Abstract: Asthma attack is characterized by episodic attacks of cough, dyspnea and wheeze occurring due to bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness and mucous hypersecretion. Although nationwide clinical guidelines have been published to establish the standard care of asthma, choices in the treatment of fatal asthma attacks remain of clinical significance. Especially, in a severe asthma attack, despite the application of conventional medical treatment, respiratory management is critical. Even though non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be effective in a wide variety of clinical settings, reports of NIV in asthmatic patients are scarce. According to a few prospective clinical trials reporting promising results in favour of the use of NIV in a severe asthma attack, a trial of NIV prior to invasive mechanical ventilation seems acceptable and may benefit patients by decreasing the need for intubation and by supporting pharmaceutical treatments. Although selecting the appropriate patients for NIV use is a key factor in successful NIV application, how to distinguish such patients is quite controversial. Larger high quality clinical trails are urgently required to confirm the benefits of NIV to patients with severe asthma attack. In this article, we focus on the body of evidence supporting the use of NIV in asthma attacks and discuss its advantages as well its problems.
Abstract: Recent reports have suggested the efficacy of amrubicin (AMR) for relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, doses of AMR in these reports were 40 mg/m(2) or 45 mg/m(2), and severe and frequent myelosuppression were observed. Such side effects are occasionally intolerable, as serious myelosuppression may induce fatal infections. To overcome this clinical problem, we investigated whether 35 mg/m(2) of AMR administration with routine prophylactic use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) can reduce myelosuppression, while maintaining efficacy.
Abstract: Direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP) has been shown to improve oxygenation in cases of diffuse alveolar damage, but little is known about its effectiveness in treating pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-negative immunosuppressed patients.
Abstract: A 75-year-old woman became ill suddenly with pneumonia two weeks after operation for colon cancer. Despite intensive support measures in the intensive care unit she died six hours after admission and 12 hours after her first symptom. Autopsy showed necrotizing pneumonia. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from a blood culture taken at admission and from the lung at autopsy. In patients who develop a fulminant disease of pneumonia, particularly those who have underlying medical conditions, Aeromonas hydrophila infection, though rare, should be considered.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recent reports have suggested that erlotinib therapy after gefitinib failure requires optimal patient selection to obtain clinical benefits in relapsed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, insufficient evidence exists to determine which clinical factors best identify patients who benefit from erlotinib therapy. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five patients with relapsed NSCLC who had received erlotinib therapy after gefitinib failure were retrospectively evaluated between January 2008 and May 2009. RESULTS: The response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR), and median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients were 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5-15%), 44% (95% CI, 35-53%), and 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.4-2.5 months), respectively. The median survival time was estimated to be 11.8 months (95% CI, 6.4-16.0 months). Using multivariate analysis, good performance status (PS), EGFR mutation-positive status, and benefit from prior gefitinib therapy were identified as significant predictive factors for disease control. Using a proportional hazards model, benefit from prior gefitinib therapy, good PS, and insertion of cytotoxic chemotherapies between gefitinib and erlotinib therapies emerged as significant predictive factors for longer PFS. Thirty-two patients with concomitant PS 0/1, benefit from prior gefitinib therapy, and insertion of cytotoxic chemotherapies between gefitinib and erlotinib therapies benefitted more from erlotinib therapy: RR, 25% (95% CI, 12-43%); DCR, 72% (95% CI, 53-86%); and median PFS, 3.4 months (95% CI, 2.4-4.9 months). CONCLUSIONS: Higher efficacy of erlotinib after gefitinib failure can be achieved with proper patient selection criteria, including good PS, benefit from prior gefitinib therapy, and insertion of cytotoxic chemotherapies between gefitinib and erlotinib therapies.
Abstract: We herein present an autopsy case of occult lung adenocarcinoma that masqueraded as rapid progression of preexisting asbestosis. A 66-year-old man with an initial diagnosis of asbestosis experienced progressive dyspnea for over four years, and eventually died of respiratory failure. A series of chest computed tomography scans showed progression of extensive fibrosis from the right lower lobe to the left lobes. An autopsy revealed that well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with prominent reactive fibrosis was diffusely distributed within the fibrotic lesions in addition to the underlying asbestosis, and the unusually rapid progression of asbestosis was attributed to the reactive fibrosis of occult lung adenocarcinoma.
Abstract: Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a subgroup of dermatomyositis that manifests with characteristic cutaneous lesions and mild or no muscle involvement. It is known that rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia with a poor prognosis can occur in patients with CADM. The anti-CADM-140 antibody is thought to be useful as a specific serological marker for CADM. We encountered 4 patients with the anti-CADM-140 antibody. All patients complained of cutaneous lesions and dyspnea. Chest X-ray films and CT scans showed ground-glass opacities (GGO) and consolidation in the lower lobes. All cases were treated with pulse methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide therapy and cyclosporine. Three patients died of respiratory failure and 1 improved. Anti-CADM-140 antibody-positive cases are likely to have poor prognoses and should be treated by intensive therapy as soon as possible.
Abstract: A case of a 61-year-old man who developed ipsilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema after pleural drainage for a right pneumothorax is described. The patient's chest x-ray revealed a totally collapsed right lung. After insertion of a chest drainage tube, he began to produce a moderate amount of serous, yellowish sputum. Despite continuous positive airway pressure support, his dyspnea gradually worsened and his oxygenation could not be maintained; therefore, to improve his hypoxemic state, intubation was necessary. His chest x-ray following chest tube insertion showed ipsilateral diffuse infiltrates. These radiographic and physical findings were consistent with re-expansion pulmonary edema. The present case was complicated by extreme hypotension and tachycardia due to massive fluid loss. His condition gradually improved with invasive mechanical ventilation. Re-expansion pulmonary edema is an uncommon complication of pleural drainage for pneumothorax, and therapy is supportive. In the present case, the exceptional severity of the pulmonary edema, as well as its general concept, is reviewed in accordance with other relevant literature.
Abstract: Although non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be effective in a wide variety of respiratory diseases, its role in severe asthma attacks remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of NIV in patients experiencing severe attacks of asthma.
Abstract: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is not effective for acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia (AE-IP); however, the role of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for this condition remains unknown.
Abstract: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been proposed as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of lung cancer. The treatment of local recurrence that occurs after SBRT has not been reported. We present surgical outcomes for local recurrence following SBRT for primary and metastatic lung cancers.
Abstract: Mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene can predict the efficacy of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Different mutations have been shown to co-occur in a single tumor. However, the frequency of these so-called "complex mutations" and the efficacy of gefitinib in treating patients with these mutations are unclear.
Abstract: Adenocarcinoma of the lung, especially bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) and adenocarcinoma with BAC features (AWBF), is potentially sensitive to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs); however, the efficacy seems to differ between the histologic subtypes. Mucinous BAC and AWBF (MBAC/AWBF) are not particularly responsive to EGFR-TKIs compared with nonmucinous BAC/AWBF (N-MBAC/AWBF). This may be due to the rarity of EGFR mutations and high frequency of KRAS mutations in MBAC/AWBF in contrast to N-MBAC/AWBF.
Abstract: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a life-threatening opportunistic infection occurring in immunocompromised hosts, developed in 10 patients in the past 35 years at our hospital. Among the 7 outpatients and 3 inpatients, 9 cases clustered within 7 months. The mean time was 32.1 +/- 27.5 months between transplantation and PCP diagnosis. The mortality rate was 33.3%. The patients developing PCP were older at transplantation (46.9 +/- 11.8 vs 34.0 +/- 11.1 years; P = .003) and had a longer pretransplantation dialysis period (146.3 +/- 120.0 vs 51.3 +/- 66.6 months; P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that age at transplantation and the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were risk factors for development of PCP. Despite prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) during the first 3 to 6 months after transplantation, the time period that showed the highest incidence rate of PCP, the disease may occur at later intervals.
Abstract: We report an autopsied 33 year old pregnant woman with racemose hemangioma of the bronchial arteries. She was first given a diagnosis of racemose hemangioma of the bronchial arteries at age 19 and underwent surgical ligation. Nevertheless, she had to be admitted to the hospital for bronchial artery embolizations every time hemoptysis recurred. In her 21st gestational week, she was admitted to our hospital because of her 9th recurrent massive hemoptysis and dyspnea. Bronchial artery embolizations were repeatedly performed under intubation to ventilate the healthy left lung separately. We succeeded in temporarily stopping the hemoptysis, but her case was complicated by bacterial pneumonia and septic shock. Her baby was born dead on day 11 and she died on day 12. The autopsy revealed abnormal convoluted and dilated arteries branching from the right intercostal and subclavian arteries and intruding into the lung parenchyma through adhesion caused by her previous thoracostomy. The connections of these abnormal arteries with pulmonary arteries and veins, which had been shown by angiography, were confirmed by autopsy. The autopsy findings suggest that temporal surgical procedures with thoracostomy in this condition can induce abnormal neovascularization via pleural adhesion.
Abstract: Trial of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) for heterogeneous acute respiratory failure (ARF) has been optional and its clinical benefit unclear.
Abstract: A 54-year-old woman who had been treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the anti-TNF-alpha drug, etanercept, was referred to our department on 27 April 2006 because of dyspnea and shock. Chest X-ray and computed tomography on admission indicated bilateral pneumonia which was proved to be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae with positive blood culture results. The patient had recovered from multiple organ failure with intensive treatments such as NIPPV and cardiovascular support with cathecolamines, however, the left upper lobe of her lung had developed a large cavity that had been producing viable pneumococci on sputum culture for more than one month. As the development of lung necrosis and subsequent formation of a cavity is rare in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, this case should be noted in terms of the relevance of both the fulminating pathogenecity of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the anti TNF-alpha drug treatment.
Abstract: A 34-year-old pregnant woman was diagnosed with pneumonia at another hospital in her 26th week of pregnancy. Antibiotics were administered, but they were not effective. She was then introduced and admitted to our hospital. Lung cancer was suspected from her chest-CT scan on admission. Caesarian section was performed on the day after admission at 33 weeks of gestation. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed based on the results of a right-axillary lymph node biopsy performed simultaneously with the caesarian section. On the 8th day after admission, we began to administer gefitinib. We expected positive results from gefitinib, because the patient fitted the optimal profile: female, never smoker, adenocarcinoma histology. Her respiratory condition had worsened dramatically after her caesarian section, so she was given noninvasive positive pressure ventilation from the 13th day after admission. Disseminated intravascular coagulation progressed, and her chest X-ray showed bilateral extensive infiltration. Moreover, tests showed that her tumor was negative for epidermal growth factor recepter mutation, so we judged that gefitinib was not effective for her. Although her performance status was very poor, she and her family strongly desired further chemotherapy. We thus began to administer gemcitabine, but her respiratory condition deteriorated further, and she died on the 17th day after admission. Lung cancer combined with pregnancy is a very rare situation, so we report this case with some references.
Abstract: Acquired pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) has been reclassified into autoimmune or secondary PAP according to the occurrence of serum granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibody. Most patients undergo high-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning in order for physicians to make a differential diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases, but no information is available to distinguish the HRCT scan features of secondary PAP from those of autoimmune PAP. The objective of this study was to characterize the HRCT scan features of autoimmune and secondary PAP.
Abstract: A 64-year-old man, complaining of dyspnea from the beginning of May 2006, was admitted to a local hospital because of bloody pleural effusion. After a drainage procedure of the right thoracic cavity was performed, he was referred to our hospital on May 15. Approximately one liter of bloody pleural effusion was drained every day. Computed tomography (CT) on admission showed right pleural effusion, a collapsed right lung and a large marginally enhanced low-density mass in the right lung field. We could not make a specific diagnosis even with a cytological examination of the pleural effusion and thoracoscopic pleural biopsy. Accordingly, open thoracotomy was performed and rhabdomyosarcoma was finally diagnosed. The tumor grew rapidly in a short period, and the patient died only one month after the onset of his complaint. Autopsy revealed primary pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma occupying most of the right thoracic cavity, but no metastasis. Initially we could not identify the tumor by CT scan, mainly because it had the same density as muscle, nearly the same density as the pleural effusion and lower density than other lung cancers. Primary pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma is rare. As this tumor could show unexpectedly fast growth, rapid diagnosis is essential. Therefore, we should include thoracic sarcoma in the list of differential diagnosis of rapidly growing lung tumors and bloody pleural effusion.
Abstract: A 78-year-old man had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the left upper lobe (squamous cell carcinoma, cT1N0M0). He preferred less invasive treatment and undertook stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)[48 Gy/4 Fr] because his forced expiratory volume in 1 second percent (FEV1.0%) was 53.50%. The therapeutic effect was partial response and the adverse reaction was dermatitis (grade 1). Seven months after SRT, local recurrence was detected. The tumor was growing from 3 x 5 mm to 25 x 25 mm in size. Nine months after SRT, left upper lobectomy was performed successfully unaffected by SRT. He is doing well 14 months after the operation without any signs of recurrence. This case might help develop a new strategy for the treatment of stage I NSCLC. It is that patients with stage I NSCLC have SRT as 1st line treatment, and if local recurrence is observed after SRT, lobectomy may be performed.
Abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the most common pathogen associated with community-acquired pneumonia and its resistance to antimicrobials is a worldwide problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the current drug susceptibilities of S. pneumoniae isolated from adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan.
Abstract: In order to understand the spread of the erythromycin-resistant serotype 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae clone in Japan, we have assessed the molecular characteristics of this clone. Among 156 S. pneumoniae isolates recovered from adults with community-acquired pneumonia between 2003 and 2005, 42 were serotype 3 and 40 were sequence type (ST) 180/Netherlands(3)-31 by multilocus sequence typing. Thirty-eight of the 40 ST 180 isolates had acquired resistance to erythromycin via the ermB gene. Although the ermB-positive ST180 clone isolates were more susceptible to penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole than ermB-positive non-ST180 isolates and contained a less mutated pbp1a or pbp2b gene, without a mefA gene, the ST180 clone was highly prevalent among ermB-positive isolates. Routine surveillance for the ST180 S. pneumoniae clone may soon become necessary.
Abstract: This phase III study (V-15-32) compared gefitinib (250 mg/d) with docetaxel (60 mg/m(2)) in patients (N = 489) with advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had failed one or two chemotherapy regimens.
Abstract: Although macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains possessing either the ermB or mefA gene are very common in Japan, clinical and microbial factors in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by different macrolide resistance genotypes have not been evaluated. A multicenter study of CAP caused by S. pneumoniae was performed in Japan from 2003 to 2005. A total of 156 isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibiotics correlated with ermB and mefA genotyping. Independent relationships between tested variables and possession of either the ermB or the mefA gene were identified. Of 156 isolates, 127 (81.4%) were resistant to erythromycin, with the following distribution of resistance genotypes: ermB alone (50.0%), mefA alone (23.7%), and both ermB and mefA (7.1%). All isolates were susceptible to telithromycin. By multivariate analysis, oxygen saturation of <90% on admission increased the risk for ermB-positive pneumococcal pneumonia (odds ratio [OR]=11.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.30 to 95.0; P=0.03), but there were no associations with mefA or with ermB mefA positivity. Penicillin nonsusceptibility was associated with mefA-positive and with ermB- and mefA-positive isolates (OR=14.2; 95% CI=4.27 to 46.9; P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively) but not with ermB-positive isolates. The overall patient mortality was 5.1%. Mortality, the duration of hospitalization, and the resolution of several clinical markers were not associated with the different erythromycin resistance genotypes. In Japan, S. pneumoniae with erythromycin resistance or possession of ermB, mefA, or both genes was highly prevalent in patients with CAP. The risk factors for ermB-positive, mefA-positive, and double ermB-mefA-positive pneumococcal pneumonia were different, but the clinical outcomes did not differ.
Abstract: A 72-year-old critically ill and intubated man was transferred to our hospital, because of worsening pneumonia unresponsive to Cefazolin and Meropenem, from the hospital where he had been admitted 8 days before to start maintenance hemodialysis for chronic renal failure but had fever from admission. In a few days his critical condition rapidly subsided with the initiation of Ciprofloxacin and his sputum culture on GVPC medium indicated Legionellosis, which was afterwards identified as L. longbeachae by PCR and DNA-DNA hybridization. After recovery he said that he had been fond of gardening and had been gardening immediately before the initial admission. Moreover, several reports from Australia suggested inhalation of aerosolized potting soil as the route of L. longbeacachae infection; therefore, we examined the soil of his home garden and identified it. Thus, we present this case as the first of L. longbeachae pneumonia in Japan, proved to be infected via inhalation of aerosolized home garden soil.
Abstract: We conducted a 12 weeks' single-arm prospective study comparing beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), 1/2 doses of fluticasone propionate (FP) twice daily and the same dose of FP once daily in 47 asthmatics who had been inhaling BDP 800 mcg daily or more. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), FEV1, a symptom score and a frequency of beta 2 agonist were all significantly better in FP twice daily phase than BDP phase (329 vs. 306 L/min, 1.87 vs. 1.76 L, 3.6 vs. 6.0/week and 2.7 vs. 4.5 puffs/day, respectively). There was no significant difference in these endpoints between FP twice daily phase and FP once daily phase. FP twice daily produced better plumonary function and symptom relief than the double doses of BDP. Furthermore, FP twice daily could, at least in a short-term basis, safely be changed into the same doses of FP once daily.
Abstract: We tried to use eosinophil counts in induced sputum samples as a marker of airway inflammation, and as a guide for reducing inhaled corticosteroids in patients with well-controlled persistent asthma. The eosinophil count in induced sputum smears was defined as follows: Eos%; eosinophil percentage of 200-400 leukocytes in properly cell-separated fields, TEC; total eosinophil counts in the 5 most eosinophil-dense high power view fields (x 400). First, the eosinophil count in induced sputum samples was compared between 29 asthmatic subjects treated with inhaled corticosteroid and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Second, inhaled corticosteroid was reduced by 50% in 20 patients with green-zone asthma (morning PEF > 80% of patient's best PEF). PEF measurements were followed prospectively for 12 weeks thereafter. Once PEF decreased below 70% of their best PEF, subjects were considered as treatment "failures". Both Eos% and TEC were significantly higher than in the controls, even in well-controlled (morning PEF > 80% of their best) asthmatic patients (p = 0.001, 0.03). The chance of treatment "failure" was significantly higher in those having more eosinophils (Eos% > 10%, TEC > 100) in their initial induced sputum sample (p = 0.03, 0.001). Airway inflammation still persists in many well-controlled chronic asthmatic patients, and induced sputum eosinophilia predicts an early decrease of PEF after reduction of inhaled corticosteroids.
Abstract: The characteristic findings of pulmonary involvement in polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) and the change in findings before and after treatment were evaluated with sequential high-resolution CT studies.
Abstract: A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with complaints of coughing and fever. He had poliomyelitis at the age of 4 years, and had experienced difficulty in swallowing and chronic aspiration for the past 3 years. A chest roentgenogram and a high-resolution CT scan obtained on admission showed many small nodular shadows in the lower lung fields. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was done to decrease aspiration. The patient was then able to eat without aspiration, and the chest-roentgenographic and CT findings improved. Diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis was diagnosed from the clinical course and the radiographic findings. Cricopharyngeal myotomy can reduce the risk of aspiration in patients with diffuse aspiration bronchiolitis.
Abstract: We encountered a 73-year-old man with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and Baker's cyst. Venography revealed that the right popliteal vein was compressed by Baker's cyst and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) had developed. DVT associated with Baker's cyst is rather common and these two conditions are thought to be causally related. Baker's cyst is the most frequent mass lesion in the popliteal region. We suggest that Baker's cyst is a risk factor for PE as well as surgery and trauma.
Abstract: We encountered a patient with dermatomyositis complicated by sarcoidosis. A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever dry cough, and myalgias. There were reticular shadows on her chest X-ray film. Although the typical skin rash and myositis suggested the diagnosis of dermatomyositis biopsy specimens from a salivary gland, muscle, and lung revealed noncaseating granulomas as well. Uveitis was also noted. These findings suggested the coexistence of sarcoidosis with dermatomyositis. Examination of the lung-biopsy specimens showed interstitial pneumonia compatible with dermatomyositis, except for the granuloma. The typical rash of dermatomyositis and pathological findings of the lung specimen were inconsistent with sarcoidosis. Therefore we concluded that this patient had both dermatomyositis and sarcoidosis. This case sheds new light on the importance of pathological examinations.
Abstract: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a mass shadow in the left upper lobe on chest roentgenograms. She had noticed floaters in both visual fields 2 months before admission. Percutaneous aspiration of the lung lesion was done, and revealed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Metastatic tumors were noted in the choroid of both eyes and in both kidneys. These lesions responded partially to systemic chemotherapy and the floaters disappeared. There have been few reports of metastatic choroidal tumors, but most cite the lung and the breast as the primary sites. We should pay attention to ophthalmologic findings because lung cancer may metastasize to the choroid.
Abstract: Microbial culture of lung specimens from 569 autopsied cases from 1986 to 1989 revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 28 cases, which were subsequently analyzed clinicopathologically. The number of MRSA positive cases has markedly increased in recent years (2 cases in 1986, 2 in 1987, 6 in 1988, 18 in 1989). The most frequent underlying disease was neoplasm, which was seen in 17 cases. Of non-neoplastic diseases, liver cirrhosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis were prevalent. Twenty-four cases had received a course of antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics frequently administered were third-generation Cephem and Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (used in 20 cases). Antibiotics o which MRSA was sensitive were administered in only one case (minocycline). Sputum culture was performed in only 10 cases, 5 of which were MRSA positive. MRSA had acquired resistance to fosfomycin and ofloxacin. Histological examination revealed complication by pneumonia in 19 cases. In 7 of these 19 cases, MRSA was the only pathogen detected. Pulmonary MRSA infection detected at autopsy is frequently seen in patients with terminal stage cancer, but it is frequently not diagnosed and is undertreated. This may be a factor responsible for the recent marked increase in the proportion of MRSA in pathogens causing infection within medical institutions.
Abstract: A 51-year-old man was admitted because of hemoptysis. Physical examinations and chest XP revealed no abnormal findings. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed pulsatile bleeding at the orifice of right B6. Right bronchial arteriography showed a markedly dilated and tortous bronchial artery and shunting to the pulmonary arterial system in the middle and lower lobes. Pulmonary arteriography showed complete obstruction of the right middle lobar and lower lobe segmental arteries (A6, 9, 10). The hemoptysis was thought to be due to increased blood flow of the right bronchial artery, which compensated for reduced right pulmonary arterial flow. Right middle and lower lobe resection was done to prevent further hemoptysis. The resected specimen revealed old thromboemboli in the right middle and lower lobe pulmonary arteries. In this case old pulmonary embolism should be considered as a cause of intrabronchial bleeding.
Abstract: A 54-year-old woman under treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was admitted because of aggravation of dyspnea on effort and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction. Although chest X-ray revealed no marked change, the symptoms progressively worsened, necessitating open lung biopsy for diagnosis and treatment. Based on the histopathological findings of the biopsied tissue, the patient was diagnosed as having active rheumatoid lung complicated with cellular interstitial pneumonia and follicular bronchiolitis. The patient responded well to adrenocorticosteroid and immunosuppressor therapy, and is now being followed up as an outpatient. Rheumatoid arthritis can be complicated by diverse lung diseases. Among them one important disease is interstitial pneumonia, which serves as a prognostic factor. When cellular interstitial pneumonia is treated with adrenocorticosteroid therapy, it responds well and its prognosis is good. Therefore, its early detection and appropriate adrenocortical therapy are essential. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis presenting with dyspnea on effort and pulmonary dysfunction should be examined for cellular interstitial pneumonia, follicular bronchiolitis and other lung diseases, even when no marked change is visible on chest X-ray films.
Abstract: In order to investigate the etiology of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and UIP with lung cancer (LC), autopsy findings in 18 cases of UIP with LC and 11 cases of uncomplicated UIP were clinicopathologically compared with the environmental factors of smoking habits and occupation. UIP with LC was highly correlated with smoking, especially heavy smoking and with occupations in which dust is inhaled, such as electrical installation and ceramic production, indicating that these environmental factors are important background factors in the complication of UIP with IC. Pathologic examination of cases of UIP with LC (6 squamous cell carcinomas, 5 small cell carcinomas, 4 adenocarcinomas, and 3 large cell carcinomas, 2 of which showed pulmonary double carcinoma revealing a slight correlation between fibrosis and primary site of LC and a slightly greater correlation of squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma to smoking habits and inhalation of dust. In terms of the correlation between UIP and LC among autopsy cases, the environmental factors proved to be more significant than the fibrotic findings. These environmental factors are thought to merit consideration as common predisposing factors in the development of LC and its complication with UIP.
Abstract: Metastatic pulmonary calcinosis is a rare complication seen in malignancies accompanied by hypercalcemia, or chronic renal failure. We reviewed the clinicopathological findings of 8 cases of metastatic pulmonary calcinosis accompanied malignancy revealed at autopsy. The underlying diseases were malignant lymphoma in 3 cases (adult T cell lymphoma in 2 cases), multiple myeloma in 2, lung cancer in 2, and acute myelocytic leukemia in 1, all cases were complicated by hypercalcemia and renal failure. Chest X-ray revealed almost normal findings in 2 cases, bilateral diffuse infiltrates in 4, bilateral infiltrates in the apex in 1, and right atelectasis in 1. Bone scintigraphy was performed in 4 cases, and revealed warm pulmonary uptake in 1 patient with multiple myeloma and 1 with lung cancer, but normal findings in the 2 other cases. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse alveolar septal edema and fibrosis due to calcium deposition, which were considered to be the cause of respiratory failure. Metastatic pulmonary calcinosis is a rare but a serious complication in malignancies accompanied by hypercalcemia and renal failure, and bone scintigraphy seems to be a useful method for its diagnosis.
Abstract: A 39-year-old man had multiple nodules on the skin. The appearance of atypical monocytes in a skin biopsy specimen preceded the onset of overt acute monocytic leukemia by 14 months.
Abstract: Bronchiectasis has come to be considered as a type of sinobronchial syndrome in Japan, but there exist some cases without chronic sinusitis. We studied the clinical features of 14 cases of bronchiectasis with definitely normal paranasal sinus roentgenogram, diagnosed during the past ten years. There were eleven middle-aged women and three men. Ten patients (71%) complained of hemoptysis, one (7%) of dry cough, one (7%) of productive cough, and the two (14%) had no complaint. In seven patients (50%) CT and bronchography showed localized cylindrical bronchiectasis in the right middle lobe and/or left upper lobe lingular division. They were considered to be middle lobe lingular syndrome. Three patients (22%) with localized varicose or cystic bronchiectasis had a history of pneumonia or pertussis in their infancy, so their bronchiectasis were considered secondary to infantile bronchopulmonary disease. Two patients (14%) had diffuse cystic bronchiectasis and were almost asymptomatic. They might be cases congenital bronchiectasis or Williams-Campbell syndrome. Pulmonary function tests were normal in most of the cases and sputum culture revealed no cases of persistent bacterial infection. These clinical features are quite different from those of bronchiectasis reported as sinobronchial syndrome, in which chronic productive cough, poor pulmonary function, persistent bacterial infection, etc. are significant. So we conclude that there are two distinct groups in bronchiectasis.
Abstract: A 43-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever and dyspnea. She had facial rash, hair-loss, arthralgia, urinary casts, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and deposits of IgG, IgM, C3 in the epidermis. SLE was diagnosed. She also had severe dyspnea, which gradually progressed. In spite of steroid pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide, she eventually died about two months after admission. Chest X-ray film showed bilateral ground-glass shadow and volume-loss. High-resolution CT of the lung showed marked high density area with airbronchogram in the posterior part and a gradually enlarging slight high density area in the anterior area. Pathological findings of the posterior area were atelectasis and dense fibrosis. The findings of the anterior area were collapsed alveoli and dilated alveolar ducts. These findings might suggest that alveolar collapse play a major role in the course of pulmonary fibrosis of this patient.
Abstract: A 43-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of cough and dyspnea. His chest X-ray showed bilateral basal infiltrative shadows. The increased eosinophils in BAL suggested chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), whereas the TBLB specimens showed findings compatible with desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP). The open lung biopsy specimens showed typical findings of DIP with a peripheral zone, suggestive of CEP. These two diseases may be only phasal differences of reaction to the same extrinsic stimulation.
Abstract: A total of 210 cases of terminal pneumonia were studied out of 1183 autopsied cases at Tenri Yorozu Hospital from 1978 to 1985. Underlying diseases included lung cancer (77 patients), gastric cancer (26 patients), leukemia (24 patients). There was no statistical significance between the time from death until autopsy and the bacterial examination of autopsied lung and blood. P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella sp. were the most frequently isolated organisms. Seventy percent of isolated organisms were gram negative bacilli. In spite of administration of antibiotics, bacteria isolated from specimens before death were sometimes the same as the one isolated from specimens after death. In addition it was recognized that multiple intensive examinations of sputum are necessary for rapid diagnosis of pneumonia. It was also noted that the longer the duration of antibiotic administration, the more frequently P. aeruginosa was isolated. Finally the possibility of pneumonia should be kept in mind in compromised hosts.
Abstract: A 39-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough. She had been quite well until 1 month before admission. She had no history of chronic sinusitis. Chest X-ray film showed a thin-walled cavity in the superior segment of the left lower lobe of the lung. Curettage biopsy of the cavity wall revealed granulomatous change. Mycobacterium intracellulare-avium complex was identified on sputum culture. Anti-tuberculous therapy was given and the cavity disappeared in 3 months. Since atypical mycobacterial infection is quite unusual for a healthy woman to contract, we performed high-resolution CT (HRCT) in search for occult abnormalities of the lung. HRCT detected a lot of thin-walled cystic lesions, and bronchography showed that they were consistent with cystic dilatation of relatively large bronchi, which ballooned up during inspiration, and collapsed during expiration. Airways peripheral to these dilatations were also visible, and were quite different from usual cystic bronchiectasis formed by acquired recurrent infections. Her bronchiectasis is most likely congenital in its etiology, and might be considered as an adult case of Williams-Campbell syndrome.
