Tunnel excavation triggering pulmonary sarcoidosis.

CONTEXT: A definite cause of sarcoidosis has not been identified, however past research suggests that environmental factors may be triggers of the granulomatous response in genetically susceptible individuals. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old male non-smoker, presented with progressive exertional dyspnea and cough of 3 months duration. One year before, when he started working in tunnel excavation, he had a normal chest radiograph. Chest imaging revealed bilateral nodules and masses of peribronchovascular distribution plus mediastinal lymphadenomegaly. Histologic lymph node analysis revealed non-caseating confluent granulomas. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and advised to change jobs. Complete remission of the disease was achieved and persisted for at least one year without steroid treatment. DISCUSSION: Sarcoidosis is believed to have environmental triggers. The timing of the onset of sarcoidosis in this patient following intensive exposure to tunnel dust suggests an environmental contribution. The recognition that sarcoidosis may have occupational triggers have medical, employment, and legal implications.

Factor analysis of sarcoidosis phenotypes at two referral centers in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In sarcoidosis, clinical presentations and outcomes vary widely. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical phenotypes of sarcoidosis, by factor analysis, in a series of cases with long-term follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study involving 137 patients with biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis, recruited from two referral centers in São Paulo, Brazil. Organ involvement was evaluated in accordance with a previously established protocol. Sarcoidosis phenotypes were characterized by factor analysis. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 6 to 144 months. Four factors (phenotypes) were identified: relevant residual pulmonary fibrosis; relapse; residual airflow limitation; and acute disease. The four factors collectively accounted for 66% of the total variance. Patients with relevant residual pulmonary fibrosis were older and presented with the following: greater symptom duration; skin involvement; low forced vital capacity; low forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio; and more advanced radiographic stages at baseline. The relapse phenotype was associated with chronic disease, greater dyspnea severity, neurologic involvement, and cardiac involvement. Patients with residual airflow limitation more often had airflow obstruction at baseline, chronic disease, and relevant residual pulmonary fibrosis. Acute disease was associated with being younger, weight loss, scoring lower for dyspnea, and having extensive involvement. Abnormal calcium metabolism was associated with acute disease and with relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcoidosis can be categorized into four different clinical phenotypes: three that are chronic; and one that is acute and self-limiting. In many cases, these phenotypes can be easily recognized.

Remissäo completa de metástases endobrônquica, parenquimatosa e ganglionar hilar pulmonares de carcinoma de próstata após hormonioterapia antiandrogênica / Complete remission of endobronchial, parenchymal and hilar lymphatic lung metastases of prostatic carcinoma after anti-androgenic hormotherapy

Homem negro de 65 anos de idade referia, há 5 meses, queixas respiratórias e urinarias. A rivestigaçao realizada demonstrou a existência de carcinoma de próstata com metástases ósseas, brônquica, parenquimatosa e ganglionar hilar pulmonar. Biópsias de próstata e de brônquio revelaram carcinoma; a pesquisa de antígeno prostático específico foi positiva em ambas. O paciente foi submetido à prostatectomia e orquiectomia bilateral, bem como hormonioterapia antiandrogênica; houve involuçao das metástases brônquicas, pulmonar e ganglionar, mantendo-se inalteradas as ósseas. Em conclusao: metástases pulmonar e brônquica de carcinoma de próstata podem simular carcinoma brônquico primitivo; o tratamento hormonal foi satisfatório, evitando-se, assim, radio e quimioterapia; regressao completa com terapia antiandrogênica é possível, evitando-se radio e quimioteerapia.

[Complete remission of endobronchial, parenchymal and hilar lymphatic lung metastases of prostatic carcinoma after anti-androgenic hormotherapy]. / Remissão completa de metástases endobrônquica, parenquimatosa e ganglionar hilar pulmonares de carcinoma de próstata após hormonioterapia antiandrogênica.

UNLABELLED: A 65 year old male Negro had respiratory and urinary symptoms for the last 5 months. The work-up disclosed a prostatic carcinoma with metastases in bones, bronchus, lung parenchyma and hilar lymphnodes. Prostatic and bronchial biopsies revealed carcinoma; specific prostatic antigen was detected in both. A prostatectomy with bilateral orchiectomy was performed followed by anti-androgenic hormotherapy. Complete remission of metastatic bronchial, lung parenchyma and lymphatic lesions was observed; bone lesions did not change. IN CONCLUSION: lung and bronchial metastases of prostatic carcinoma may resemble primitive bronchial tumor; complete remission with anti-androgenic therapy is possible, saving the patient from unnecessary radio and/or chemotherapy.

Bilateral pleural effusion due to mediastinal fibrosis induced by radiotherapy.

A diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease was made 20 years ago in a 37-year-old woman; treatment included thoracic irradiation and chemotherapy. She was considered cured and remained well up to one year before, when she developed bilateral pleural effusion. No evidence of activity of Hodgkin's disease was detected. The pleural liquid was an exudate, with lymphocytic predominance. On thoracoscopy, enlarged lymphatic channels in the visceral pleura were noted, with tissue confirmation. To our knowledge, this report is the first to confirm by thoracoscopy and histologic study the proposed pathophysiologic condition of this uncommon entity.