Development of Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Pulmonary Aspergillosis in the Native Lung of a Lung Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.

Lung transplant recipients have a significant incidence of posttransplant lung nodules. Such nodules can occur from various etiologies, both in the lung allograft or in the native lung. They most commonly originate from infections, such as Pseudomonas or Aspergillus species, or from posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Lung cancer is challenging to diagnose in a native lung, especially with an underlying fibrotic disease. We present a case of a 75-year-old woman who presented with classic clinical features of pulmonary aspergillosis in the native right lung with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis 5 years after left-sided single-lung transplant. She required a right lower lobectomy and antifungal treatment with isavuconazonium sulfate and inhaled amphotericin. A persistent right upper lobe lung nodule was noted during surveillance imaging and was initially presumed to be recurrent Aspergillus infection; however, growth of the nodule and change in its characteristics prompted additional examination. A navigational bronchoscopic biopsy was positive for squamous cell carcinoma. Her options for stage IIIA squamous cell carcinoma were limited to chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin plus radiation. Although initial surveillance scans showed adequate tumor response, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was found in the liver 6 months later. She was eventually transitioned to palliative care. This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for examination of nodules in the native lung of lung transplant recipients, even in cases of a known diagnosis, owing to the high morbidity and mortality associated with primary lung cancer in this population.

Unexpected Neoplasms in Lungs Explanted From Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience and Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Lung transplantation is a common treatment for various indications, but undiagnosed neoplasms are found in 0.5% to 2.4% of explanted lungs. We report the largest single-institution series of patients with unexpected neoplasms in explanted lungs and compare rates of undiagnosed malignancies before and after the 2005 Lung Allocation Score (LAS) update. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent lung transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic from 1990 to 2014. In cases of neoplasm discovered on explant, tumor type, pathological stage, recurrence, and date of death were recorded. RESULTS: From January 1, 1990 to June 30, 2014, 1303 patients underwent lung transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic. The overall mean smoking history was 35 pack-years, and 25 undiagnosed lung malignancies were found upon explant in 24 transplant recipients (1.84%). In the post-LAS era (ie, 2005 onward), 20/812 lung transplant recipients had 21 incidental neoplasms in their explanted lungs (2.5%). Seventeen of these 25 tumors occurred in patients with interstitial lung disease; 8 occurred in patients with centrilobular emphysema. Eight tumors recurred (6 in patients with interstitial lung disease and 2 in patients with emphysema). The most common histological tumor types were adenocarcinomas (n = 14) and squamous cell carcinomas (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS: Unexpected neoplasms were found in 1.84% of lung transplant recipients' explanted lungs, with a slightly higher incidence (2.46%) in the post-LAS era. Neoplasms were more common in patients with interstitial lung diseases than in patients with centrilobular emphysema. Explanted lungs should be pathologically examined for evidence of tumor foci because this can impact post-transplantation management.

An autopsy study of maternal mortality: a tertiary healthcare perspective.

BACKGROUND: An audit of autopsies of maternal deaths is important for the establishment of accurate cause of maternal deaths and to determine the contribution of various etiologies responsible in a given community. AIM: To study the causes of maternal deaths as determined by a pathological autopsy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective study of all the cases of maternal deaths that underwent a pathological autopsy in a tertiary healthcare center from January 1998 to December 2006. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The autopsy records with clinical notes were retrieved; gross and histopathology specimens and slides were studied to establish the accurate cause of maternal deaths. The variables like age (years), stay in the hospital, gravidity, trimester of pregnancy and method of delivery were used to classify and analyze the data from the autopsies. The causes of maternal deaths were divided in to direct and indirect; each being classified into subgroups based on the most evident pathology on autopsy. RESULTS: The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) over a nine-year period (1998-2006) was 827/100000 live births (471 maternal deaths against 56944 live births). An autopsy was performed in 277 cases (58.8%). In the autopsy group, the most common causes of maternal mortality were pre-ecclampsia/ecclampsia (40 of 277, 14.44%) and hemorrhage (32 of 277; 11.55%); However, indirect causes like infectious diseases (27 of 277; 9.75%) and cardiac (27 of 277; 9.75%) disease also contributed to maternal deaths. CONCLUSION: Indirect causes like rheumatic heart disease and infections like tuberculosis, malaria or leptospirosis and nutritional anemia are still major causes of maternal mortality in developing countries like India. Intensive efforts need to be taken in these areas to reduce the maternal mortality in developing countries like India.