[Radiological patterns and final diagnosis of patients presumptive of pulmonary tuberculosis with negative sputum smears]. / Patrones radiológicos y diagnóstico definitivo de enfermos presuntivos de tuberculosis pulmonar con baciloscopia negativa.

INTRODUCTION: the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in sputum smears-negative patients is a challenge for today's medical practice, mostly supported on clinical and radiographic elements. In Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico of Havana, there is an expert commission for the sputum smear-negative diagnosis of tuberculosis called CODIBAARNE. OBJECTIVE: to identify the radiological patterns and the final diagnosis of patients submitted to this committee from October 2002 to December 2003. METHODS: a descriptive study was conducted in a sample of patients within the above-mentioned period, who had been studied and followed-up in Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico in order to define their final diagnoses under the CODIBAARNE commission recommendation. Data were gathered from the register of patients and from the individual medical histories. RESULTS: the average age of these patients was 68.2 years and 57 % were males. The most frequent symptoms were cough (76 %), general syndrome (70 %) and expectoration (61 %). The mostly seen radiographic patterns were infiltrates, with or without cavitation (44 %) and fibrotic lesions (34 %). The most common diagnoses showed bronchiectasia (26 %), followed by sputum smears-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (24 %). CONCLUSIONS: the results of this research work evinced the importance of the work by the group of experts in CODIBAARNE regarding the sputum smears-negative diagnosis of tuberculosis cases.

[An alternative for improving the diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis and other bronchopulmonary disorders in Cuba]. / Una alternativa para mejorar el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis con baciloscopia negativa y otros problemas broncopulmonares en Cuba.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients with negative acid-fast bacillus smears poses a challenge to both clinicians and public health authorities. In an attempt to aid diagnosis in such cases, an expert committee was established in Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba in 1995. The aim of this study was to describe the progress of the committee's work and the corresponding results for the period 1996 through 2003. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For each patient studied by the commission, we analyzed the following data: patient's residence and referring center, tentative diagnosis proposed by the attending physician, history of antibiotic treatment, and final diagnosis made by the commission. RESULTS: Of the 1703 patients studied, 84.8% were from La Habana, 48.4% were 55 years or older, and 63.8% were men. Between 2001 and 2003, 11.3% of patients were already on antituberculosis treatment when their case was studied by the commission. The corresponding percentage for 1996 through 2000 was 16.9% (P=.001). Active tuberculosis was confirmed in 43.1% of a total of 918 patients with full test results during the period 1996 through 2000 and in 52.2% of a total of 619 patients (52.2%) during the period 2001 through 2003 (P< .001). Of 344 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis and negative acid-fast bacillus smears between 2001 and 2003, 128 (37.2%) were diagnosed with active tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the work of the commission is viable, sustainable, and useful for preventing overdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, and that it also serves an educational purpose.

Una alternativa para mejorar el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis con baciloscopia negativa y otros problemas broncopulmonares en Cuba / An alternative for improving the diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis and other bronchopulmonary disorders in Cuba

OBJETIVO: El diagnóstico de los pacientes con tuberculosispulmonar y muestras negativas para bacilos ácido-alcoholresistentes (BAAR) representa un desafío clínico y de saludpública, por lo que en Ciudad de La Habana se creó en 1995una comisión para esclarecer su diagnóstico. El objetivo deeste estudio ha sido describir los progresos y resultados deltrabajo de esta comisión entre 1996 y 2003.PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se han analizado los datos recogidosde cada paciente presentado en las sesiones de la comisión:procedencia, diagnóstico de sospecha planteado por el médicoque presentó el caso, antecedentes de tratamiento anteriorcon antibióticos y diagnóstico realizado por la comisión.RESULTADOS: Del total de 1.703 pacientes presentados aesta comisión para esclarecer el diagnóstico, un 84,8%procedía de la Ciudad de La Habana, el 48,4% pertenecía algrupo de edad igual o mayor de 55 años y el 63,8% eranvarones. El porcentaje de casos consultados con tratamientoespecífico contra la tuberculosis ya comenzado fue en 2001-2003 del 11,3%, y en el período 1996-2000, del 16,9% (p =0,001). En 1986-2000, de 918 pacientes que completaron susexámenes, tuvo diagnóstico final de tuberculosis activa un43,1%, y en 2001-2003, el 52,2% de 619 (p = 0,000). De untotal de 344 casos estudiados con sospecha de tuberculosispulmonar con BAAR y cultivo negativos en 2001-2003, eldiagnóstico se corroboró en 128 (37,2%).CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican que el trabajo dela comisión es viable, sostenible y de utilidad porque evita elsobrediagnóstico y el tratamiento inapropiado, además decumplir una función docente

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients withnegative acid-fast bacillus smears poses a challenge to bothclinicians and public health authorities. In an attempt to aiddiagnosis in such cases, an expert committee was establishedin Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba in 1995. The aim of this studywas to describe the progress of the committee’s work and thecorresponding results for the period 1996 through 2003.PATIENTS AND METHODS: For each patient studied by thecommission, we analyzed the following data: patient’sresidence and referring center, tentative diagnosis proposedby the attending physician, history of antibiotic treatment,and final diagnosis made by the commission.RESULTS: Of the 1703 patients studied, 84.8% were from LaHabana, 48.4% were 55 years or older, and 63.8% were men.Between 2001 and 2003, 11.3% of patients were already onantituberculosis treatment when their case was studied by thecommission. The corresponding percentage for 1996 through2000 was 16.9% (P=.001). Active tuberculosis was confirmedin 43.1% of a total of 918 patients with full test results duringthe period 1996 through 2000 and in 52.2% of a total of619 patients (52.2%) during the period 2001 through 2003(P<.001). Of 344 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosisand negative acid-fast bacillus smears between 2001 and 2003,128 (37.2%) were diagnosed with active tuberculosis.CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the work of thecommission is viable, sustainable, and useful for preventingoverdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, and that it also serves an educational purpose

Eventración diafragmática traumática derecha: Reporte de un caso y revisión / de la literatura / S. T

La eventración diafragmática constituye una rara forma de afección diafragmática. Aunque no existen datos concluyentes, las eventraciones adquiridas del lado izquierdo parecen ser las más frecuentes. Por ser poco común, se presenta un paciente que luego de intervención neuroquirúrgica por accidente automovilístico muestra disnea y se le realiza radiografía de tórax, donde se observa elevación importante del hemidiafragma derecho. Se efectúan estudios contrastados del tractus digestivo superior e inferior, ultrasonografía y tomografía axial computadorizada abdominal con pruebas funcionales ventilatorias. Se interviene quirúrgicamente, y se comprueba una eventración diafragmática con laceraciones musculares. Se le realiza plicatura, en 3 planos, con puntos de Halsted y sutura no absorbible. Evolución satisfactoria. Se discute la difícil diferenciación entre eventración y hernia diafragmática, y en la mayoría de los casos la confirmación definitiva se efectúa durante el acto operatorio. No obstante, por el compromiso respiratorio que produce, la conducta quirúrgica será la correcta en estos pacientes. La reparación multilaminar es esencial para evitar la recidiva(AU)

Eventración diafragmática traumática derecha: Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Eventración diafragmática traumatic right: Report of a case and revision of the literature

La eventración diafragmática constituye una rara forma de afección diafragmática. Aunque no existen datos concluyentes, las eventraciones adquiridas del lado izquierdo parecen ser las más frecuentes. Por ser poco común, se presenta un paciente que luego de intervención neuroquirúrgica por accidente automovilístico muestra disnea y se le realiza radiografía de tórax, donde se observa elevación importante del hemidiafragma derecho. Se efectúan estudios contrastados del tractus digestivo superior e inferior, ultrasonografía y tomografía axial computadorizada abdominal con pruebas funcionales ventilatorias. Se interviene quirúrgicamente, y se comprueba una eventración diafragmática con laceraciones musculares. Se le realiza plicatura, en 3 planos, con puntos de Halsted y sutura no absorbible. Evolución satisfactoria. Se discute la difícil diferenciación entre eventración y hernia diafragmática, y en la mayoría de los casos la confirmación definitiva se efectúa durante el acto operatorio. No obstante, por el compromiso respiratorio que produce, la conducta quirúrgica será la correcta en estos pacientes. La reparación multilaminar es esencial para evitar la recidiva(AU)

The eventración diafragmática constitutes a strange form of affection diafragmática. Although conclusive data don't exist, the acquired eventraciones of the left side seems to be the most frequent. To be not very common, a patient is presented that after intervention neuroquirúrgica for automobile accident shows disnea and she is carried out thorax x-ray, where important elevation of the right hemidiafragma is observed. Contrasted studies of the tractus digestive superior are made and inferior, ultrasonografía and tomografía axial abdominal computadorizada with tests functional ventilatorias. You intervenes surgically, and he/she is proven an eventración diafragmática with muscular lacerations. He/she is carried out plicatura, in 3 planes, with points of Halsted and he/she sutures non absorbible. Satisfactory evolution. You discusses the difficult diferenciación between eventración and hernia diafragmática, and in most of the cases the definitive confirmation is made during the operative act. Nevertheless, for the breathing commitment that takes place, the surgical behavior will be the correct one in these patients. The repair multilaminar is essential to avoid(AU)