[Pleural talc treatment using thoracoscopy in lymphomatous pleurisy]. / Le talcage pleural sous thoracoscopie au cours des pleurésies lymphomateuses.

The authors report their experience of pleural talcage under thoracoscopy in 21 cases of lymphomatous pleurisy. This represents 9.6% of the total number of cancerous pleurisies treated with talc over four years. A successful result with talcage was achieved in 84% of cases. The success of failure of talcalge seems to depend on the macroscopic appearance (the existence of masses or nodules) as well as an abundance of pleural liquid, all constitute unfavourable factors. On the other hand the lymphoma (Hodgkins or non Hodgkins) does not seem to have any unfavourable effect.

[Multiple pulmonary hydatidosis associated with intracardiac cyst. Apropos of a case]. / Hydatidose pulmonaire multiple associée à un kyste intra-cardiaque. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report the case of a 48-year old woman who had bilateral pulmonary hydatid cysts revealed by haemoptysis and in whom an intracardiac hydatid cyst was discovered in the course of evaluation. The intracardiac cyst probably was the starting point for the migration of emboli to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries.

[Results of talc administration using thoracoscopy in neoplastic pleurisies. Apropos of 218 cases]. / Résultats du talcage pleural sous thoracoscopie au cours des pleurésies néoplasiques. A propos de 218 cas.

The authors report the results of their experience using tale pleurodesis under thoracoscopic control in the treatment of 218 cases of malignant pleural involvement. Although this technique is well tolerated it is necessary to note certain factors which prevent a successful pleurodesis (12% of cases). Thus, huge effusions greater than 12 litres, pleural involvement with large tumour masses, a very long history and patients aged more than 70 years were all factors contributing to a poor outcome. The success of pleural talc also depends on the nature of the primary cancer, for example in our series broncho-pulmonary cancers yielded better results than those effusions which were secondary to ovarian cancers.

[A case of Reiche's tuberculosis, acute tuberculosis with hematologic manifestations]. / Un cas de tuberculose de Reiche, tuberculose aiguë avec manifestations hématologiques.

The authors report a case of tuberculosis in a 39 year old male who had a past history of tuberculosis with a relapse 10 years later. This relapse was in an acute form which was both pulmonary and haematological, producing an acute tuberculosis of Reiche in its cytopenic form. Anti-tuberculous treatment did not prevent the patient dying 49 days after the presentation of the disease.

[Intrathoracic extra-bone marrow hematopoiesis. Apropos of a case with thalassemia intermedia]. / Hématopoièse extra-médullaire intrathoracique. A propos d'un cas présentant une thalassémie intermédiaire.

The authors report the first case in Tunisia of intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis concerning a 30-year old man with thalassemia intermedia. They insist on the value of 99 m Tc sulfur colloid marrow scan and computed tomography which avoid thoracotomy.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy in 83 cases of chronic pleurisy]. / Thoracoscopie diagnostique et thérapeutique dans 83 cas de pleurésies chroniques.

From May 1983 to June 1985 the authors performed a thoracoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic objective in 83 patients with chronic recurrent pleurisy; amongst these patients, 69 had know intra or extra thoracic cancer and the other 14 presented with an isolated pleurisy. Eight other patients had pleural carcinomatosis proven by needle biopsy and had pleural talc introduced by thoracoscopy. The examination was performed under local anaesthesia with neuroleptanalgesia; a rigid 7 mm diameter thoracoscope was used; the biopsies were performed uniquely on the parietal pleura using tropical forceps. The outcome was uncomplicated with no deaths nor any serious complications due to the method. The sensitivity of the pleural biopsy was 91.5% or 76 positive biopsies out of 83. 73 biopsies were metastatic and 3 were tuberculous pleurisies. The macroscopic appearance was strongly suggestive of malignancy in 78 patients and appeared inflammatory in 13, of whom 9 cases were positive on biopsy. The authors performed a pleural talcage in every case; a lasting pleural adhesion was obtained in 66 patients but regrettably there were 14 failures, the effusion recurring after removal of the drain. The authors stress the reduced number of incidents of pleural effusion, which confirms the good tolerance of pleural endoscopy.