[Post-traumatic pulmonary aspergilloma]. / Aspergillome pulmonaire sur corps étranger résiduel post-traumatique. Diagnostic et prise en charge.

INTRODUCTION: Aspergillomas occur due to colonization of a pre-existing pulmonary, bronchial or pleural cavity by Aspergillus spp. Often asymptomatic, this pathology can reveal itself by recurrent haemoptysis or when bacterial superinfections occur. Aspergillomas occurring in post-traumatic cavities are rare and their management is poorly codified. CASE REPORT: A child suffered from a chest wound at the age of 13 years. Two years later, investigation of recurrent haemoptysis revealed a residual pneumatocele in the right lower lobe colonized by Aspergillus spp. Initial treatment with systemic azole antifungals was unsuccessful because of digestive and ophthalmological intolerance. Surgical treatment by right lower lobectomy was finally decided on by the multidisciplinary team. This revealed an intrabronchial foreign body of vegetal type with cellulosic reinforcement, causing a polymorphic granulomatous reaction around, and associated with a proliferation of filamentous fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus. Surgery was followed by liposomal amphotericin B treatment for three weeks with a favourable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical case illustrates the benefits of surgical management of post-traumatic aspergillomas, even in children, in order to eradicate the aspergillus implant and to remove any foreign body to prevent recurrence.

[Malignant infantile osteopetrosis: Case report of a 5-month-old boy]. / Ostéopétrose maligne infantile : à propos d'un cas chez un nourrisson de 5 mois.

Malignant infantile osteopetrosis is a rare congenital disease characterized by a dysfunction of osteoclasts followed by an abnormal bone densification. We report the case of a 5-month-old infant in whom this disease was suspected because of the clinical (hepatosplenomegaly, gingival hypertrophy), hematological (pancytopenia and hypocalcemia), and radiological criteria (abnormal bone density, periosteal reaction). The genetic investigation confirmed the diagnosis. Compound heterozygous mutations in the CLCN7 gene were identified, including an as yet undescribed mutation. The second mutation had already been described as being responsible for severe and irreversible neurological damage in patients with osteopetrosis. Since this patient presented severely delayed development, he was not eligible for bone marrow transplantation.

[Sickle cell disease and invasive osteoarticular Salmonella infections]. / Drépanocytose et salmonelloses invasives ostéo-articulaires.

Non-typhi Salmonella are responsible for severe invasive infections in children with sickle cell disease, with osteoarticular locations that can affect short- and long-term outcomes. We describe the cases of 2 children with sickle cell disease who presented paucisymptomatic Salmonella osteoarticular infections on returning from North Africa. Progression was favorable in both cases after appropriate systemic antibiotic therapy, although one Salmonella was multidrug-resistant. Invasive salmonellosis remains rare in France, but, because of its severity, it should be suspected in any patient with sickle cell disease presenting fever, especially in the context of recent trips in Africa countries. Early clinical diagnosis is essential to start appropriate empirical treatment without waiting for bacteriological results.

Diagnostic value of various investigations in children with suspected foreign body aspiration: review.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body aspiration is a serious condition during childhood that requires prompt management to avoid complications and irreversible lung injury. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia is the procedure of choice for removal of aspirated foreign bodies, but it can be associated with serious complications. The positive diagnosis can sometimes be challenging except in the case of radiopaque or obstructive foreign bodies, due to the low sensitivity and specificity of clinical history and physical examination. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to evaluate the various investigations in children with suspected foreign body aspiration, in order to reduce the negative rigid bronchoscopy rate. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Review of the literature based on Medline data between 1980 and 2010. RESULTS: Chest radiography during inspiration and expiration, often performed as the first-line radiographic investigation, has a low sensitivity and specificity. In the absence of a radiopaque foreign body, obstructive emphysema is the most specific radiographic sign. Airway fluoroscopy can complete chest radiography when radiographic signs are nonspecific. Flexible bronchoscopy is the most sensitive and most specific examination, but is not always available, as it must be performed in the operating room or with resuscitation equipment at hand. This procedure should be performed when foreign body aspiration is suspected in the absence of typical clinical and radiological signs. It can decrease the number of negative rigid bronchoscopies. Several studies suggest that chest CT is also a very sensitive examination in this indication. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity and specificity of chest CT for the diagnosis of bronchial foreign body must be validated by a prospective study. A national multicentre study is currently underway to determine whether CT can replace flexible bronchoscopy when the diagnosis of bronchial foreign body is uncertain.

[Organizing pneumonia occurring in a child with celiac disease]. / Pneumopathie organisée au cours d'une maladie cœliaque chez l'enfant.

Organizing pneumonia (OP), or bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), is rare, particularly in children. It affects the small airways and belongs to the group of interstitial lung diseases. Approximately 20 cases in children have been reported, the lack of knowledge of this disease making the diagnosis less likely. Contrary to the findings in adults, where the cryptogenic form is widely present, OP in pediatrics often occurs after a definite cause (infection, transplant, etc.) or in a specific context (dysimmune disease). We report on a teenager who presented with OP in the context of celiac disease, the first case of this association described in the literature.

[Recurrent pneumonia revealing a bronchial carcinoid tumor: report of two cases]. / Pneumopathies récidivantes révélant une tumeur carcinoïde bronchique : à propos de deux observations.

Carcinoid tumors are the most common endobronchial tumor in the pediatric population, and represent a rare cause of airway obstruction. The authors report two cases of boys aged 10 and 11 years old, who presented with a 12-month history of recurrent pneumonia. Bronchial endoscopy showed an endobronchial tumor. Chest CT-scan identified local extension and lung-associated lesions; octreoscan was performed to detect distant metastases. Histopathological study concluded in typical carcinoid tumor. The outcome after surgical conservative resection is uneventful with a follow-up of 7 and 26 months. Bronchial tumors must be considered in children with recurrent pneumonia or persistant respiratory symptoms, and require CT scan and bronchial endoscopy for their diagnosis.