Hypersensitivity pneumonitis: application of a new diagnostic algorithm to a time series of the disease.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic criteria for Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) have changed over time. Our aim is to apply a recent diagnostic algorithm to a historical series of patients diagnosed with HP to assess its distribution according to current diagnostic criteria and the diagnostic confidence achieved. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Application to each patient the algorithm criteria. The diagnosis was HP (≥90%), provisional high (70-89%) or low confidence (51-69%) or non-HP (unlikely) (≤50%); or HP, provisional or non-HP, if they had lung biopsy. RESULTS: 129 patients [mean age 64 ± 12 years; 79 (61.2%) women] were included of which 16 (12.4%) were diagnosed on the basis of high clinical suspicion. After applying the algorithm, 106 patients (82.2%) could be evaluated and 83 (78.3%) had a diagnosis of HP or high confidence. Lung biopsy was able to establish a diagnosis of certainty in another 21 patients and a provisional diagnosis in 9 more [total, 113 (87.6%)]. The 16 patients without strict diagnostic criteria for HP had a low confidence diagnosis. A total of 56 lung biopsies (64.4%) could have been avoided according to the new guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The application of this algorithm achieves a high diagnostic yield in HP, significantly reducing the number of lung biopsies required.

Sarcoidosis. Disease progression based on radiological and functional course: Predictive factors.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease with a variable course. OOBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to identify the patients that are more likely to experience disease progression. METHODS: A retrospective study in patients ≥18 years. Pulmonary function and radiological stage (Scadding criteria) were assessed at diagnosis, and at 1, 3 and 5 years. Sarcoidosis progression was established based on deterioration of radiological or pulmonary function (decrease ≥10% of FVC and/or ≥15% of diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO). RESULTS: The sample included 277 caucasian patients [mean age, 50±13.6; 69.7% between 31-60 years; 56.3% men]. In total, 65% had stage II sarcoidosis, whereas only 8.3% had stage III/IV disease. Mean pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and DLCO) at diagnosis was 103±21.8, 96±22.2, 76.2±8 and 81.7±21.7, respectively. The percentage of patients with normal FVC and DLCO was 72.2% and 51.8%, respectively. Radiological stage did not change significantly during follow-up (5 years; p=0.080) and only progressed in 13 patients (5.7%). At 3 years, FVC improved, whereas DLCO exacerbated significantly (p<0.001 for the two). Disease progressed in 34.5% of the patients (57/165) whose pulmonary function and radiological stage were available (both baseline and at 3 years). Age was associated with disease progression [OR=1.04 (95%CI=1.01, 1.06)]. Risk increased by 4% for each year older a patient was at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: At 3 years, a third of patients experienced sarcoidosis progression. Age was the only factor associated with disease prognosis.

Recomendaciones para el estudio patológico de las metástasis hepáticas de cáncer colorrectal tras neoadyuvancia. Consenso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica / Recommendations for the study of liver metastases of colorectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. National Consensus of the Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP)

Las resecciones hepáticas por metástasis de cáncer colorrectal (CCR) son una pieza quirúrgica frecuente en muchos servicios de anatomía patológica. Si al aumento de la incidencia de CCR añadimos otros factores como la frecuencia de metástasis hepáticas sincrónicas o metacrónicas, la ampliación en los criterios quirúrgicos de resecabilidad y el tratamiento neoadyuvante que facilita la resecabilidad, nos encontramos con una patología en aumento. El estudio anatomopatológico de estas piezas quirúrgicas se ha modificado y ha aumentado su complejidad debido a que se deben valorar nuevos datos histológicos como son los cambios potenciales producidos por el tratamiento neoadyuvante quimioterápico en el hígado no tumoral, y en el tumor el grado de regresión tumoral patológico, por su valor pronóstico. Teniendo en cuenta estos antecedentes, un grupo de patólogos se propuso revisar su papel en el diagnóstico y pronóstico de los pacientes con metástasis hepáticas de CCR con el objetivo de elaborar unas recomendaciones prácticas de procedimiento. De esta revisión se han obtenido unas directrices que podrían ser adaptadas por los distintos departamentos de patología con el fin de unificar procedimientos y obtener diagnósticos comparables. En este trabajo se exponen los resultados de este consenso (AU)

Liver resections for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis are common in most pathology departments. In addition, the frequency of liver resections for CRC specimens has increased due to an increased incidence of CRC the frequency of synchronous or metachronous liver metastases, the use of neoadjuvant therapy, and the increased surgical criteria of resectability. The pathological study of the specimens should include new histological data, i.e.: changes caused by therapy, both in the tumour and in the liver parenchyma, such as the pathological tumour regression grade, and the histologic degree of liver damage by the therapy, because of its prognostic value. On this setting, a group of pathologists has elaborated a guideline proposal, in order to obtain a more uniform procedure and diagnosis of CRC liver metastasis specimens. The aim was to give useful recommendations in order to obtain homogeneous and comparable pathologic reports among different pathology departments. The results of this consensus are presented in this paper (AU)

Immunohistochemical evaluation of EGFR expression in lip squamous cell carcinoma. Correlation with clinicopathological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The majority of lip cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) type that exhibits clinical and biological characteristics intermediate between skin and oral SCC. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression on prognosis of lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and to relate it with clinicopathological features. The role of EGFR expression as a possible therapeutic target was also discussed. METHODS: A series of 55 patients with LSCC was analyzed. EGFR expression was determined by standardized immunohistochemistry (pharmDx assay) and evaluated by both manual and automated image analysis (ACIS III). The Kappa statistic test was used to evaluate the concordance of manual and automated scores. EGFR results were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics. Statistical differences between proportions were determined by the chi-squared test (with linear-by-linear correction where appropriate). The Mann-Whitney and the Kruskal-Wallis test were employed for comparison of continuous variables. RESULTS: Correlation between manual and automated score was obtained in 50/55 cases (90.9%). EGFR expression was absent or weak in 14 cases (25.5%); borderline (2+) in 20 cases (36.4%) and positive (3+) in 21 cases (38.2%). Significant relationships were found between EGFR expression and tumour ulceration (p=0.022) and tumour thickness (p=0.002) and width (p=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed EGFR high expression in LSCC and its relationship with bad prognosis criteria (tumour size and ulceration).

Vaginal involvement in a woman with Darier's disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of the female genital tract by Darier's disease, an unusual genodermatosis, is uncommon, and the manifestation of the disease in a cervicovaginal smear is exceptionally rare. CASE: A 39-year-old woman had an abnormal Pap smear caused by involvement of the female genital tract by Darier's disease. Cytologic examination showed features consistent with a low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, but during a biopsy it was found to be vaginal involvement by Darier's disease. CONCLUSION: The correct interpretation of cytologic findings is not possible when the diagnosis of Darier's disease is not known since a low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cannot be ruled out. This case underlines the importance of knowing the patient's medical histoiy in any moment of medical attention.

Taponamiento cardíaco por sarcoma de Kaposi / Cardiac tamponade through Kaposi's sarcoma

El sarcoma de Kaposi es un tumor angiomatoso, sistémico que, por lo general, afecta a sujetos mayores de 50 años, observándose principalmente en pacientes varones. Se han descrito pocos casos de afectación visceral en su forma clásica. En el presente trabajo, se describe un caso de sarcoma de Kaposi clásico con lesiones cutáneas diseminadas, afectación de numerosos órganos internos y evolución fatal. La causa de la muerte fue un taponamiento cardíaco originado por las lesiones de sarcoma de Kaposi desarrolladas en el epicardio y el pericardio (AU)