ABSTRACT
The authors review results for detection of acid-fast bacilli by the method of direct fluorescent microscopy in cytologic specimens obtained by fiberbronchoscopy and in which a granulomatous inflammation was found cytomorphologically. Direct fluorescent microscopy revealed acid-fast bacilli in 30.2% of the specimens. In 10.2% of the patients, acid-fast bacilli detected by fluorescent microscopy were the only positive bacteriological findings which confirmed tuberculosis. The authors suggest this method for all those patients in whose bronchoscopic specimens, suspected cases of tuberculosis infection could be established cytomorphologically.
Subject(s)
Bronchoscopy , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Bronchi/pathology , Cytodiagnosis , Humans , Microscopy, FluorescenceABSTRACT
From 1975 to December 1990, 391 needle biopsies were performed in 379 patients, aged from 19 to 82 years. The combination of cytological and histological examination of pleural biopsy specimens was done. Histologically useful specimens were obtained in 265 (67.8%) biopsies and cytologically satisfactory in 106 (27.1%). Histology revealed non-specific changes in 136 (51.3%) cases, malignant neoplasm in 61 (23-0%), granulomatous inflammation in 47 (17.8%), chronic inflammation in 20 (7.6%) and rheumatoid pleuritis in 1 (0.3%) case. Cytology showed the presence of malignant neoplastic cells in 60 (56.7%), granulomatous changes in 44 (41.5%) and changes that were cytomorphologically denoted as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid pleuritis in 2 of the 106 useful biopsy specimens.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle , Pleura/pathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pleural Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
This study was carried out in 59 patients with histological evidence of pulmonary sarcoidosis. In all patients, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) were performed simultaneously. In histologic specimens of TBB, 24/59 (41%) patients had luminal alveolitis, 36/59 (61%) mural alveolitis, 41/59 (69%) granulomas 11/59 (15%) diffuse fibrosis and 24/59 (41%) focal fibrosis. Cytological examinations of BAL revealed 22/59 (37%) patients without alveolitis, 20/59 (34%) with low intensity alveolitis and 17/59 (29%) with high intensity alveolitis. Comparative analysis of these patients showed the association of the alveolitis in BAL and the mural alveolitis or granulomas in TBB (p less than 0.01). The conclusion of this study is that cytological findings in BAL represent interstitial cells very well.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Lung Diseases/pathology , Sarcoidosis/pathology , Adult , Biopsy, Needle/methods , Female , Humans , Lung/pathology , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A case report is presented of a man with pronounced tracheobronchomegaly who has had respiratory symptoms since childhood. In spite of numerous medical examinations a disease remains undetected for many years. Authors bring up different standpoints about etiology and the most often accepted hypothesis about the autosomal recessive inheritance. They also point their attention to a small number of diagnosed cases despite high prevalence (0,4-1%) and typical symptoms.
Subject(s)
Tracheobronchomegaly , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Tracheobronchomegaly/diagnosis , Tracheobronchomegaly/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Cellularity and T-lymphocyte to T-lymphocyte subpopulation ratio were examined in 37 cases of interstitial pulmonary disease as well as in two healthy subjects in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using monoclonal antibody indirect immunofluorescence technique. In BAL, active sarcoidosis cases (n = 18) were found to have increased T-lymphocytes of helper phenotype (CD4) accompanied by a markedly heightened CD4/CD8 proportion. Conversely, T-lymphocytes of the suppressor cytotoxic phenotype (CD8) with markedly reduced CD4/CD8 proportion predominated in the BAL of cases with hypersensitive pneumonitis (HP). Case group having sarcoidosis (S) after corticosteroid therapy (n = 11) showed a reduction in the proportion of T-lymphocytes (CD4) as well as in that of CD4/CD8 in BAL. An analysis of T-lymphocytic subpopulation in BAL could be helpful in diagnosing pulmonary interstitial disease, and give an insight into disease activity.
Subject(s)
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/pathology , Pulmonary Fibrosis/diagnosis , T-Lymphocytes/pathology , Adult , Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/diagnosis , Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Lymphocyte Subsets , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Fibrosis/pathology , Sarcoidosis/diagnosis , Sarcoidosis/pathologyABSTRACT
A study of 970 patients treated for bronchogenic carcinoma (operation, cytostatic therapy, irradiation) reveal that only 122 (12.5%) were evaluated by the bronchoscopy. Among 47 (38.5%) out of 122 patients recidivation was confirmed (cytology or histology). The efficacy of radiology and sputum cytology is poor. Only 22/47 (47%) had radiologic evidence of recidivation and 18/47 (38%) had positive sputum cytology. Radiology and sputum cytology reveal recidivation in 27/47 (57%) patients. It means that bronchoscopy is the method of choice in the posttherapeutic monitoring of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.
Subject(s)
Bronchoscopy , Carcinoma, Bronchogenic/diagnosis , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Bronchogenic/therapy , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosisABSTRACT
Essential knowledge of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is displayed in connection with the instructive case report that points out how important is to bear in mind also such a rare pulmonary disease in a diagnostic procedure.
