ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules (PNs) includes metastases, lung cancers, infectious diseases, and scar tissue, among others. Because data regarding whether and when to perform a PN biopsy in patients with cancer are scarce, clinicians tend to assume that PNs are metastatic disease based solely on imaging. The current study evaluated the findings of PN biopsies in a population of patients with cancer and sought to determine the variables that correlated with higher odds of metastatic disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-institution study that included consecutive patients with nonpulmonary solid malignancies who underwent PN biopsy from January 2011 to December 2013. Imaging and clinical variables were analyzed by logistic regression to determine the correlation between such variables and the odds of metastatic disease. Patients with previously known metastatic disease or primary hematologic malignancies were excluded. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Metastatic disease was found in 146 patients (64%), 60 patients (26.3%) were diagnosed with a second primary lung tumor, and 22 patients (9.6%) had no cancer on biopsy. On multivariate analysis, the presence of multiple PNs (> 5 mm) and cavitation/necrosis were the only variables associated with higher odds (P < .05) of metastatic disease. We registered six (2.6%) procedure complications demanding active interventions, and no procedure-related death occurred. CONCLUSION: Multiple PNs (> 5 mm) and cavitation were the two characteristics associated with the highest chances of metastatic disease. Our findings demonstrate that PNs should not be assumed to be metastases without performing a biopsy. This assumption may lead to high rates of misdiagnosis. Tissue sampling is fundamental for accurately diagnosing patients with cancer.
ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause numerous skin lesions. Despite being rare, lupus-specific bullous lesions demonstrate characteristic clinical and immunopathological features and require differential diagnosis among numerous bullous conditions that may overlap with SLE. The present study presents a case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) in a pregnant woman.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Pregnancy Complications/etiology , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous/etiology , Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous/drug therapyABSTRACT
O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico pode apresentar inúmeras lesões cutâneas. As lesões bolhosas específicas do lúpus, apesar de raras, apresentam características clínicas e imunopatológicas próprias e implicam em diagnóstico diferencial entre inúmeras patologias bolhosas que podem sobrepor-se ao lúpus eritematoso sistêmico. Apresenta-se um caso de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico bolhoso em gestante.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause numerous skin lesions. Despite being rare, lupus-specific bullous lesions demonstrate characteristic clinical and immunopathological features and require differential diagnosis among numerous bullous conditions that may overlap with SLE. The present study presents a case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) in a pregnant woman.
