Successful lung transplantation in genetic methionyl-tRNA synthetase-related alveolar proteinosis/lung fibrosis without recurrence under methionine supplementation: Medium-term outcome in 4 cases.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) results from the accumulation of lipoproteinaceous material in the alveoli and alveolar macrophages, and can be associated with pulmonary fibrosis, with a need for lung transplantation (LTx). Causes of PAP are autoimmune (90%-95%), secondary (5%), or hereditary (<1%). Patients with hereditary PAP are generally not considered for isolated LTx, due to the high probability of recurrence after LTx, and only a challenging scenario with sequential LTx followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was reported as successful. Recently, a new genetic cause of PAP linked to mutations in the methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MARS) gene has been reported, with a highly variable clinical presentation. Because clinical correction of the defective MARS activity with methionine supplementation has been reported in nontransplanted children, we reassessed the feasibility of LTx for candidates with MARS-related PAP/fibrosis. We report 3 cases of LTx performed for MARS-related pulmonary alveolar proteinosis-pulmonary fibrosis without recurrence under methionine supplementation, whereas another fourth case transplanted without supplementation had fatal PAP recurrence. These results suggest the effectiveness of methionine in correcting defective MARS activity and also looking for this very rare diagnosis in case of unclassified PAP/fibrosis. It argues for not excluding the feasibility of isolated LTx in patients with MARS mutation.

CT Imaging Assessment of Response to Treatment in Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis in Adults With Bronchial Asthma.

BACKGROUND: One of the major challenges in managing allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis remains consistent and reproducible assessment of response to treatment. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the most relevant changes in CT scan parameters over time for assessing response to treatment? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this ancillary study of a randomized clinical trial (NEBULAMB), patients with asthma with available CT scan and without exacerbation during a 4-month allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis exacerbation treatment period (corticosteroids and itraconazole) were included. Changed CT scan parameters were assessed by systematic analyses of CT scan findings at initiation and end of treatment. CT scans were assessed by two radiologists blinded to the clinical data. Radiologic parameters were determined by selecting those showing significant changes over time. Improvement of at least one, without worsening of the others, defined the radiologic response. Agreement between radiologic changes and clinical and immunologic responses was likewise investigated. RESULTS: Among the 139 originally randomized patients, 132 were included. We identified five CT scan parameters showing significant changes at end of treatment: mucoid impaction extent, mucoid impaction density, centrilobular micronodules, consolidation/ground-glass opacities, and bronchial wall thickening (P < .05). These changes were only weakly associated with one another, except for mucoid impaction extent and density. No agreement was observed between clinical, immunologic, and radiologic responses, assessed as an overall response, or considering each of the parameters (Cohen κ, -0.01 to 0.24). INTERPRETATION: Changes in extent and density of mucoid impaction, centrilobular micronodules, consolidation/ground-glass opacities, and thickening of the bronchial walls were found to be the most relevant CT scan parameters to assess radiologic response to treatment. A clinical, immunologic, and radiologic multidimensional approach should be adopted to assess outcomes, probably with a composite definition of response to treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT02273661; URL: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov).

Primary immunodeficiency diseases of adults: a review of pulmonary complication imaging findings.

Our objective in this review is to familiarize radiologists with the spectrum of initial and progressive CT manifestations of pulmonary complications observed in adult patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases, including primary antibody deficiency (PAD), hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES), and chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). In patients with PAD, recurrent pulmonary infections may lead to airway remodeling with bronchial wall-thickening, bronchiectasis, mucus-plugging, mosaic perfusion, and expiratory air-trapping. Interstitial lung disease associates pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia, granulomatous inflammation, and organizing pneumonia and is called granulomatous-lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD). The CT features of GLILD are solid and semi-solid pulmonary nodules and areas of air space consolidation, reticular opacities, and lymphadenopathy. These features may overlap those of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, justifying biopsies. In patients with HIES, particularly the autosomal dominant type (Job syndrome), recurrent pyogenic infections lead to permanent lung damage. Secondary infections with aspergillus species develop in pre-existing pneumatocele and bronchiectasis areas, leading to chronic airway infection. The complete spectrum of CT pulmonary aspergillosis may be seen including aspergillomas, chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)-like pattern, mixed pattern, and invasive. Patients with CGD present with recurrent bacterial and fungal infections leading to parenchymal scarring, traction bronchiectasis, cicatricial emphysema, airway remodeling, and mosaicism. Invasive aspergillosis, the major cause of mortality, manifests as single or multiple nodules, areas of airspace consolidation that may be complicated by abscess, empyema, or contiguous extension to the pleura or chest wall. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Awareness of the imaging findings spectrum of pulmonary complications that can occur in adult patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases is important to minimize diagnostic delay and improve patient outcomes. KEY POINTS: • Unexplained bronchiectasis, associated or not with CT findings of obliterative bronchiolitis, should evoke a potential diagnosis of primary autoantibody deficiency. • The CT evidence of various patterns of aspergillosis developed in severe bronchiectasis or pneumatocele in a young adult characterizes the pulmonary complications of hyper-IgE syndrome. • In patients with chronic granulomatous disease, invasive aspergillosis is relatively frequent, often asymptomatic, and sometimes mimicking or associated with non-infectious inflammatory pulmonary lesions.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: A multidisciplinary review.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a rare disease characterized by a complex allergic inflammatory reaction of airways against Aspergillus affecting patients with chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, cystic fibrosis). Exacerbation is often the way to diagnose ABPA and marks its evolution by its recurrent character leading to cortico-requirement or long-term antifungal treatment. Early diagnosis allows treatment of ABPA at an initial stage, preventing recurrence of exacerbations and long-term complications, mainly represented by bronchiectasis. This review of the literature aims to present the current state of the art in terms of diagnosis and treatment of ABPA from a multidisciplinary perspective. As there is no clinical, biological nor radiological specific sign, diagnostic criteria are regularly revised. They are mainly based on the elevation of total and specific IgE against Aspergillus fumigatus and the presence of suggestive CT abnormalities such as mucoid impaction and consolidations. ABPA management includes eviction of mold and pharmacological therapy. Exacerbations are treated in first line with a moderate dose of oral corticosteroids. Azole antifungal agents represent an alternative for the treatment of exacerbations and are the preferential strategy to reduce the future risk of exacerbations and for corticosteroids sparing. Asthma biologics may be of interest; however, their place remains to be determined. Avoiding complications of ABPA while limiting the side effects of systemic drugs remains a major challenge of ABPA management. Several drugs, including new antifungals and asthma biologics, are currently being tested and may be useful in the future.

Clinico-radiological correlation and prognostic value of baseline chest computed tomography in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

OBJECTIVES: While chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) is correlated to severity and prognosis in asthma, it has not been studied in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Our objective is to study the prognostic value of baseline HRCT in EGPA patients. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre observational study in three French hospitals, including EGPA patients with available chest HRCT before any systemic treatment. Two experienced radiologists blinded to clinical data evaluated HRCT images using semi-quantitative scoring. HRCT characteristics were correlated with clinical features and outcome. RESULTS: Among 46 patients, 38 (82.6%) had abnormal parenchymal findings on HRCT, including bronchial wall thickening (69.6%), mosaic perfusion (63.0%), ground-glass opacities (32.6%), bronchiectasis (30.4%), mucous plugging (21.7%) and consolidations (17.4%). Patients were clustered into three groups depending on HRCT features: ground-glass pattern, i.e. with ground-glass opacities with or without bronchial abnormalities (group 1, 28.3%), bronchial pattern (group 2, 41.3%) and extra-pulmonary pattern with no significant abnormality (group 3, 30.4%). Group 2 showed less frequent cardiac involvement (31.6 vs 46.2 and 42.9% in groups 1 and 3), more frequent positive ANCA (52.6 vs 0.0 and 14.3%) and higher eosinophil count (median 7510 vs 4000 and 4250/mm3). Group 1 showed worse prognosis with more frequent steroid-dependency (58.3 vs 11.1 and 28.6%) and requirement for mepolizumab (25.0 vs 11.1 and 7.1%). Conversely, group 2 showed a better outcome with higher rates of remission (88.9 vs 41.6 and 71.4%). CONCLUSION: Chest HRCT at diagnosis of EGPA may have prognostic value and help clinicians better manage these patients.

The Potential Role of Artificial Intelligence in Lung Cancer Screening Using Low-Dose Computed Tomography.

Two large randomized controlled trials of low-dose CT (LDCT)-based lung cancer screening (LCS) in high-risk smoker populations have shown a reduction in the number of lung cancer deaths in the screening group compared to a control group. Even if various countries are currently considering the implementation of LCS programs, recurring doubts and fears persist about the potentially high false positive rates, cost-effectiveness, and the availability of radiologists for scan interpretation. Artificial intelligence (AI) can potentially increase the efficiency of LCS. The objective of this article is to review the performances of AI algorithms developed for different tasks that make up the interpretation of LCS CT scans, and to estimate how these AI algorithms may be used as a second reader. Despite the reduction in lung cancer mortality due to LCS with LDCT, many smokers die of comorbid smoking-related diseases. The identification of CT features associated with these comorbidities could increase the value of screening with minimal impact on LCS programs. Because these smoking-related conditions are not systematically assessed in current LCS programs, AI can identify individuals with evidence of previously undiagnosed cardiovascular disease, emphysema or osteoporosis and offer an opportunity for treatment and prevention.

CT features of community-acquired pneumonia at the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Chest computed tomography (CT) was reported to improve the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) as compared to chest X-ray (CXR). The aim of this study is to describe the CT-patterns of CAP in a large population visiting the emergency department and to see if some of them are more frequently missed on CXR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an ancillary analysis of the prospective multicenter ESCAPED study including 319 patients. We selected the 163 definite or probable CAP based on adjudication committee classification; 147 available chest CT scans were reinterpreted by 3 chest radiologists to identify CAP patterns. These CT-patterns were correlated to epidemiological, biological and microbiological data, and compared between false negative and true positive CXR CAP. RESULTS: Six patterns were identified: lobar pneumonia (51/147, 35%), including 35 with plurifocal involvement; lobular pneumonia (43/147, 29%); unilobar infra-segmental consolidation (24/147, 16%); bronchiolitis (16/147, 11%), including 4 unilobar bronchiolitis; atelectasis and bronchial abnormalities (8/147, 5.5%); interstitial pneumonia (5/147, 3.5%). Bacteria were isolated in 41% of patients with lobar pneumonia-pattern (mostly Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia) versus 19% in other patients (p = 0.01). Respiratory viruses were equally distributed within all patterns. CXR was falsely negative in 46/147 (31%) patients. Lobar pneumonia was significantly less missed on CXR than other patterns (p = 0.003), especially lobular pneumonia and unilobar infra-segmental consolidation, missed in 35% and 58% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lobar and lobular pneumonias are the most frequent CT-patterns. Lobar pneumonia is appropriately detected on CXR and mainly due to Streptococcus pneumoniae or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Chest CT is very useful to identify CAP in other CT-patterns. Prior the COVID pandemic, CAP was rarely responsible for interstitial opacities on CT.

Nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B as maintenance therapy in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: a randomised, multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: In allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), prolonged nebulised antifungal treatment may be a strategy for maintaining remission. METHODS: We performed a randomised, single-blind, clinical trial in 30 centres. Patients with controlled ABPA after 4-month attack treatment (corticosteroids and itraconazole) were randomly assigned to nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B or placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome was occurrence of a first severe clinical exacerbation within 24 months following randomisation. Secondary outcomes included the median time to first severe clinical exacerbation, number of severe clinical exacerbations per patient, ABPA-related biological parameters. RESULTS: Among 174 enrolled patients with ABPA from March 2015 through July 2017, 139 were controlled after 4-month attack treatment and were randomised. The primary outcome occurred in 33 (50.8%) out of 65 patients in the nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B group and 38 (51.3%) out of 74 in the placebo group (absolute difference -0.6%, 95% CI -16.8- +15.6%; OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.50-1.90; p=0.95). The median (interquartile range) time to first severe clinical exacerbation was longer in the liposomal amphotericin-B group: 337 days (168-476 days) versus 177 days (64-288 days). At the end of maintenance therapy, total immunoglobulin-E and Aspergillus precipitins were significantly decreased in the nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B group. CONCLUSIONS: In ABPA, maintenance therapy using nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B did not reduce the risk of severe clinical exacerbation. The presence of some positive secondary outcomes creates clinical equipoise for further research.

A Horseshoe Intralobar Lung Sequestration Resection by Bilateral Robot-Assisted Surgery.

We present the case of a 20-year-old male patient presenting a right lower intralobar pulmonary "horseshoe" sequestration extending into the left cavity supplied by 4 aberrant arteries from the thoracic descending aorta. The surgical approach for this exceptional and challenging presentation was based on thorough analysis of the chest computed tomography scan aided by 3-dimensional reconstructions. The latter helped us better understand this complex malformation. Surgery was done by robot-assisted bilateral approach with en bloc extraction through the left side.

COVID-19 in Lung Transplant Recipients: 2 Cases With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Successfully Treated With High-Dose Corticosteroids.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome remains the main cause of death among people with COVID-19. Although many immunomodulatory and antiviral drug therapies have been tested, the only effective therapy against severe COVID-19 pneumonia among the general population is a regimen of high-dose corticosteroids for cases of severe associated inflammation. In solid-organ transplant recipients with long-term immunosuppression, data on disease presentation and evolution are scarce, and the benefit of high-dose corticosteroids remains uncertain for cases of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Here, we report 2 cases of COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome that occurred in lung transplant recipients in March and April 2020, respectively. Both cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred in patients with long-term azithromycin treatment prescribed to prevent chronic allograft dysfunction. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was associated with severe inflammation and was cured after early administration of high-dose corticosteroids in both cases, with progressive and complete resolution of lung lesions evidenced on thoracic computed tomography scan. Our findings support the benefit of early high-dose corticosteroids in COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome with hyperinflammation in patients with long-term immunosuppression such as lung transplant recipients.

Automated AI-Driven CT Quantification of Lung Disease Predicts Adverse Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 Pneumonia.

The purpose of our work was to assess the independent and incremental value of AI-derived quantitative determination of lung lesions extent on initial CT scan for the prediction of clinical deterioration or death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. 323 consecutive patients (mean age 65 ± 15 years, 192 men), with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and an abnormal chest CT scan, were admitted to the hospital between March and December 2020. The extent of consolidation and all lung opacities were quantified on an initial CT scan using a 3D automatic AI-based software. The outcome was known for all these patients. 85 (26.3%) patients died or experienced clinical deterioration, defined as intensive care unit admission. In multivariate regression based on clinical, biological and CT parameters, the extent of all opacities, and extent of consolidation were independent predictors of adverse outcomes, as were diabetes, heart disease, C-reactive protein, and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio. The association of CT-derived measures with clinical and biological parameters significantly improved the risk prediction (p = 0.049). Automated quantification of lung disease at CT in COVID-19 pneumonia is useful to predict clinical deterioration or in-hospital death. Its combination with clinical and biological data improves risk prediction.

A virtual crossmatch-based strategy for perioperative desensitisation in lung transplant recipients with pre-formed donor-specific antibodies: 3-year outcome.

BACKGROUND: Pre-formed donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) are associated with worse outcome after lung transplantation (LTx) and might limit access to LTx. A virtual crossmatch-based strategy for perioperative desensitisation protocol has been used for immunised LTx candidates since 2012 at Foch Hospital (Suresnes, France). We compared the outcome of desensitised LTx candidates with high DSA mean fluorescence intensity and those with low or no pre-formed DSAs, not desensitised. METHODS: For all consecutive LTx recipients (January 2012 to March 2018), freedom from chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We compared outcomes for desensitised patients with high pre-formed DSAs (n=39) and those with no (n=216) or low pre-formed DSAs (n=66). The desensitisation protocol decreased the level of immunodominant DSA (class I/II) at 1, 3 and 6 months post-LTx (p<0.001, p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Freedom from CLAD and graft survival at 3 years was similar in the desensitised group as a whole and other groups. Nevertheless, incidence of CLAD was higher with persistent high-level DSAs than cleared high-level (p=0.044) or no DSAs (p=0.014). Conversely, graft survival was better with cleared high DSAs than persistent high-level, low-level and no pre-formed DSAs (p=0.019, p=0.025 and p=0.044, respectively). On multivariate analysis, graft survival was associated with cleared high DSAs (hazard ratio 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.85 versus no DSAs; p=0.035) and CLAD with persistent DSAs (3.04, 1.02-9.17 versus no pre-formed DSAs; p=0.048). CONCLUSION: The desensitisation protocol in LTx recipients with high pre-formed DSAs was associated with satisfactory outcome, with cleared high pre-formed DSAs after desensitisation identified as an independent predictor of graft survival.

Lung Transplantation: CT Assessment of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD).

Chronic lung allograft rejection remains one of the major causes of morbi-mortality after lung transplantation. The term Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) has been proposed to describe the different processes that lead to a significant and persistent deterioration in lung function without identifiable causes. The two main phenotypes of CLAD are Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) and Restrictive Allograft Syndrome (RAS), each of them characterized by particular functional and imaging features. These entities can be associated (mixed phenotype) or switched from one to the other. If CLAD remains a clinical diagnosis based on spirometry, computed tomography (CT) scan plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of CLAD patients, to exclude identifiable causes of functional decline when CLAD is first suspected, to detect early abnormalities that can precede the diagnosis of CLAD (particularly RAS), to differentiate between the obstructive and restrictive phenotypes, and to detect exacerbations and evolution from one phenotype to the other. Recognition of early signs of rejection is crucial for better understanding of physiopathologic pathways and optimal management of patients.

COVID-19 pneumonia: high diagnostic accuracy of chest CT in patients with intermediate clinical probability.

OBJECTIVES: To assess inter-reader agreements and diagnostic accuracy of chest CT to identify COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with intermediate clinical probability during an acute disease outbreak. METHODS: From March 20 to April 8, 319 patients (mean age 62.3 years old) consecutive patients with an intermediate clinical probability of COVID-19 pneumonia underwent a chest CT scan. Two independent chest radiologists blinded to clinical information and RT-PCR results retrospectively reviewed and classified images on a 1-5 confidence level scale for COVID-19 pneumonia. Agreements between radiologists were assessed with kappa statistics. Diagnostic accuracy of chest CT compared with RT-PCR assay and patient outcomes was measured using receiver operating characteristics (ROC). Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for COVID-19 pneumonia were calculated. RESULTS: Inter-observer agreement for highly probable (kappa: 0.83 [p < .001]) and highly probable or probable (kappa: 0.82 [p < .001]) diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia was very good. RT-PCR tests performed in 307 patients were positive in 174 and negative in 133. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.94 and 0.92 respectively. With a disease prevalence of 61.2%, PPV were 95.9% and 94.3%, and NPV 84.4% and 77.1%. CONCLUSION: During acute COVID-19 outbreak, chest CT scan may be used for triage of patients with intermediate clinical probability with very good inter-observer agreements and diagnostic accuracy. KEY POINTS: • Concordances between two chest radiologists to diagnose or exclude a COVID-19 pneumonia in 319 consecutive patients with intermediate clinical probability were very good (kappa: 0.82; p < .001). • When compared with RT-PCR results and patient outcomes, the diagnostic accuracy of CT to identify COVID-19 pneumonia was high for both radiologists (AUC: 0.94 and 0.92). • With a disease prevalence of 61.2% in the studied population, the positive predictive values of CT for diagnosing COVID-19 pneumonia were 95.9% and 94.3% with negative predictive values of 84.4% and 77.1%.

Tocilizumab for Severe Worsening COVID-19 Pneumonia: a Propensity Score Analysis.

BACKGROUND: High levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) correlate with disease severity in COVID-19. We hypothesized that tocilizumab (a recombinant humanized anti-IL-6 receptor) could improve outcomes in selected patients with severe worsening COVID-19 pneumonia and high inflammatory parameters. METHODS: The TOCICOVID study included a prospective cohort of patients aged 16-80 years with severe (requiring > 6 L/min of oxygen therapy to obtain Sp02 > 94%) rapidly deteriorating (increase by ≥ 3 L/min of oxygen flow within the previous 12 h) COVID-19 pneumonia with ≥ 5 days of symptoms and C-reactive protein levels > 40 mg/L. They entered a compassionate use program of treatment with intravenous tocilizumab (8 mg/kg with a maximum of 800 mg per infusion; and if needed a second infusion 24 to 72 h later). A control group was retrospectively selected with the same inclusion criteria. Outcomes were assessed at D28 using inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) methodology. RESULTS: Among the 96 patients included (81% male, mean (SD) age: 60 (12.5) years), underlying conditions, baseline disease severity, and concomitant medications were broadly similar between the tocilizumab (n = 49) and the control (n = 47) groups. In the IPTW analysis, treatment with tocilizumab was associated with a reduced need for overall ventilatory support (49 vs. 89%, wHR: 0.39 [0.25-0.56]; p < 0.001). Albeit lacking statistical significance, there was a substantial trend towards a reduction of mechanical ventilation (31% vs. 45%; wHR: 0.58 [0.36-0.94]; p = 0.026). However, tocilizumab did not improve overall survival (wHR = 0.68 [0.31-1.748], p = 0.338). Among the 85 (89%) patients still alive at D28, patients treated with tocilizumab had a higher rate of oxygen withdrawal (82% vs. 73.5%, wHR = 1.66 [1.17-2.37], p = 0.005), with a shorter delay before being weaned of oxygen therapy (mean 11 vs. 16 days; p < 0.001). At D28, the rate of patients discharged from hospital was higher in the tocilizumab group (70% vs. 40%, wHR = 1.82 [1.22-2.75]; p = 0.003). The levels of CRP and fibrinogen post therapy (p < 0.001 for both variables) were significantly lower in the tocilizumab group (interaction test, mixed model). Rates of neutropenia (35% vs. 0%; p < 0.001) were higher in the tocilizumab group, yet rates of infections (22% vs. 38%, p = 0.089) including ventilator-acquired pneumonia (8% vs. 26%, p = 0.022) were higher in the control group. CONCLUSION: These data could be helpful for the design of future trials aiming to counter COVID-19-induced inflammation, especially before patients require admission to the intensive care unit.

Imaging features and differential diagnoses of non-neoplastic diffuse mediastinal diseases.

Acute or chronic non-neoplastic diffuse mediastinal diseases have multiple causes, degrees of severity, and a wide range of management. Some situations require emergency care while others do not need specific treatment. Although the diagnosis may be suspected on chest X-ray, it is mainly based on CT. A delayed recognition is not uncommonly observed. Some findings may prompt the radiologist to look for specific associated injuries or lesions.This pictorial review will successively describe the various non-neoplastic causes of diffuse mediastinal diseases with their typical findings and major differentials.First, pneumomediastinum that can be provoked by extra- or intra-thoracic triggers requires the knowledge of patient's history or recent occurrences. Absence of any usual etiological factor should raise suspicion of cocaine inhalation in young individuals.Next, acute mediastinitis may be related to post-operative complications, esophageal perforation, or contiguous spread of odontogenic or retropharyngeal infections. The former diagnosis is not an easy task in the early stage, owing to the similarities of imaging findings with those of normal post-operative appearance during the first 2-3 weeks.Finally, fibrosing mediastinitis that is linked to an excessive fibrotic reaction in the mediastinum with variable compromise of mediastinal structures, in particular vascular and airway ones. Differential diagnosis includes tumoral and inflammatory infiltrations of the mediastinum.

Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Lung Cancer: A Case-Control Study.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) seems to be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (LC) and to have a poorer prognosis than LC without ILD. The frequency of ILD in an LC cohort and its prognosis implication need to be better elucidated. This retrospective, observational, cohort study evaluated the frequency of ILD among LC patients (LC-ILD) diagnosed over a 2-year period. LC-ILD patients' characteristics were compared to those with LC without ILD (LC-noILD). Lastly, we conducted a case-control study within this cohort, matching three LC-noILDs to each LC-ILD patient, to evaluate the ILD impact on LC patients' prognoses. Among 906 LC patients, 49 (5.4%) also had ILD. Comparing LC-ILD to LC-noILD patients, respectively, more were men (85.7% vs. 66.2%; p = 0.02); adenocarcinomas were less frequent (47.1% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.08); median [range] and overall survival was shorter: (9 [range: 0.1-39.4] vs. 17.5 [range: 0.8-50.4] months; p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) retained two factors independently associated with LC risk of death: ILD (1.79 [1.22-2.62]; p = 0.003) and standard-of-care management (0.49 [0.33-0.72]; p < 0.001). Approximately 5% of patients with a new LC diagnosis had associated ILD. ILD was a major prognosis factor for LC and should be taken into consideration for LC management. Further studies are needed to determine the best therapeutic strategy for the LC-ILD population.

Impact of emergency physician experience on decision-making in patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia and undergoing systematic thoracic CT scan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the impact of a thoracic CT scan on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosis and patient management varies according to emergency physician's experience (≤10 vs >10 years). METHODS: Early thoracic CT Scan for Community-Acquired Pneumonia at the Emergency Department is an interventional study conducted from November 2011 to January 2013 in four French emergency departments, and included suspected patients with CAP. We analysed changes in emergency physician CAP diagnosis classification levels before and after CT scan; and their agreement with an adjudication committee. We performed univariate analysis to determine the factors associated with modifying the diagnosis classification level to be consistent with the radiologist's CT scan interpretation. RESULTS: 319 suspected patients with CAP and 136 emergency physicians (75% less experienced with ≤10 years, 25% with >10 years of experience) were included. The percentage of patients whose classification was modified to become consistent with CT scan radiologist's interpretation was higher among less-experienced than experienced emergency physicians (54.2% vs 40.2%; p=0.02). In univariate analysis, less emergency physician experience was the only factor associated with changing a classification to be consistent with the CT scan radiologist's interpretation (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.10, p=0.04). After CT scan, the agreement between emergency physicians and adjudication committee was moderate for less-experienced emergency physicians and slight for experienced emergency physicians (k=0.457 and k=0.196, respectively). After CT scan, less-experienced emergency physicians modified patient management significantly more than experienced emergency physicians (36.1% vs 21.7%, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, less-experienced emergency physicians were more likely to accurately modify their CAP diagnosis and patient management based on thoracic CT scan than more experienced emergency physicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01574066.