Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for nodal staging in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer staging has recently evolved to include endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for nodal assessment. AIM: Evaluate the performance and safety of EBUS-TBNA as a key component of a staging algorithm for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and as a single investigation technique for diagnosis and staging of NSCLC. METHODS: Patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA for NSCLC staging at our institution between April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014 were consecutively included with prospective data collection. EBUS-TBNA was performed under general anesthesia through a rigid scope. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients, 84.4% males, mean age 64.2 years. Histological type: 78 (63.9%) adenocarcinoma, 33 (27.0%) squamous cell carcinoma, 11 (8.9%) undifferentiated/other NSCLC. A total of 435 lymph node stations were punctured. Median number of nodes per patient was 4. EBUS-TBNA nodal staging: 63 (51.6%) N0; 8 (6.5%) N1; 34 (27.9%) N2, and 17 (13.9%) N3. EBUS-TBNA was the primary diagnostic procedure in 27 (22.1%) patients. EBUS-TBNA NSCLC staging had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy rate of 83.3, 100, 100, 86.1, and 91.8%, respectively. No complications were attributable to the procedure. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive lung cancer staging strategy that includes EBUS-TBNA seems to be safe and effective. Our EBUS-TBNA performance and safety in this particular setting was in line with previously published reports. Additionally, our study showed that, in selected patients, lung cancer diagnosis and staging are achievable with a single endoscopic technique.

Topical application of mitomycin-C as an adjuvant treatment to bronchoscopic procedures in post-intubation tracheal stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) continues to be challenging in terms of diagnosis, management and prevention. Recurrence is common because of excessive granulation tissue formation and an insidious process of scar contracture. Topical application of mitomycin-C (MMC) as an adjuvant treatment for endoscopic management of stenosis has shown good results. The authors aimed to evaluate the results of MMC topical application following bronchoscopic dilatation as an adjuvant in PITS treatment. METHODS: Retrospectively selected patients with PITS who had had rigid bronchoscopy (RB) dilatation followed by MMC application as adjuvant to endoscopic treatment. MMC in a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml was applied with a cotton stiletto around the stenotic lesion and granulation tissue for 3 minutes. RESULTS: Eleven patients with PITS, with a median initial tracheal stenosis of 75% of the lumen, underwent RB/MMC treatment. Mean MMC sessions performed/patient was 3.5, with good response and prolonged decrease in granulation tissue formation in 55% of cases, moderate in 18% and relapse in 27%. Mean stenosis improvement was 34%. CONCLUSIONS: Topical MMC application at 0.4 mg/ml concentration seems to be associated with good results as adjuvant in PITS management with decrease in granulation tissue and sustained improvement in lumen diameter.

Bronchoscopic hemostatic tamponade with oxidized regenerated cellulose for major hemoptysis control: two case reports.

Hemoptysis is a common and alarming clinical problem. Acute massive hemoptysis is a life threatening condition. Different therapeutic strategies such as surgery, endovascular treatment and/or bronchoscopy have been applied. We report two cases of patients with severe hemoptysis who were treated by bronchoscopy guided topical hemostatic tamponade therapy with oxidized regenerated cellulose.

[Sleeve lobectomy for bronchial carcinoid tumour: two case reports]. / "Sleeve" lobectomia para tumor carcinóide brônquico: a propósito de dois casos clínicos.

The authors report two cases of patients with typical carcinoid-tumour who underwent rigid bronchoscopy and Nd:YAD laser photocoagulation with posterior surgical resection (sleeve lobectomy). Clinical presentation, investigation and treatment of this kind of tumours are described.

Suberosis and bird fancier's disease: a comparative study of radiological, functional and bronchoalveolar lavage profiles.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) is an immunologically mediated interstitial lung disease that may result from repeated inhalation of many different environmental agents. Heterogeneity of the clinical presentation and bronchoalveolar lavage profiles have been described, possibly related to different occupational exposures. The aim of our study was to compare bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), clinical, functional and radiological characteristics of the two most frequent forms of HP seen in our practice: Suberosis (an HP related to moldy cork dust exposure) and bird fancier's disease (BFD). We included 81 patients with Suberosis, with a mean age of 38.8 +/- 11.3 years and a mean exposure of 20.0 +/- 10.5 years and 32 patients with BFD, with a mean age of 46.3 +/- 11.8 years and mean exposure of 10.5 +/- 1.0 years. Patients with BFD had more acute forms, while subacute and chronic presentations predominated in Suberosis. Restrictive defect was the most frequent pattern of lung function impairment, and more severe in BFD. Ground glass opacities were the most frequent pattern in high-resolution computed tomography. A normal chest x-ray was more frequently seen in Suberosis. Both types of HP had lymphocytic alveolitis in BALF: Suberosis - 6.6 +/- 5.7 x 10(5) ml-l cells, 58.8 +/- 18.9% lymphocytes; bird fancier's disease - 9.0 +/- 6.5 x 105 ml-l cells, 61.7 +/- 22.2% lymphocytes. Although BALF CD8+ lymphocytes predominated in both diseases, the proportion of CD4+ and CD4/CD8 ratios were significantly higher in bird fancier's disease (Suberosis: 0.47 +/- 0.33 versus BFD: 1.1 +/- 1.5; p < 0.005). Moreover, BALF cellularity and mast cell counts were also significantly higher in BFD. In conclusion, Suberosis and bird fancier's disease are HP with different clinical and laboratory profiles, suggesting that despite their pathophysiological similarities, different antigenic exposures may cause different immune and inflammatory response dynamics in the lung.

[Suberosis: involvement of bronchoalveolar +mastocytes in the genesis of interstitial involvement]. / La suberosis: implicación de los mastocitos broncoalveolares en la génesis de la afectación intersticial.

UNLABELLED: Suberosis--the lung disease suffered by cork industry workers--may present in the form of either hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) or obstructive pulmonary disease (OPD) with asthma-like symptoms or chronic bronchitis. Mast cells play an important role in pulmonary inflammation and are particularly implicated in the rapid release of mediators in bronchoconstriction and the production of cytokines and mediators of fibroblast activity. Increased numbers of mast cells are present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in interstitial lung diseases, suggesting that these cells also participate in chronic inflammatory processes and in pulmonary fibrosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the participation of mas cells in interstitial pulmonary inflammation in cork industry workers by histochemically analyzing their presence in BAL fluid. Foreseeing the possible implication of bronchoalveolar mast cells in the pathogenesis of suberosis, we also studied their relation to various signs and symptoms of the disease, to respiratory function parameters and to degree of alveolitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one cork industry workers with respiratory symptoms related to occupational exposure were enrolled. Occupational and case histories were taken. Physical examinations were complemented by chest X-rays, plethysmography/spirometry, fiberoptic bronchoscopy with BAL, and determination of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and arterial blood gases at rest. Patient classification (20 with HP and 11 with OPD) was based on clinical and functional criteria and analysis of BAL fluid. Mast cells in cytospinned samples treated with two different stains [May-Grunwald-Giemsa (MGG) and Toluidine Blue (Tol.Bl.)] were counted by two observers and the results were compared. MAIN RESULTS: Good correlation between the two staining methods was confirmed (rs = 0.86, p < 0.0001). Correlation between the two observers was also good (MGG rs = 0.86, Yol.Bl. rs = 0.87, p < 0.0001). The number of mast cells in BAL fluid was significantly higher in patients with HP [13.4 +/- 4.5 (x +/- SEM)] than in those with OPD (0.9 +/- 0.3; p < 0.002, Mann Whitney test). The subgroup of eight patients with poorer respiratory function (CV and/or DLCO < 80% of reference value) also had higher mast cell counts in BAL (19.9 +/- 7.7 versus 3.5 +/- 1.7; p = 0.002). We also saw a negative relation between mast cell counts in BAL fluid and lung function parameters: total lung capacity (rs = -0.68, p = 0.005) and DLCO (rs = -0.54, p = 0.008). Mast cell recovery from BAL fluid was positively related to severity of alveolitis in terms of total cell counts (rs = 0.62, p = 0.002), absolute lymphocyte counts (rs = 0.56, p = 0.006) and albumin levels (rs = 0.68, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that mast cells participate in interstitial lung cell response to the inhalation of organic cork dust, particularly when HP is the form of presentation. Moreover, mas cell recruitment on the alveolar surface seems to be related to the intersity of lymphocytosis and interstitial pulmonary inflammation and to lung function deterioration in affected patients.