Role of serological rapid antibody test in the management of possible COVID-19 cases.

BACKGROUND: Although the detection of viral particles by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard diagnostic test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the false-negative results constitute a big challenge. AIM: To examine a group of patients diagnosed and treated as possible COVID-19 pneumonia whose multiple nasopharyngeal swab samples were negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by RT-PCR but then serological immunoglobulin M/immunoglobulin G (IgM/IgG) antibody against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by rapid antibody test. METHODS: Eighty possible COVID-19 patients who had at least two negative consecutive COVID-19 RT-PCR test and were subjected to serological rapid antibody test were evaluated in this study. RESULTS: The specific serological total IgM/IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2 was detected in twenty-two patients. The mean age of this patient group was 63.2± 13.1-years-old with a male/female ratio of 11/11. Cough was the most common symptom (90.9%). The most common presenting chest computed tomography findings were bilateral ground glass opacities (77.2%) and alveolar consolidations (50.1%). The mean duration of time from appearance of first symptoms to hospital admission, to hospital admission, to treatment duration and to serological positivity were 8.6 d, 11.2 d, 7.9 d, and 24 d, respectively. Compared with reference laboratory values, serologically positive patients have shown increased levels of acute phase reactants, such as C-reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin and higher inflammatory markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme, and fibrin end-products, such as D-dimer. A left shift on white blood cell differential was observed with increased neutrophil counts and decreased lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated the feasibility of a COVID-19 diagnosis based on rapid antibody test in the cases of patients whose RT-PCR samples were negative. Detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 with rapid antibody test should be included in the diagnostic algorithm in patients with possible COVID-19 pneumonia.

The role of endotheliitis in COVID-19: Real-world experience of 11 190 patients and literature review for a pathophysiological map to clinical categorisation.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 may yield a variety of clinical pictures, differing from pneumonitis to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome along with vascular damage in the lung tissue, named endotheliitis. To date, no specific treatment strategy was approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in terms of endotheliitis-related comorbidities. Here, we presented our treatment strategies for 11 190 COVID-19 patients depending on categorisation by the severity of both the respiratory and vascular distress and presented the manifestations of endotheliitis in skin, lung and brain tissues according to the different phases of COVID-19. METHODS: After a retrospective examination, patients were divided into three groups according to their repercussions of vascular distress, which were represented by radiological, histopathological and clinical findings. We presented the characteristics and courses of seven representative and complicated cases which demonstrate different phases of the disease and discussed the treatment strategies in each group. RESULTS: Among 11 190 patients, 9294 patients met the criteria for Group A, and 1376 patients were presented to our clinics with Group B characteristics. Among these patients, 1896 individuals (Group B and Group C) were hospitalised. While 1220 inpatients were hospitalised within the first 10 days after the diagnosis, 676 of them were worsened and hospitalised 10 days after their diagnosis. Among hospitalised patients, 520 of them did not respond to group A and B treatments and developed hypoxemic respiratory failure (Group C) and 146 individuals needed ventilator support and were followed in the intensive care unit, and 43 (2.2%) patients died. CONCLUSION: Distinctive manifestations in each COVID-19 patient, including non-respiratory conditions in the acute phase and the emerging risk of long-lasting complications, suggest that COVID-19 has endotheliitis-centred thrombo-inflammatory pathophysiology. Daily evaluation of clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of patients and deciding appropriate pathophysiological treatment would help to reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19.

Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a 1-2% fatality rate, where no specific treatment has yet been defined. Although corticosteroids are recommended for selected COVID-19 patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and septic shock, there is no consensus regarding patient subgroups, dose, and duration. In this study, it was aimed to examine the contribution of corticosteroid treatment to the management of COVID-19 pneumonia without ARDS, septic shock both in acute and recovery setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was divided into two as those who used corticosteroids during the recovery phase (who did not develop sufficient radiological or clinical improvement) and those who did so during the activation phase (non-ARDS/septic shock condition, clinical, laboratory or radiological progression). RESULT: We identified 47 patients, 26 of which were males, and mean age was 60.5 ± 16.5 years. Seventeen patients were found to receive corticosteroids during the recovery phase and the rest (n= 30) during the activation period. After corticosteroid therapy, we found reduction of increased pre-treatment levels of D-dimer, ferritin, fibrinogen, CRP, increment of decreased pre-treatment lymphocyte count and saturation. Complete symptomatic improvement was detected in 6.9% and 17.6% of the patients in the activation phase and recovery phase, respectively. Complete radiological improvement was found in 11.5% and 35.3% of the patients in the activation phase and recovery phase, respectively. While corticosteroid treatment was initiated on day 4.2 ± 2.6 and continued for a mean of 5.9 ± 2.8 days in the activation group, it was started on day 8.1 ± 11.3 and administered for 7.8 ± 3.8 days in the recovery group. In both groups, methylprednisolone was given at a median dose of 40 mg/day. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term low-dose corticosteroid therapy may improve clinical, radiological, laboratory outcomes in the management of COVID-19 pneumonia during the activation period without ARDS and non-septic shock and during recovery period with no satisfactory response. Further randomized controlled studies will be useful in demonstrating its efficacy.

A case with iatrogenic pneumothorax due to deep dry needling.

Deep dry needling is an evidence-based treatment technique that is accepted and used by physical therapists for treatment of musculoskeletal pain. We present a case of iatrogenic pneumothorax due to deep dry needling over the posterior thorax. A 36-year old presented with right chest pain 2 hours after dry needling for pain in his back muscles. Chest radiograph suggested small right pneumothorax and the finding was confirmed by computed tomography. Not only should practitioners and their patients be aware of potential complications of dry needling, but also physicians who might see patients with complications.

Retrospective review of epidemic viral pneumonia cases in Turkey: A multicenter study.

Influenza A (H1N1) caused its first pandemic in 2009 in USA and Mexico. Since then, clinicians have exercised great care in order to make an early diagnosis of viral pneumonias. This is due in part to pandemic influenza A infection having greater impact on populations <65 years old than other viral strains, including seasonal influenza. Chest radiographies of those affected displayed a rapid progression of patchy infiltrates, and a large proportion of individuals required admission to intensive care units (ICU). Despite efforts, patients infected with the virus had a high mortality rate. The present multicenter study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical, demographic and prognostic characteristics of patients diagnosed with epidemic viral pneumonia in Turkey. A total of 92 patients were included in the study. The Student's t-test and Chi-square tests were performed to analyze quantitative data, assuming a normal distribution, and to analyze qualitative data, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of demographic variables and laboratory values on the virus mortality rate. The male/female ratio was 42/50 and the mean age was 48.74±16.65 years. A total of 69 (75%) patients were unvaccinated against influenza. The most common symptoms were cough (87%) and fever (63%). Chest computed tomography showed peripheral patchy areas of the lungs of ground glass density in 38 patients (41.3%). A total of 22 (59.4%) patients had H1N1, 5 (12.5%) patients had influenza B, and 38 (41.3%) patients met the criteria for admission to the ICU. Of these patients, 20 (52.63%) were monitored with a mechanical ventilator, with a noninvasive ventilator being adequate for 10 (26.32%) of patients. The length of stay in the ICU was 6.45±5.97 days and the duration of mechanical ventilation was 5.06±4.69 days. A total of 12 (13.04%) patients in the ICU succumbed. Logistic regression analysis revealed that among the parameters possibly associated with mortality, being an active smoker increased the risk of mortality 7.08-fold compared to other groups (P=0.005). In conclusion, viral pneumonia remains a significant health problem during the winter period. Considering the high number of ICU admissions and high rate of mortality for patients in the present study, earlier initiation of antiviral therapy is necessary. Active smoking increased mortality in viral pneumonia.

The cough frequency among call center workers: "call center cough".

INTRODUCTION: Call centers are places where numerous people work together always speaking in a closed environment, and the most common complaint about admission to a doctor by call center employees is a cough and other respiratory system symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the relationship of call center employees between work and cough complaints and cough incidence with a questionnaire that consists of eleven questions and evaluates epidemiologic features, cough complaints of call center employees. RESULT: 132 people were accrued to this study and the female/male ratio was 102/30. Mean age was 26.4 ± 2.7 (min-max; 21-39) years, mean working time at the call center was 2.6 ± 1.2 (min-max; 0.1-8) year and mean daily working hours was 8.1 ± 1.1 hour. 40 (30.3%) participants had cough complaint before beginning, 89 (67.4%) participants had cough complaint after to work at a call center work (p= 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Cough is more prevalent in call center employees. Pulmonary medicine specialist and occupational medicine practioner keep their mind unexplaned cough with infections or other reasons might be a warning and early symptoms of sick building syndrome or other building related diseases or voice abusing on call center operators.

The objective evaluation of obstructive pulmonary diseases with spirometry.

Airway obstruction is variable in asthma, while it is progressive and persistent in chronic bronchitis and emphysema. However, some of the patients presenting with symptoms of chronic airway diseases have clinical features of both asthma and COPD. The group with "Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome" (ACOS) phenotype was characterized by definitely irreversible airway obstruction accompanied by symptoms and signs of reversibility. In this study, we aimed to classify obstructive airway diseases by clinical, radiological, and pulmonary function tests. Patients at Samsun Medical Park Hospital Chest Diseases outpatient clinic were evaluated between January 2013 and April 2016, and a total of 235 patients were included in this study. Mean age of the patients was 55.3±14.5 (15-88) years, and the male/female ratio was 45/190. The baseline pulmonary function test results of the patients were as follows: mean forced vital capacity (FVC) values 2,825±1,108 (710-6,870) mL and 74.3±22.4 (24-155)%, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) values 1,789±774 (480-4,810) mL and 58.1±20.0 (20-130)%, FEV1/FVC values 62.5±6.8 (39-70)%. Reversibility criteria following bronchodilator treatment were present in 107 (45.5%) patients. We specified five subgroups for patients according to their clinical, radiological, and pulmonary test findings, namely Group 1 (asthma), Group 2 (ACOS), Group 3 (chronic bronchitis), and Group 4 (emphysema). Additionally, a group of patients who had clinical and spirometric features of both asthma and chronic bronchitis in association with underlying emphysema (emphysema with chronic bronchitis and emphysema with asthma) was defined as the undifferentiated obstruction (UNDO) group. Number and percentage distribution of patients by groups were 58 (24.7%) in the asthma group, 70 (29.8%) in the ACOS group, 61 (26%) in the chronic bronchitis group, 32 (13.6%) in the emphysema group, and 14 (6%) in the UNDO group. In conclusion, in our study, the types of obstructive airway diseases could be classified based on clinical, radiological, and pulmonary function test findings into five groups, including asthma, ACOS, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and both asthma and chronic bronchitis in association with underlying emphysema (emphysema with chronic bronchitis and emphysema with asthma) or the so-called undifferentiated obstruction. We suggest that these patient groups can be determined more accurately by studies that evaluate the association between spirometric FEV1, FEV1/FVC values, and reversibility ratios.

The rapid effects of budesonide plus formoterol in patients with obstructive airway diseases.

INTRODUCTION: The use of a combination inhaler containing budesonide and formoterol (BUD/FOR) to both maintenance and quick relief therapy has been recommended as an improved method of using inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting ß agonist therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of BUD/FOR and testing the availability of BUD/FOR for early reversibility test in patients with airway obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on patients who were admitted to the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Samsun Medical Park Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 48.5 ± 17.3 (range 10-75) years and the male-to-female ratio was 36:8. The pre-bronchodilator pulmonary function test results are as follows: the mean forced vital capacity, 3,025 ± 1,162 mL (76.3% ± 23.2%); mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), 1,898 ± 725 mL (59.2% ± 19.1%); mean FEV1/forced vital capacity, 62.8 ± 6.3% (range 42%-70%); mean peak expiratory flow, 3,859 ± 1,779 mL (48.0% ± 19.7%); and forced expiratory flow 25%-75%, 1,295 ± 486 mL (35.8% ± 12.3%). The reversibility was positive in 26 (59.1%) patients. The absolute change and percentage of change in FEV1 were 318 ± 228 mL and 17.7% ± 11.9%, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to reversibility (reversible and irreversible) and both groups were compared with changes according to spirometric results. FEV1 values were statistically different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The fixed combination of BUD/FOR has rapid bronchodilator effect, and they can be used for early reversibility test.

Thrombolytic treatment (alteplase; rt-Pa) in acute massive pulmonary embolism and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) often decompensate suddenly, and once hemodynamic compromise has developed, mortality is extremely high. Currently, thrombolytic therapy for PE is still controversial. We retrospectively evaluated 34 patients with PE between January 2010 and December 2013 in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Medical Park Samsun Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. The demographic and disease characteristics of patients who received thrombolytic treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The female to male ratio was 19/15 and the mean age was 63.1±13.2 years. PE diagnosis was made using echocardiography (64.7%) or contrast-enhanced thorax computed tomography with echocardiography (32.4%). Twenty-two (64.7%) patients went into the cardiopulmonary arrest due to massive PE and 17 (50%) patients recovered without sequelae. Eleven (32.4%) patients were diagnosed with massive PE during cardiopulmonary arrest with clinical and echocardiographic findings. Alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator [rt-PA]) was administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and four (36.3%) patients responded and survived without sequelae. The complications of rt-PA treatment were hemorrhage in five (14.7%) patients and allergic reactions in two (5.9%) patients. There was no mortality due to rt-PA treatment complications. In conclusion, mortality due to massive PE is much more than estimated and alteplase can be used safely in patients with massive PE. This thrombolytic treatment was not associated with any fatal hemorrhage complication. If there is any sign of acute PE, echocardiography should be used during cardiopulmonary arrest/instability. Alteplase should be given to patients with suspected massive PE.

The relationship between early reversibility test and maximal inspiratory pressure in patients with airway obstruction.

Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) is a marker for assessing the degree of respiratory muscle dysfunction. Muscle dysfunction represents a pathophysiological feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We aimed to determinate the MIP value in patients with airway obstruction, to evaluate the change in MIP with bronchodilator drug, and to show the relationship between the changes in MIP and disease characteristics. We evaluated 21 patients with airway obstruction at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Samsun Medicalpark Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. We performed pulmonary function tests, measurement of MIP values, and reversibility tests with salbutamol. The baseline spirometry results were: mean forced vital capacity (FVC), 3,017±1,020 mL and 75.8%±20.8%; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), 1,892±701 mL and 59.2%±18.2%; FEV1/FVC, 62.9%±5.5%; peak expiratory flow, 53%±19%. The pre-bronchodilator MIP value was 62.1±36.9 cmH2O. The reversibility test was found to be positive in 61.9% of patients with salbutamol. The absolute change and percentage of change in FEV1 were 318±223 mL and 19.8%±16.7%, respectively. The MIP value was increased by 5.5 cmH2O (8.8%) and was 67.7±30.3 cmH2O after bronchodilation. There was no significant relationship between age, FEV1, reversibility, and change in MIP with bronchodilator. However, the increase in MIP with bronchodilator drug was higher in patients with low body mass index (<25 kg/m(2)). We noted a 13.1% increase in FVC, a 19.8% increase in FEV1, a 20.2% increase in peak expiratory flow, and an 8.8% increase in MIP with salbutamol. In conclusion; MIP increases with bronchodilator therapy, regardless of changes in lung function, in patients with airway obstruction. The reversibilty test can be used to evaluate change in MIP with salbutamol.

Diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration and biopsy in patients with pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) and biopsy (TTNB) is a well established, safe, and rapid method of reaching a definitive diagnosis for most thoracic lesions. The present study aimed to determine the roles of TTNA and TTNB in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases and to compare the results using these two techniques. METHODS: TTNB and TTNA were performed in 105 patients admitted to our clinic due to peripheral pulmonary lesions between May 2005 and November 2007. Needle biopsies were performed using 18-gauge Tru-Cut® biopsy needles and aspirations was performed using 18-20-22-gauge Chiba needles. RESULTS: Malignant lesions diagnosed by TTNB were non-small cell lung carcinoma (51 patients, 73%), small cell lung carcinoma (nine patients, 13%), malignant tissue (three patients, 5%), lymphoma (two patients, 3%), thymoma (two patients, 3%), plasmacytoma (one patient, 1%), rhabdomyosarcoma (one patient, 1%), and metastasis (one patient, 1%). The malignant lesions diagnosed by TTNA were non-small cell lung carcinoma in eleven patients (92%) and malignant tissue in one patient (8%). Three (100%) of the benign lesions diagnosed by TTNB were granulomas and two (100%) benign lesions diagnosed by TTNA were infarctions. When the diagnostic value of TTNB and TTNA was compared, TTNB was significantly superior. Malignant lesions were identified in 70 (84%) and benign lesions were identified in three (4%) of the 83 patients in the TTNB group. Ten (12%) patients in the TTNB group could not be diagnosed. Malignant lesions were found in 12 (55%) and benign lesions were found in two (9%) of the 22 patients in the TTNA group. Negative results were obtained in eight (36%) patients. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TTNB was calculated to be 92%, 100%, and 93%, respectively (Table 5). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TTNA was 78%, 100%, and 82%, respectively. TTNB had a sensitivity of 92% (70/76) in malignant cases and 100% (3/3) in benign cases, while the sensitivity of TTNA in malignant and benign cases was 75% (3/4) and 67% (2/3), respectively. CONCLUSION: TTNB is a safe and easy procedure which provides a highly accurate diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions without causing a significant increase in complication rates.

A new syndrome: right-sided arcus aorta syndrome.

Right-sided arcus aorta (RSAA) is a rare congenital anomaly that may cause chronic cough and dyspnoea. We aimed to define RSAA as a new syndrome characterised by RSAA, dyspnoea and cough during exercise. RSAA syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis of asthma.

The effects of long-acting ß2-agonists plus inhaled corticosteroids for early reversibility in patients with airway obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Salbutamol, as a short-acting ß2-agonist, was popularly used in the past for detection of reversibility in patients with airway obstruction when it was the only drug available in the treatment of airway obstruction. Today, the combination of long-acting ß2-agonists (LABA) and inhaled glucocorticoids are the first choice of therapy, with or without the presence of reversibility, in patients with airway obstruction. We aimed to compare the efficacy of salbutamol and long acting ß2-agonists plus inhaled glucocorticoids for early reversibility test in patients with airway obstruction. METHODS: Symptomatic patients (cough, dyspnea, and/or wheezing) with airway obstruction according to pulmonary function testing (FEV1/FVC value less than 70% of expected) who had never used bronchodilators before or had not received short- or long-acting inhaled bronchodilator therapy within the most recent 12 hours were evaluated. Reversibility measurements were made by administering the combination of long-acting ß2-agonists (LABA) and inhaled glucocorticoids after 15 minutes. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 57.3±17.7 (range, 8-88) years and the male-to-female ratio was 69/21. The baseline pulmonary function test results were mean FVC; 2,747±1,181 mL and 74.7%±21.4%, mean FEV1; 1,716±825 mL and 57.5%±19.0%, mean FEV1/FVC; 61.4%±7.4%. The bronchodilator drugs given before reversibility testing were as salmeterol/fluticasone (FTC/SAL), formoterol/budesonide (BUD/FOR), beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol (BDP/FOR) and salbutamol (SLB) in 24, 22, 24 and 20 patients, respectively. The reversibility was positive in 33 (36.7%) patients. The absolute change and percentage of change in mean FEV1 were 206±252 mL, 13.2%±16.6% for FTC/SAL group, 273±201 mL, 14%±8% for BUD/FOR group, 240±151 mL, 18.7%±15.9% for BUD/FOR groupand 171±116 mL, 13.3%±11.8% for SLB group. There was no statistically significant for reversibilty results between LABAs/inhaledsteroids and SLB group. And the patients with positivere versibility test were significantly higher in both of BUD/FOR and BDP/FOR groups than SLB group. CONCLUSIONS: We think that performance of an early reversibility test using the combination of a LABA and an inhaled corticosteroid for treatment would enhance both the education of the patient in using the device and the reliability of the drug. And, we suggest that: "you should make the reversibility test with Long-Acting ß2-Agonists plus Inhaled Corticosteroids which used in treatment of obstructive lung diseases".

An intracerebral mass: tuberculosis or sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, chronic granulomatous disease and it can affect almost any organ. In autopsy series, it has been reported that the central nervous system involvement has occurred in 5-16% of the patients with sarcoidosis, while the neurological symptoms have occurred only in 3-9% of them. A 40-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of aphasia, balance disorder and drowsiness. An intracerebral mass was detected on cranial CT scans and neurosarcoidosis was diagnosed with clinical, radiological and histopathological findings.

An unusual cause of precordial chest pain.

Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma in anterior mediastinum is very rare. A 45-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with precordial chest pain. A large and well-shaped mass in the anterior mediastinum was seen radiologically, and there was a clearly compression of the heart by the mass. The lesion was totally resected, and extraskeletal mediastinal chondrosarcoma was histopathologically diagnosed. We aimed to present and discuss the radiologic, clinic, and histopathologic features of unusual presentation of extraskeletal chondrosarcoma in a case.

A very rare cause of pleuritic chest pain: bilateral pleuritis as a first sign of familial mediterranean Fever.

The familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), also called recurrent polyserositis, is characterized by reccurrent episodes of serositis at pleura, peritoneum, and synovial membrane and fever. We present a patient with recurrent bilateral pleural effusion due to serositis attacks as a first sign of FMF. A 59-year-old Turkish man suffered from recurrent pleuritic chest pain due to pleural effusion and atelectasis. The etiology was not found, and his symptoms were spontaneously recovered during several weeks. The pleuritic chest pain was associated with abdominal pain in the last attack. The gene mutation analysis revealed the homozygosity of FMF (F479L) gene mutation in both our patient and his grandchild. After the colchicine treatment, the attack has not developed. In conclusion, recurrent pleural effusion and pleuritic chest pain may be the first signs of the FMF.

Long-term survival rates of patients with stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin plus vinorelbine or gemcitabine.

Limited data exist concerning the long-term (≥5 year) survival rates of patients with stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) receiving chemotherapy. We aimed to determine the long-term results of cisplatin plus third-generation (vinorelbine or gemcitabine) cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced and advanced NSCLC. The study included 141 patients, and all patients were followed up from the time of diagnosis until death. The median age of the patients was 59.1±9.9 years. The male-to-female ratio was 124/17; 62.4% of the patients had stage IIIB and 37.6% had stage IV NSCLC. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated NSCLC subtypes accounted for 69.5, 17.7 and 12.7% of the cases, respectively. The overall response rate was 32.6% and the median survival time was 12.3 months (95% CI, 10.2-14.5). The median survival times for stages IIIB and IV were 12.6±1.4 and 11.9±1.7 months, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 33, 7.5, 4.3 and 2.8%, respectively. In conclusion, cisplatin-based new-generation cytotoxic agents for combined modality therapy offer an increased hope of long-term survival for patients with locally advanced and advanced NSCLC.