[Mediastinal haematoma: A little known complication of ultrasound-guided trans-bronchial lymph node aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)]. / Un hématome médiastinal : complication méconnue d'une ponction transbronchique échoguidée.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided trans-bronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as a minimally invasive, highly accurate technique for sampling intrathoracic lymph nodes. The complication rate after EBUS-TBNA is estimated at between 0.22% to 1.44%. Analysis of the different series of EBUS-TBNA reveals that mediastinal haematoma has not been described as a complication. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 65-year-old-man who underwent an EBUS-TBNA of a subcarinal lymph node. Few days later the patient presented with haemoptysis of average amount associated with a haematoma in the subcarinal area seen on CT-scan. It was suggested that puncture of a bronchial artery occurred during passage of the needle. This complication occurred during the change from treatment by low molecular weight heparin to antivitamine K. The patient was monitored in the intensive care unit and received medical treatment only. CONCLUSIONS: This patient developed a complication after an EBUS-TBNA that is rarely described and probably under diagnosed. This complication occurred during the change between two anticoagulant treatments, which requires special attention in this particular context.

Lung adenocarcinomas: correlation of computed tomography and pathology findings.

Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic type of lung cancer. Recent lung adenocarcinoma classifications from the International Association for the Study of Lung cancer, the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ETS/ERS, 2011) and World Health Organization (WHO, 2015) define a wide range of adenocarcinoma types and subtypes featuring different prognosis and management. This spectrum of lesions translates into various CT presentations and features, which generally show good correlation with histopathology, stressing the key role of the radiologist in the diagnosis and management of those patients. This review aims at helping radiologists to understand the basics of the up-to-date adenocarcinoma pathological classifications, radio-pathological correlations and how to use them in the clinical setting, as well as other imaging-related correlations (radiogenomics, quantitative analysis, PET-CT).

[Prediction of the efficiency of endoscopic lung volume reduction by valves in severe emphysema]. / Prédiction de l'efficacité de la réduction endoscopique d'emphysème pulmonaire par valve.

INTRODUCTION: In severe emphysema, endoscopic lung volume reduction with valves is an alternative to surgery with less morbidity and mortality. In 2015, selection of patients who will respond to this technique is based on emphysema heterogeneity, a complete fissure visible on the CT-scan and absence of collateral ventilation between lobes. Our case report highlights that individualized prediction is possible. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old woman had severe, disabling pulmonary emphysema. A high resolution thoracic computed tomography scan showed that the emphysema was heterogeneous, predominantly in the upper lobes, integrity of the left greater fissure and no collateral ventilation with the left lower lobe. A valve was inserted in the left upper lobe bronchus. At one year, clinical and functional benefits were significant with complete atelectasis of the treated lobe. CONCLUSION: The success of endoscopic lung volume reduction with a valve can be predicted, an example of personalized medicine.

Fixed-pressure CPAP versus auto-adjusting CPAP: comparison of efficacy on blood pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea, a randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Millions of individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are treated by CPAP aimed at reducing blood pressure (BP) and thus cardiovascular risk. However, evidence is scarce concerning the impact of different CPAP modalities on BP evolution. METHODS: This double-blind, randomised clinical trial of parallel groups of patients with OSA indicated for CPAP treatment compared the efficacy of fixed-pressure CPAP (FP-CPAP) with auto-adjusting CPAP (AutoCPAP) in reducing BP. The primary endpoint was the change in office systolic BP after 4 months. Secondary endpoints included 24 h BP measurements. RESULTS: Patients (322) were randomised to FP-CPAP (n=161) or AutoCPAP (n=161). The mean apnoea+hypopnoea index (AHI) was 43/h (SD, 21); mean age was 57 (SD, 11), with 70% of males; mean body mass index was 31.3 kg/m(2) (SD, 6.6) and median device use was 5.1 h/night. In the intention-to-treat analysis, office systolic blood pressure decreased by 2.2 mm Hg (95% CI -5.8 to 1.4) and 0.4 mm Hg (-4.3 to 3.4) in the FP-CPAP and AutoCPAP group, respectively (group difference: -1.3 mm Hg (95% CI -4.1 to 1.5); p=0.37, adjusted for baseline BP values). 24 h diastolic BP (DBP) decreased by 1.7 mm Hg (95% CI -3.9 to 0.5) and 0.5 mm Hg (95% CI -2.3 to 1.3) in the FP-CPAP and AutoCPAP group, respectively (group difference: -1.4 mm Hg (95% CI -2.7 to -0.01); p=0.048, adjusted for baseline BP values). CONCLUSIONS: The result was negative regarding the primary outcome of office BP, while FP-CPAP was more effective in reducing 24 h DBP (a secondary outcome). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01090297.

Endobronchial tumours in a campaign for early detection of bronchial cancer: Computed tomography versus endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To study endobronchial cancers occurring in a population at high risk of bronchial cancer (history of surgically treated bronchial or ENT cancer in complete remission, and symptoms due to smoking) detected by annual volume CT scans and biannual fibroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-six patients were included in this single centre prospective study; 27 bronchopulmonary cancers were detected. Ten endobronchial cancers (37%) were identified by fibroscopy (nine invasive cancers and one carcinoma in situ) in 10 patients (nine men) (51-78 years old) nine of whom were smokers (dark tobacco: seven). The screening CTs were reappraised by two radiologists. RESULTS: Three cancers out of 10 were detected by CT during the initial reading. The sensitivity of the reappraised CT was 80% with seven false positives. In five cases, the mean period between the first CT scan where the lesion was visible retrospectively, but not described, and the diagnostic fibroscopy was 463 days (213-808 days); two cancers were not visible in the CT scan. Seven curative treatments were undertaken. CONCLUSION: In this population, the sensitivity of the initial reading of the CT scan for detecting endobronchial tumours was 30%, while 80% of the tumours were visible retrospectively, underlining the importance of careful analysis of the proximal bronchial tree.

Imaging of tumors of the trachea and central bronchi.

Tumors of the trachea and central bronchi can be benign or malignant. Clinical presentation may be confusing, particularly in benign tumors that can be misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic bronchitis. Chest radiography has many limitations and is often considered unremarkable in patients with tumors of the central airways; therefore, multidetector CT (MDCT) has become the most useful noninvasive method for diagnosing and assessing the central airways. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of imaging of the tumors of the trachea and central bronchi. We emphasize the crucial role of MDCT and postprocessing techniques in assessing neoplasms of the central airways.

Imaging of tumors of the trachea and central bronchi.

Tumors of the trachea and central bronchi can be benign or malignant. Clinical presentation may be confusing, particularly in benign tumors that can be misdiagnosed as asthma or chronic bronchitis. Chest radiography has many limitations and is often considered unremarkable in patients with tumors of the central airways; therefore, multidetector CT (MDCT) has become the most useful noninvasive method for diagnosing and assessing the central airways. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of imaging of the tumors of the trachea and central bronchi. We emphasize the crucial role of MDCT and postprocessing techniques in assessing neoplasms of the central airways.

Clinical prognostic indicators of high-grade pre-invasive bronchial lesions.

Lung cancer arises from multistep genetic damage of bronchial epithelium, driving multifocal progressive dysplastic lesions. However, the risk of progression of high-grade pre-invasive bronchial lesions to cancer is poorly assessed. The purpose of this study was to better define the parameters that predict the outcome of these lesions. The current authors prospectively studied 27 patients with 31 histologically proven severe dysplasia (SD) and carcinoma in situ (CIS), with repeated bronchoscopy and endobronchial treatment. The influence of respiratory-cancer history, histopathological classification, tobacco consumption, and number of biopsies on the progression rate into cancer was studied. The actuarial progression rate to cancer was 17% at 1 yr and 63% at 3 yrs. A total of 11 cases of CIS progressed to invasive cancer, 17 were stable or regressed during the study, two with SD regressed and one progressed to invasive cancer. Progression of CIS appeared more frequent in lesions diagnosed as "questionable CIS". Persistence of smoking did not influence high-grade lesion outcome. The existence of synchronous lung cancer did not seem to impact on progression. The number of biopsies did not influence the outcome. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the outcome of high-grade pre-invasive lesions is not modified by the number of biopsies performed on these lesions. Careful pathological examination of these lesions and pathological revision seem necessary, since questionable cases have the worse progression rate.

Follow-up after stent insertion in the tracheobronchial tree: role of helical computed tomography in comparison with fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

The aim of this study was to compare helical CT with fiberoptic bronchoscopy findings to appraise the medium-term results of proximal-airways stenting. Twenty-five patients with 28 endobronchial metallic stents inserted for local advanced malignancy ( n=13) or benign diseases ( n=12) underwent follow-up CT from 3 days to 50 months (mean 8 months). All studies were obtained using helical CT with subsequent multiplanar reformation and three-dimensional reconstruction including virtual bronchoscopy. The location, shape, and patency of stents and adjacent airway were assessed. The results of CT were compared with the results of fiberoptic bronchoscopy obtained with a mean delay of 2.5 days (SD 9 days) after CT scan. Twelve stents (43%) remained in their original position, patent and without deformity. Sixteen stents were associated with local complications: migration ( n=6); external compression with persistent stenosis ( n=4); local recurrence of malignancy ( n=4); fracture ( n=1); and non-congruence between the airway and the stent ( n=1). The CT demonstrated all the significant abnormalities demonstrated at fiberoptic bronchoscopy except two moderate stenoses (20%) related to granulomata at the origin of the stent. Ten of 14 stents inserted for benign conditions were without complications as compared with 2 of 14 in malignant conditions ( p=0.008). Computed tomography is an accurate noninvasive method for evaluating endobronchial stents. The CT is a useful technique for follow-up of patients who have undergone endobronchial stenting.

[Multiple congenital stenoses of the segmental pulmonary arteries in an elderly patient]. / Révélation tardive de sténoses congénitales multiples des artères pulmonaires segmentaires.

Congenital stenoses of the pulmonary artery are a rare cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension, usually diagnosed in childhood. We report the first description of multiple arterial pulmonary malformations in an elderly patient, revealed by an acute severe pulmonary embolism. Despite an immediate excellent response to fibrinolysis, persistent and elevated arterial pulmonary pressures were consistent with the presence of an underlying arterial pulmonary disease. Pulmonary angiography led to the diagnosis of type III multiple segmental arterial pulmonary stenoses. Eight years later, the patient remained well. This original report underlines the potential good outcome of pulmonary artery stenoses, and suggests the presence of such silent or misdiagnosed lesions in adulthood.

Benign abnormalities and carcinoid tumors of the central airways: diagnostic impact of CT bronchography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the added diagnostic value, if any, of CT bronchography for the detection and characterization of benign abnormalities and typical carcinoid tumors of the central airways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used bronchoscopy and helical CT to examine 238 bronchial sections in 28 patients with 32 bronchial abnormalities and in five patients with normal bronchoscopy results. Postprocessing consisted of CT bronchography based on surface rendering. Images were interpreted independently by two observers (a radiologist and a pneumonologist) who were not informed of the bronchoscopy results. After initial interpretation of axial CT scans, the observers analyzed the axial CT scans with CT bronchograms. Results were evaluated for gain in diagnostic accuracy and in confidence. RESULTS: Mean sensitivity for detection of abnormal bronchial sections was 89% (range, 87-90%) for axial CT and 92% (range, 90-94%) for axial CT with CT bronchography (not significant). Mean specificity of both approaches exceeded 99%. A correct diagnosis of the nature of the bronchial abnormalities was proposed for 68% of the cases in which axial CT was used alone and in 76% in which both axial CT and CT bronchography were used (not significant). The addition of CT bronchography significantly increased the confidence of the pneumonologist in the diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Axial CT remains the technique of choice to detect and characterize benign abnormalities of the airways. CT bronchography provides little diagnostic gain but increases the confidence of chest physicians in the interpretation of CT scans for the assessment of benign abnormalities and typical carcinoids of the central airways.

Haemoptysis associated with pulmonary varices: demonstration using computed tomographic angiography.

A 67 yr old female with mitral stenosis presented with an acute haemoptysis caused by the rupture of pulmonary varices. Chest radiography and bronchoscopy showed nonspecific abnormalities. The diagnosis of this rare but potentially lethal complication was made using computed tomographic angiography with three-dimensional volume rendering.