Malignant pleural mesothelioma: clinicopathology of 16 extrapleural pneumonectomy patients with special reference to early stage features.

The earliest pathological events in the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) are not understood. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the early histopathological features of MPM. A total of 16 extrapleural MPM pneumonectomy patients were investigated. Early stage mesothelioma was arbitrarily defined as a tumor < or =5 mm in thickness regardless of the nodal status or other organ involvement. Eight of these patients (six with epithelioid, two with biphasic) had early stage mesothelioma by this definition. Macroscopically there was no visible tumor, but the parietal and visceral pleura were thickened and there was focal adhesion between them. Microscopically, the mesothelioma lesions were multifocal and discontinuous on the pleura. In extremely early cases of epithelioid mesothelioma, tumor cells were generally arrayed in a single layer, but papillary proliferation was observed elsewhere. In sarcomatoid mesothelioma, mesothelioma cells proliferated, forming multiple small polypoid nodules on the pleura. Epithelial membrane antigen was helpful to distinguish reactive from neoplastic mesothelium, but glucose transporter-1 was not. Mesothelioma cells disseminate diffusely throughout the parietal and visceral pleura and mediastinal fat tissue before becoming visible. Stage Ia mesothelioma (neoplasm limited to the parietal pleura) would not be observed in daily practice.

[A case of sarcoidosis complicated with repeated hemoptysis].

A 53-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of repeated hemoptysis. Her past history indicate uveitis at age 48. Chest HRCT findings showed the thickening of broncho-vascular bundles, interlobular septal thickening, and patchy ground-glass attenuation, but no hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. BALF and TBLB were not diagnostic. Her hemoptysis was persistent, and we performed VATS biopsy, which revealed diffuse epithelioid cell granulomas with multinucleated giant cells along vessels and intra-alveolar spaces, consistent with sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis was therefore diagnosed. She was treated with steroids, and her CT findings improved, but her hemoptysis was persistent. Bronchial artery angiography revealed micro-aneurysms in the left bronchial artery and shunt to the pulmonary vein form the right bronchial artery. We decided that the etiology of her hemoptysis was from micro-aneurysms in the left bronchial artery. We concluded that hemorrhage from vascular lesions, including the bronchial artery, could be complications in cases of sarcoidosis.

Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma: a multi-institutional clinicopathological study.

PURPOSE: The relative rarity of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Japan makes it difficult to perform a large-scale clinicopathological study of this tumor at a single institute. Thus, we performed a multiinstitutional study to evaluate the current status of diagnosis and treatment in Japan. METHODS: We analyzed the records of 65 patients with MPM, obtained from the 13 institutions comprising the Japanese Chiba Multicenter Study Group. RESULTS: In 56 patients, the tumor was detected after a visit to a medical facility for subjective symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough. It took a median period of 2 months from the initial visit to establish the diagnosis. The overall survival rates of 33 patients with unresectable MPM 1, 2, and 3 years after the diagnosis were 40.5%, 10.8%, and 0%, respectively, whereas those of 32 patients who underwent surgery were 67.9%, 35.0% and 10.9%, respectively (P=0.0035). According to multivariate analysis, histological type, International Mesothelioma Interest Group clinical stage, sex, and the presenting symptom of shortness of breath were significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The definitive diagnosis of early MPM is difficult, but establishing the best diagnostic modality would improve survival rates, since radical surgery is likely to be effective for resectable disease.

[Pulmonary adenocarcinoma with multiloculated cystic change].

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of an abnormal chest X-ray film finding. He was asymptomatic. The chest HRCT showed a ground-glass attenuation with multiloculated cystic change in the left lower lobe. There were no cystic lesions in the other lung fields except a ground-glass attenuation in the left lower lobe. The pathological examination of trans-bronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed adenocarcinoma. Therefore, primary lung cancer was diagnosed, and he underwent left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node resection. Macroscopic examination of the resected lung specimen revealed multiloculated cystic lesions associated with a poorly demarcated white-gray tumor. The histological examination showed that papillary adenocarcinoma proliferated along the alveolar walls and that the walls of the multiloculated cystic lesions were composed of cancer cells. We speculated that adenocarcinoma cells extended along the alveolar walls and destroyed the alveoli without disrupting the overall lung architecture, resulting in enlarged multiloculated cystic lesions.

[A case of chronic bird fancier's lung in which VATS biopsy was diagnostically useful].

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of dry cough and dyspnea on effort for 9 months. Her chest HRCT findings showed diffuse reticular opacities, ground-glass opacities, and interlobular septal thickening with subpleural and peribronchovascular distribution, not typical of IPF/UIP. BAL revealed mild lymphocytosis and elevated CD4/CD8 ratio. Since TBLB was not diagnostic, we performed VATS biopsy. The pathological finding by VATS biopsy revealed collapse, fibrosis, and scar formation in both subpleural and intralobular regions with small granuloma, consistent with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Both antibodies in serum to pigeon dropping extract and inhalation provocation test using avian dropping extracts were positive. and therefore we diagnosed chronic bird fancier's lung. We should suspect chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis in cases with HRCT findings atypical of IPF/UIP. and examine antibodies against specific antigens and perform VATS biopsy.

[A case of primary lung cancer complicated with hypothyroidism by diffuse thyroid metastasis].

A 56-year-old woman with hypothyroidism was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal chest X-ray film. The chest CT showed a 3-cm spiculated tumor in the left lingual branch, and multiple nodular shadows with random distribution. Cervical CT showed diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland with low density. The cytology of the tumor in the left lingular branch revealed adenocarcinoma, and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid gland revealed adenocarcinoma, cytologically identical to the cells from bronchoscopic examination. Immunochemically, specimens obtained from both bronchoscopy and the thyroid gland were negative for thyroglobulin. Therefore, we diagnosed this case as primary lung cancer complicated with hypothyroidism by diffuse metastasis of the thyroid gland. Metastatic thyroid tumor is rarely diagnosed clinically. Furthermore, metastatic thyroid tumor complicated with thyroid dysfunction is extremely rare. We conclude that in patients with both diffuse thyroid swelling and thyroid dysfunction, the possibility of metastatic thyroid tumor should be considered.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis associated with influenza B.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. However, rarely, this infection can occur in normal hosts. This review of the literature identified 13 cases of IPA associated with influenza, of which 12 had influenza A and the type of influenza was not mentioned in the other case. Reported here is a case of IPA, which was associated with influenza B, in a 63-year-old immunocompetent woman. Her lungs showed gross invasion and she was treated with itraconazole and amphotericin B. She required mechanical ventilation for about 5 months but recovered completely. This is the first reported case of IPA associated with influenza B.

A new sterilization technique with balloon-tube thoracostomy for thoracic empyema.

OBJECTIVE: Failure or prolongation of treatment for refractory thoracic empyema by the current chest-tube drainage technique is often due to sterilization difficulties. Insufficient sterilization prolongs hospitalization, and is often associated with life-threatening complications and/or additional invasive surgical procedures. A new chest-tube sterilization technique aimed at making it less invasive and shortening the therapy is proposed. METHODS: Following pretreatment for complications including loculation, bronchopleural fistula, or corticated lung, a double-lumen trocar catheter was introduced at the bottom of the empyemic cavity through the lateral chest wall. Then, a Foley balloon urethra-catheter was inserted and attached just inside the anterior chest wall at the top of the cavity for the evacuation of intrathoracic air. After irrigation of the cavity with distilled water once or twice, the cavity was completely filled with a bactericidal solution which was left in place for 30-60 minutes, followed by an antibiotic solution for more than 20 hours. RESULTS: Among the five treated post-lobectomy or pneumonectomy cases, sterilization was obtained after only one treatment in four cases and after two courses in the other. Catheterization duration from the initial treatment was 2-13 days. Neither recurrence nor treatment-related major complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This balloon-tube thoracostomy technique is simple, minimally invasive and cost-effective, due to shortening of the treatment time with minimal manpower and equipment requirements. It is thus a promising therapeutic approach to thoracic empyema and has the potential for application to other intrathoracic disorders.