[Fire-eater's lung]. / Pneumopathie des cracheurs de feu.

INTRODUCTION: Fire-eaters use kerdan, a petroleum-derivative, during their performances. Its accidental inhalation produces respiratory symptoms known as fire-eater's lung. CASES: We report 8 cases of fire-eater's lung and compare their clinical and radiologic data and outcome with those of 44 cases from the French and English-language literature. Presentation is highly characteristic: i) occurrence in young inexperienced subjects; ii) immediate phase characterized by coughing and digestive symptoms; iii) after a latency period, pseudoinfectious lung disease frequently associated with extra-respiratory symptoms, usually digestive; iv) generally favorable clinical and radiological outcome, rarely complicated by pneumatocele or pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of fire-eater's lung is based on history-taking and characteristic clinical and radiological presentation. Treatment is symptomatic. Prevention relies on educational campaigns about the risks of fire-eating.

[Granular-cell tumor: review of the literature apropos of a case of bronchial site]. / Tumeur à cellules granuleuses: revue de la littérature à propos d'une localisation bronchique.

Abrikossoff's tumor, also called granular cell tumor, is an uncommon condition, generally benign, which can affect every organ and specially skin and tongue. The authors report an observation of a bronchial tumor and review the literature. Possible relapse after treatment, locally or everywhere in the body, may occur as local or regional complication that may necessit heavy surgery. It appears that a benign tumor can have macroscopic and even microscopic aspect of malignancy, when real malignant tumors are extremely rare. Wide excision still remain current treatment of Abrikossoff's tumor. Endoscopic methods are an interessant and less invasive alternative to treat some deep tumors.

Magnesium alterations and pharmacokinetic data in gallium-treated lung cancer patients.

The dose of gallium chloride required to inhibit tumor growth after oral and chronic administration depends on the stage of the cancer disease and of the type of metastases. A dose regimen of 800 mg/24 h of gallium chloride will provide serum gallium concentrations greater than or equal to 600 micrograms/l in lung cancer patients with a small and limited disease. A dose of 1,400 mg/24 h is well tolerated in metastatic patients but may not be high enough to reach the desired serum gallium concentrations especially in patients with bone metastases. Radiotherapy and/or a chemotherapy will permit one to increase the serum gallium concentrations and the tumor gallium uptake by reducing the volume of the tumor. After chronic, oral administration of gallium a decrease in RBC Mg is noted. To avoid the Mg deficiency, the treatment must not be interrupted and may perhaps be decreased with care and slowly without resulting in a decrease of the serum gallium concentrations provided the treatment has been prolonged over a sufficient time to enable one to induce intratumor biological modifications and a decrease in the number of the malignant cells. Acute pharmacokinetic data are related to the histologic type of the tumor and may not be used to predict the serum gallium concentrations after chronic administration. The serum gallium concentrations required to inhibit the tumor growth may be higher in small cell lung carcinomas than in nonsmall cell lung carcinomas. Frequent Mg and Ga blood determinations are necessary to manage effective gallium treatment.