Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease Revealing Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent manifestation of connective tissue diseases. They may be revelatory of the disease or occur during follow-up. Antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) is a complex and heterogeneous autoimmune disorder. Antisynthetase antibodies, in particular the anti-Jo-1 antibody, characterize this syndrome. The occurrence and severity of ILD determine the prognosis, which in turn determines therapeutic management. We report the case of a 53-year-old female patient presenting with ILD, revealing the diagnosis of ASS. The evolution was favorable with bolus corticosteroids associated with cyclophosphamide.

Removal of an Atypical Foreign Body Using Flexible Bronchoscopy Under Local Anesthesia.

While uncommon among adults, the act of inhaling a foreign object is a grave incident that might potentially endanger one's life or result in substantial repercussions. A 43-year-old patient with a history of asthma and epilepsy from infancy appeared with worsening respiratory distress and the presence of purulent secretions one week following an epileptic seizure. The chest X-rays and abdominal ultrasound revealed no anomalies. A bronchoscopy performed with local anesthesia enabled clear vision of the foreign object, and its removal was successfully executed, eliminating the need for a more invasive procedure. Bronchoscopy is crucial for both diagnosis and treatment, particularly in cases where there is a suspicion of inhalation of a foreign object that cannot be seen on X-rays. However, X-rays can still be useful for detecting radiopaque foreign objects or for identifying indirect symptoms of their existence.

Idiopathic Mediastinal Fibrosis: A Study of a Case Using CT and Bronchoscopic Imaging.

An uncommon illness known as fibrosing mediastinitis causes the mediastinum to grow excessively thick fibrous tissue. Fungal or idiopathic origins are the most common etiologies of pathology. In an individual suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrosing mediastinitis, which resembled a bronchogenic cancer, was identified during anatomopathological examination following mediastinoscopy.

Pulmonary edema ex vacuo after drainage of pyo-pneumothorax.

This case presents a rare occurrence of re-expansion pulmonary edema following a drainage of pyo-pneumothorax in a 33-year-old patient. The diagnosis was established through a thoracic radiography, and the treatment consisted of symptomatic management, showing positive progress. Later on, the patient was diagnosed with pleural tuberculosis via GeneXpert testing and subsequently initiated on anti-bacterial therapy.This case report aims to shed light on the infrequent pulmonary edema ex vacuo as a complication of pleural drainage. It explores its causes, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options. this study highlights the necessity of effective prevention and management strategies.

A huge primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung: case report and review of the literature.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung is an uncommon thoracic neoplasm. It is considered a slow-growing tumor with a low-grade malignancy, which can be confusing as to its underlying malignancy, and the main treatment for this tumor is surgery. Presentation of the Case: Here, we report a case of cystic adenoid carcinoma of the lung in a 50-year-old man presenting with an unusual radiological presentation. The tumor was classified as T4N3M1a according to the TNM classification, eighth edition, and the decision was to treat the patient with palliative chemotherapy. The pathologist and surgeons must fully understand the adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung to prevent misdiagnosis. Conclusion: Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lung is a rare tumor with a poor prognosis. The diagnosis can be challenging both clinically and histologically. Here, we present a case with an atypical radiological presentation, making the diagnosis even more difficult.

[Pleural and lung metastasis from degenerated multiple adenofibromas: about a case]. / Métastase pleurale et pulmonaire d'une polyadénofibromatose dégénéréé: à propos d'un cas.

Multiple adenofibromas or adenofibromatosis is characterized by the presence of at least 3 mono- or bilateral adenofibromas increasing significantly in size, causing trophic disorders. We report the case of a 46-year old female patient who had been followed up since she was 30 years old for bilateral adenofibromatosis that required 4 surgical procedures. Patient's medical data were collected in the Department of Respiratory Diseases at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital Center, Casablanca. Basing on preoperative assessment before bilateral mastectomy, the patient underwent chest X-ray that showed opaque right hemithorax exerting compression on the mediastinum. Clinical examination showed effusion syndrome in the right hemithorax and left supraclavicular cervical adenopathy. Pleural puncture biopsy confirmed the presence of poorly differentiated invasive carcinoma in the pleura, supporting breast origin. Bronchoscopy after pleural puncture objectified infiltration of the whole bronchial tree; biopsies confirmed the anatomopathological results. The recommended treatment strategy was based on multidrug chemotherapy. Patient's evolution was marked by the occurrence of hepatic metastases. This study shows that adenofibromas require regular monitoring given the risk of trasformation to breast cancer, which is a frequent cause of pleuropulmonary metastases.

[Alveolar microlithiasis: about a new case]. / La microlithiase alvéolaire: à propos d'une nouvelle observation.

Alveolar microlithiasis (AM) is a rare disease, characterized by the accumulation of calcium concretions in the pulmonary alveolar lumen. We report a new case of AM suspected on chest X-ray and confirmed by chest CT scan, whose appearance was pathognomonic, and by transbronchial pulmonary biopsy. AM is often asymptomatic, contrasting with the importance of lesions on X-ray which are characteristics of this disease. The cause of this disease is unknown. However autosomal recessive inheritance with mutation in the SLC34A2 gene is suspected.

[Well-digger's lung]. / Poumon du puisatier.

The essential occupation of well-digger includes wells drilling and maintenance in order to provide water. He comes in contact with various minerals, especially silica, whose particles unquestionably are a contributing factor to pulmonary diseases known as silicosis. Our study aims to highlight the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and evolutionary features of well-diggers with silicosis. We conducted a retrospective study of 54 well-diggers with silicosis whose data were collected in the Department of Respiratory Diseases at the University Hospital Ibn Rushd of Casablanca from March 1997 to January 2016. All patients were male well-diggers with an average age of 50 years. Smoking was found in 36 cases and a personal history of tuberculosis was observed in eight cases. Chest x-ray showed large opacities in 39 cases, small opacities in 15 cases and septat thickening in 11 cases. Silicosis was complicated by bacterial infection in 37% of cases, by pneumothorax in 4% of cases and by tuberculosis in 20% of cases. Therapeutic approach was established based on these complications. A declaration of occupational disease and compensation was made. Outcome was good in 12 cases, stationary in 17 cases and poor in 16 cases. Silicosis is a common pneumoconiosis among well-diggers. It affects lung function. We here highlight its frequent association with tuberculosis and emphasize on prevention which is the best treatment.

Control of asthma in the Maghreb: results of the AIRMAG study.

BACKGROUND: The goal of asthma management is to achieve disease control, defined. as the ability to lead a normal life with normal pulmonary function. However, many epidemiological surveys have demonstrated that asthma control is unacceptable in the majority of patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate asthma control in 624 adults with asthma in the Maghreb, participating in the AIRMAG survey. METHODS: As part of a general population survey of asthma in the Maghreb conducted by structured telephone interview, information was obtained on asthma control and treatment. Control was determined with the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and using an algorithm based on the GINA control guidelines. RESULTS: The mean ACT score was 16.6 +/- 4.6, corresponding to uncontrolled asthma. Asthma was uncontrolled (ACT score

Prevalence of asthma in North Africa: the Asthma Insights and Reality in the Maghreb (AIRMAG) study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is the most frequent chronic respiratory disease in both adults and children. The prevalence and burden of asthma vary considerably between different regions of the world. Information on asthma in Africa is fragmentary and relatively old. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this cross-sectional epidemiological survey was to determine the prevalence and burden of asthma in the North African countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia using the methodology developed in the Asthma Insights and Reality (AIR) programme. METHODS: A general population sample was generated using a stratified sampling method based on randomly-generated lists of telephone numbers. The target sample consisted of 10,000 households in each country, which were contacted by telephone. A structured interview was proposed. Two screening questions were asked to identify subjects with asthma. Subjects who met these criteria were then questioned in more detail about their asthma. RESULTS: Of 30 350 households contacted, 1090 subjects with asthma were identified of whom 872 provided complete data. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of asthma was 3.45% [95% CI: 3.09 3.80%] in Algeria, 3.89% [95% CI: 3.52 4.27%] in Morocco and 3.53% [95% CI: 3.18 3.89%] in Tunisia. Prevalence was highest in children and older adults, and in urban areas. Annual incidence rates ranged between 28/10,000 in Tunisia and 46/10,000 in Algeria. 74.3% of adults reported being handicapped by their asthma all or most of the time, 26.4% reported a visit to a hospital emergency department in the previous year and 23.9% absence from work or school due to asthma. 48.0% reported that their sleep was very or quite disturbed by asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma in the Maghreb countries is moderate, but its impact is high.

Paediatric asthma in North Africa: the Asthma Insights and Reality in the Maghreb (AIRMAG) study.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is the most frequent chronic childhood disease and can have a marked impact on educational development, activities and quality of life. The AIRMAG survey provides an opportunity to assess asthma and its impact in children in North Africa. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, burden and management of asthma in children in the Maghreb. METHODS: A general population sample was generated using a stratified sampling method based on randomly-generated lists of telephone numbers. The target sample consisted of 10,000 households in each country, which were contacted by telephone. A structured interview was proposed. Two screening questions were asked to identify subjects with asthma. Children who met these criteria were then questioned in more detail about their asthma. RESULTS: Of 30,350 households contacted, 1090 subjects with asthma were identified, of whom 248 were aged under sixteen and interviewed by proxy. The prevalence of paediatric asthma ranged from 3.5% in Tunisia to 4.4% in Morocco. 22.8% of children were rated as severe persistent and 30.9% as intermittent. Asthma control was adequate in 7.6% of children and unacceptable in 46.2%. Control was best in Tunisia and worst in Morocco. 12.2% had been hospitalised for their asthma in the previous year and 32.9% had needed to attend an emergency department. Short-acting beta-agonists were used by 52.8% of children and prophylactic inhaled corticosteroids (alone or in association with long-acting beta-agonists) by 27.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma has a major impact on the lives of children with asthma in the Maghreb. This could be improved by offering more appropriate care as recommended in the GINA guidelines.