A Case of Blastomycosis after Traveling around Non-Endemic Area / 결핵및호흡기질환

Blastomycosis is a systemic pyogranulomatous disease that is caused by a thermally dimorphic fungus, Blastomyces dermatitidis. it's the disease is endemic in the south-eastern and south central states of the USA, which border the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, the mid-western states and Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes as well as in a small area of New York and Canada adjacent to the St. Lawrence River.1 We encountered a case of blastomycosis, representing as a pulmonary manifestation after traveling around a non-endemic area and report it with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Validity of peak expiratory flow for assessing the presence of airflow obstruction / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Since there has been strong correlation between peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), assessing the presence of airflow obstruction by PEF measurements would be useful in general practice, but its usefulness has not been well investigated. We hypothesize that PEF would be practicable for assessing the presence of airflow obstruction. METHODS: PEF measurements were performed mini-Wright peak flow meter in 106 patients (aged 19-82) with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. The change in PEF (% predicted value) was compared with the change in FEV1 and forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC). Airflow obstruction was analyzed according to European Community for Coal and Steel criteria. When defined as an FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio both below the 90% confidence interval of predicted values before bronchodilator. RESULTS: Airflow obstruction was observed in 76.4% (81) of patients. Relative operating characteristic analysis showed that an below in PEF of 60% of predicted value gave optimal discrimination between patients with no airflow obstruction and airflow obstruction (the sensitivity and specificity of below 60% of predicted value in detecting FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio both below the 90% confidence interval of predicted values were 86.4% and 83.0% respectively, with a positive predictive value of 94.5%) CONCLUSION: Percentage of predicted value in PEF could be used to diagnose airflow obstruction.

Diagnostic Utility of MAGE Expression in Exudative Pleural Effusion / 결핵

BACKGROUND: In recent years, numerous human tumor specific antigens such as melanoma antigen gene(MAGE) that is recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been identified. MAGE is expressed in many human malignancies in various organs, such as lung, breast, stomach, esophagus and leukemia. Therefore MAGE has been studied widely for tumor diagnosis and immunotherapy. But, so far there were no clinical studies evaluating the role of MAGE in pleural effusion. We investigated the expression of MAGE in the patients with exudative pleural effusion for it's diagnostic utility and the RESULTS: were compared with those of cytologic examinations. METHODS: Diagnostic thoracentesis was performed in 44 consecutive patients with exudative pleural effusion during 6 months. We examined the expression of MAGE and cytology with the obtained pleural effusion. Expression of MAGE was interpreted by means of a commercial kit using RT-PCR method. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups such as malignant and benign and we analyzed its' sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between two groups in age, sex, white blood cell counts in pleural fluid, pleural fluid/serum protein ratio and pleural fluid/serum LDH ratio. The sensitivity and specificity of MAGE were 72.2% and 96.2% respectively and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MAGE were also 92.9% and 83.3% respectively. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of cytologic examinations were 66.7% and 81.3% respectively. There were no significant differences between sensitivities of MAGE and cytologic examinations but false positive result of MAGE was found in 1 case of tuberculous pleurisy. CONCLUSION: MAGE is a sensitive and specific marker for the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant effusion in patients with exudative pleural effusion. And MAGE would provide the equal sensitivity compared with that of cytologic examination in patients with malignant pleural effusion if 5mL of the pleural fluid is examined.

Three cases of Pulmonary Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma / 결핵

A pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare tumor with a vascular origin. A PEH can arise in many organ systems, such as the lung, liver, bone and soft tissues. It is a borderline malignancy but the clinical course is usually benign. In this report, we describe three cases of PEH. Case 1, a 61-year-old man, had nonspecific chest discomfort and the chest X-ray showed a solitary lung nodule. This nodule was diagnosed by an open lung biopsy. The pathologic findings including abundant necrosis, mitosis and hyperchromatic and pleomorphic nuclei, indicated a malignancy. The electron microscopic study showed Weibel-Palade bodies and the immunohistochemical stain for CD31 showed a positive reaction in the tumor cells, and linear staining along the vascular lumina. Case 2, a 34-year-old man, was admitted for an evaluation of multiple small nodules, incidentally detected a screening chest X-ray. The nodules were diagnosed by a immunohistochemical stain for the factor VIII-related antigen. Case 3, a 34-year-old woman, complained of left pleuritic chest pain. A simple chest film and the chest CT scan revealed multiple bilateral nodules and a left pleural effusion. An immunohistochemical stain for the factor VIII-related antigen was used to diagnose the nodules. Forth-one months after the diagnosis, she died of pulmonary insufficiency.

A Case of Microscopic Polyangiitis Presenting As Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage / 결핵

A diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare manifestation in microscopic polyangiitis. Recently we experienced a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with microscopic polyangiitis, which was diagnosed with the typical clinical manifestations, ANCA and a renal biopsy. A 71 year old female was admitted complaining of coughing and dyspnea. A chest X-ray, HRCT and BAL revealed a diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. A diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was noted during a bronchoscopy. She also had proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and mild azotemia. The renal biopsy showed necrotic glomerulonephritis without immune complex deposits or granuloma. Under the diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis, she was treated with steroid pulse therapy, and prednisolone with cyclophosphamide subsequently. She showed marked improvement in the clinical manifestations.

A Case of Microscopic Polyangiitis Presenting As Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage / 결핵

A diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a rare manifestation in microscopic polyangiitis. Recently we experienced a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with microscopic polyangiitis, which was diagnosed with the typical clinical manifestations, ANCA and a renal biopsy. A 71 year old female was admitted complaining of coughing and dyspnea. A chest X-ray, HRCT and BAL revealed a diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. A diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was noted during a bronchoscopy. She also had proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and mild azotemia. The renal biopsy showed necrotic glomerulonephritis without immune complex deposits or granuloma. Under the diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis, she was treated with steroid pulse therapy, and prednisolone with cyclophosphamide subsequently. She showed marked improvement in the clinical manifestations.

A Case of Systemic Sclerosis Sine Scleroderma Presenting as Pulmonary Interstitial Fibrosis / 결핵

Lung involvement in systemic sclerosis(SSC) is common but usually occurs late in the course. Skin changes usually occur before the pulmonary findings. In this report, a patient who developed pulmonary interstitial fibrosis without skin changes is presented. A diagnosis of SSC lung involvement was made histologically. The a nti-scl-70 antibody test was positive. Esophageal manometry revealed a lower amplitude in the lower two-third of the esophagus and pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter. Here we report a case of wystemic sclerosis sine scleroderma presenting as pulmonary interstitial fibrosis with a review of the relevant literatures.

A Case of endobronchial metastasis from prostatic carcinoma / 결핵

Carcinoma of the prostate is a common malignancy affecting elderly men. Lung metastasis from prostate cancer occurs frequently, but tumor metastasis to the central bronchi that clinically mimics primary bronchogenic carcinoma are very rare. We report a 73-year old man with endobronchial metastasis from prostatic carcinoma presented with respiratory symptom cough. Diagnosis of issues taken from materials which were used for bronchoscopic biopsy and prostate biopsy and immunohistochemical staining for prostate specific antigen(PSA) confirmed a case of endobronchial metastasis from prostatic carcinoma. Hormonal therapy(LHRH agonist) was applied to this patient.