term follow up of treated and untreated women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long term outcome of patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. DESIGN: A retrospective study using information obtained from patient casenotes. SAMPLE: One hundred and thirty-three women with a primary diagnosis of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), identified during a 15-year period. RESULTS: The diagnosis of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia increased throughout the study period. Human papilloma virus changes were noted in 104 patients (78%); these women were significantly younger than those without (P < or = 0.001). Nineteen (14%) were managed by observation or medical treatment and the remainder by surgical methods. Histological or symptomatic recurrence after surgical treatment occurred in 55 (48%). When disease recurred, it usually did so within four years of treatment. Recurrence was more common following laser vapourisation than after local excision (75% vs 40%; P < or = 0.01). Progression to invasive disease occurred in nine patients (7%), none of whom were in the group being observed. Four deaths occurred in this group, three from gynaecological malignancies of the lower genital tract. CONCLUSION: Patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia require long term follow up, and the risk of invasion may be higher than previously thought. Surgical treatment when required should be by excisional rather than ablative methods in most instances. In selected cases it is also possible to safely manage patients by more conservative methods.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia with superficially invasive carcinoma of the vulva.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term outcome of patients presenting with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) with superficially invasive carcinoma of the vulva (SICa). DESIGN: A retrospective study using information obtained from patient case notes. SAMPLE: Twenty-six women found at presentation to have VIN in association with superficially invasive carcinoma were identified during a 15-year period. RESULTS: Pruritus vulvae was the most frequent presenting symptom in 18 patients (69%). Sixteen women (61.5%) had multiple symptoms. Features noted at vulvar examination were variable and none were pathognomonic of either VIN or of superficial invasion. All patients had VIN 3 in association with a superficially invasive carcinoma. Histological changes associated with human papillomavirus were found in 19 (73%) women. Half had a co-existent or previous abnormality of the lower genital tract. Local excision was the most frequent initial treatment (n = 9 [35%]). Mean follow up time was 65 months (range 12-174). Disease persisted after primary treatment in five women (19%). Both histological recurrence (of either VIN or SICa) or symptomatic recurrence occurred in 10 patients (38%). All patients who experienced recurrence did so within 36 months of treatment. Overall, 12 patients (46%) relapsed (histological or symptomatic recurrence); the mean time was 18 months. Fourteen patients (54%) were managed satisfactorily by their initial treatment. One patient died of recurrent cervical cancer. Three progressed to frankly invasive disease: two (aged 31 and 39 years) with carcinoma of the vulva and one aged 34 years with carcinoma of the perianal margin. All are alive and well after treatment. One patient had recurrence of superficially invasive carcinoma treated by local excision with no further problems. No episode of metastasis via lymphatic or vascular channels has been seen. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with superficially invasive carcinoma of the vulva may be safely treated by local excisional methods without recourse to lymphadenectomy. Relapse after primary treatment is common, and there appears to be a significant risk of progression to frankly invasive carcinoma.

Modern image capture and data collection technology.

Computer data collection technology is intended to facilitate patient management and clinic administration. The systems should be devised for ease of usage and careful consideration should be given to the core set of data required and the task to be performed by the system. Security of data is important, and it must cover not only the inadvertent access to confidential data, but also must stop corrupt data from entering the system. Audit is becoming increasingly important, and the ability to achieve this should be inbuilt into any data collection system. A staged introduction of these systems is suggested without trying to achieve too much at the initial attempt. Adaptability is important so that as new technologies are introduced, the old systems should not be made redundant. Eventually it should be possible to achieve the goals set, and include fields for image capture of the colposcopic findings, which although not an essential requirement for such systems, is certainly a desirable one.

Management of low grade lesions: follow-up or treat?

CIN has arbitrarily been divided into three categories (1, 2 and 3) and recently a revised classification of high and low grade lesions has been suggested. Whatever classification is used, there appears to be a high level of inter- and intraobserver variability in diagnosing the grade of CIN, particularly at the minor end of the spectrum. Punch biopsy diagnoses are undoubtedly associated with both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis of lesions, depending on the size of the lesion and the site of the worst colposcopic abnormality chosen for such investigation. The consensus is that high grade lesions should be treated once diagnosed. The dilemma of treatment of low grade lesions is more vexed and is hampered by the lack of reliable data on progression, persistence and regression rates. Local circumstances must be taken into consideration and if surveillance is not possible, then all cases of CIN should be treated. However, if women are prepared to undergo surveillance, this may be offered with certain safeguards. At present we would suggest treatment of those being observed if they continue to have an abnormality persisting for 2 years or if the lesion worsens in grade or size. It may be that the size of the lesion is of major importance in its progressive potential. The overall impact of screening programmes must be to do more good to the population than harm and the optimal management of low grade lesions is uncertain in this context.

Digital imaging colposcopy, image analysis and quantification of the colposcopic image.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of a digital imaging system for colposcopy, its use for image analysis and quantification of the colposcopic features that may predict histological outcome as defined by large loop excision of transformation zone. DESIGN: Prospective programme study of all patients undergoing colposcopy for cytological abnormalities. SETTING: Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham. SUBJECTS: Fifty consecutive patients having cytological and colposcopic abnormality treated with large loop excision of transformation zone formed the study group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pretreatment and colposcopic features correlated with histological diagnosis of excised transformation zone. RESULTS: Index cytology and current smoking status are the most important variables for prediction of histological diagnosis. Other important variables are focality of lesion, surface pattern, intercapillary distance and degree of acetowhiteness. CONCLUSION: Digital imaging colposcopy allows image capture, processing and objective analysis. This methodology holds advantages for basic and clinical research, teaching, diagnostics and clinical audit. The system can act as a quality control tool for colposcopy units. This system should prove invaluable for further quantitative studies, for natural history studies and for those patients with deferred treatment of their cytological and colposcopic abnormalities. The statistical models described may be incorporated into the system and can aid the colposcopist in management of the woman with abnormal cervical cytology and colposcopic abnormality.

Characterization of high- and low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

A need exists to characterize the various grades of cervical intrapithelial neoplasia (CIN), and attempt to differentiate between high- and low-grade lesions, that may have different behavioral and progressive potentials. The identification of patients with high- or low-grade CIN is useful, as it may allow identification of those patients that have true cancer precursors. Fifty patients referred for colposcopy with abnormal cytology were studied. Univariate analysis identified three factors as important predictors of histologic grade; the colposcopic opinion, lesion surface area and the index cytology (P < 0.005). Colposcopic opinion was associated with the index cytology (P < 0.01) and the lesion surface area (P < 0.005). Only the colposcopic opinion and the index cytologic smear appeared in the final model using a stepwise logistic regression analysis, indicating their independent prognostic importance in prediction of grade of abnormality in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The study demonstrates the value of colposcopic training and experience being necessary prior to utilizing excisional treatment methods if overtreatment is to be avoided.