The relationship between serum uric acid level and uric acid/creatinine ratio with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity (stable or acute exacerbation) and the development of cor pulmonale.

BACKGROUND: There are studies reporting that uric acid elevation is a marker for hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension secondary to some diseases. AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid level and uric acid/creatinine ratio with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, hypoxemia in exacerbation and development of cor pulmonale. METHODS: A total of 96 COPD patients who were admitted to Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine emergency department and Chest Diseases outpatient clinic and whose written consent was obtained were included in our study. Forty-three of these patients were in the period of exacerbation (Group 1), and 53 were in the stable period (Group 2). Complete blood count, blood biochemistry (including serum uric acid level) and arterial blood gas analysis were performed in our patients. In addition, spirometry and echocardiography findings were examined. RESULTS: Serum uric acid level of patients in the period of exacerbation group (Group 1) was 6.97 ± 1.34 and in stable COPD group (Group 2) was 4.30 ± 1.01 (P < .05). Uric acid/creatinine ratios in Group 1 was 8.00 ± 2.06; in Group 2, it was 5.52 ± 1.57 (P < .05). In patients with hypoxemia, serum uric acid level and uric acid/creatinine ratio were significantly higher than nonhypoxemic patients (P < .05). Serum uric acid level and serum uric acid/creatinine ratio of Group 1 were significantly higher than Group 2 (P < .001). Serum uric acid level and serum uric acid/creatinine ratio of patients who developed cor pulmonale were significantly higher than patients without cor pulmonale (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Serum uric acid level and uric acid/creatinine ratio were found to be higher in patients with exacerbation of COPD and those developing cor pulmonale. Consequently, it suggests that serum uric acid level and serum uric acid/creatinine ratio may be a stimulating laboratory test for the severity of COPD and the development of COPD induced cor pulmonale.

Mean platelet volume and mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in risk stratification of pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recently, some of the hemogram parameters were reported to predict early death in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) and MPV/platelet count ratio (MPV/P), WBC and red cell distribution width (RDW) in risk stratification of patients with acute PE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with acute PE admitted to the Emergency Department. In addition to the clinical evaluation, the hemogram parameters were measured on admission. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were included. Patients with RV dysfunction had significantly higher MPV levels and MPV/P than patients without RV dysfunction. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a MPV cut-off of 7.85fL provided a sensitivity of 53.3% and a specificity of 68.5%, and a MPV/P cut-off of 0.0339fL/(10(9)/L) provided a sensitivity of 69.6% and a specificity of 65% for the prediction of RV dysfunction. There was a positive correlation between MPV and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and between MPV and RV diameter. There was a positive correlation between MPV/P and SPAP and between MPV/P and RV diameter. The low-risk PE group had lower MPV and MPV/P than the massive PE and submassive PE groups. CONCLUSIONS: MPV and MPV/P were found to be associated with RV dysfunction and clinical severity in acute PE. Low MPV and MPV/P levels may be an indicator of low risk and, high WBC levels may be an indicator of high risk in patients with acute PE. RDW levels may not reflect severity of acute PE.

Diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration and biopsy in patients with pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography-guided transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) and biopsy (TTNB) is a well established, safe, and rapid method of reaching a definitive diagnosis for most thoracic lesions. The present study aimed to determine the roles of TTNA and TTNB in the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases and to compare the results using these two techniques. METHODS: TTNB and TTNA were performed in 105 patients admitted to our clinic due to peripheral pulmonary lesions between May 2005 and November 2007. Needle biopsies were performed using 18-gauge Tru-Cut® biopsy needles and aspirations was performed using 18-20-22-gauge Chiba needles. RESULTS: Malignant lesions diagnosed by TTNB were non-small cell lung carcinoma (51 patients, 73%), small cell lung carcinoma (nine patients, 13%), malignant tissue (three patients, 5%), lymphoma (two patients, 3%), thymoma (two patients, 3%), plasmacytoma (one patient, 1%), rhabdomyosarcoma (one patient, 1%), and metastasis (one patient, 1%). The malignant lesions diagnosed by TTNA were non-small cell lung carcinoma in eleven patients (92%) and malignant tissue in one patient (8%). Three (100%) of the benign lesions diagnosed by TTNB were granulomas and two (100%) benign lesions diagnosed by TTNA were infarctions. When the diagnostic value of TTNB and TTNA was compared, TTNB was significantly superior. Malignant lesions were identified in 70 (84%) and benign lesions were identified in three (4%) of the 83 patients in the TTNB group. Ten (12%) patients in the TTNB group could not be diagnosed. Malignant lesions were found in 12 (55%) and benign lesions were found in two (9%) of the 22 patients in the TTNA group. Negative results were obtained in eight (36%) patients. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TTNB was calculated to be 92%, 100%, and 93%, respectively (Table 5). The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TTNA was 78%, 100%, and 82%, respectively. TTNB had a sensitivity of 92% (70/76) in malignant cases and 100% (3/3) in benign cases, while the sensitivity of TTNA in malignant and benign cases was 75% (3/4) and 67% (2/3), respectively. CONCLUSION: TTNB is a safe and easy procedure which provides a highly accurate diagnosis of benign and malignant lung lesions without causing a significant increase in complication rates.

Percutaneous cavitary lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary cavities.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic significance of percutaneous cavitary lavage (PCL) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary cavitary lesions. METHODS: An alternative diagnostic method called PCL was performed on 16 patients having peripherally located pulmonary cavitary lesions with thin walls which were not suitable for tissue biopsy and whose diagnosis could not be made by sputum examination and bronchoscopic procedures. A 22-gauge needle was inserted into the cavity under computed tomography (CT) guidance. Saline was injected through the needle and then aspirated. The specimen was examined cytologically and microbiologically. RESULTS: PCL could make a correct diagnosis in 12 of 16 patients (75%). In three patients (18.7%) appropriate specimen could not be taken. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of PCL for malignant-benign differentiation was 80% and 100%, respectively. The accuracy of PCL for this differentiation was 92.3%. There was only one complication, a small pneumothorax resolved without any intervention. CONCLUSIONS: PCL is an alternative method in the differential diagnosis of thin walled pulmonary cavitary lesions especially for patients whose diagnosis could not be made by sputum and bronchoscopic procedures and who are not suitable for cutting needle biopsy.

A very rare cause of pleuritic chest pain: bilateral pleuritis as a first sign of familial mediterranean Fever.

The familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), also called recurrent polyserositis, is characterized by reccurrent episodes of serositis at pleura, peritoneum, and synovial membrane and fever. We present a patient with recurrent bilateral pleural effusion due to serositis attacks as a first sign of FMF. A 59-year-old Turkish man suffered from recurrent pleuritic chest pain due to pleural effusion and atelectasis. The etiology was not found, and his symptoms were spontaneously recovered during several weeks. The pleuritic chest pain was associated with abdominal pain in the last attack. The gene mutation analysis revealed the homozygosity of FMF (F479L) gene mutation in both our patient and his grandchild. After the colchicine treatment, the attack has not developed. In conclusion, recurrent pleural effusion and pleuritic chest pain may be the first signs of the FMF.

Plasma viscosity levels in pulmonary thromboembolism.

Genetic and acquired thrombophilic risk factors may play role on developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). In many cases of pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) it can not be defined any explicit risk factor. In this study we aimed to identify the role of plasma viscosity level on PE. The investigation was planned prospectively and 33 patients with PE and 36 apparently healthy and nonsmoker volunteers as control group were enrolled in the study. The mean plasma viscosity levels were determined in patients with PE and in healthy volunteers as 1.42±0.30 cP and 1.29±0.22 cP respectively. The mean plasma viscosity levels was found to be different between PE and healthy group (p=0.009). The mean levels of triglyceride, fibrinogen and hematocrit were found different between patients with PE and control group (p<0.05). Variables including sex, age, smoking habits, levels of hematocrit, fibrinogen, total cholesterol and triglyceride were not associated with plasma viscosity values in patients with PE. Plasma viscosity levels were found higher in patients with PE compared with healthy indivudials. But it is needed to further studies to define the interactions between factors effecting blood rheology and development of thrombosis.

Long-term survival rates of patients with stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin plus vinorelbine or gemcitabine.

Limited data exist concerning the long-term (≥5 year) survival rates of patients with stage IIIB and IV non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) receiving chemotherapy. We aimed to determine the long-term results of cisplatin plus third-generation (vinorelbine or gemcitabine) cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced and advanced NSCLC. The study included 141 patients, and all patients were followed up from the time of diagnosis until death. The median age of the patients was 59.1±9.9 years. The male-to-female ratio was 124/17; 62.4% of the patients had stage IIIB and 37.6% had stage IV NSCLC. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated NSCLC subtypes accounted for 69.5, 17.7 and 12.7% of the cases, respectively. The overall response rate was 32.6% and the median survival time was 12.3 months (95% CI, 10.2-14.5). The median survival times for stages IIIB and IV were 12.6±1.4 and 11.9±1.7 months, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 33, 7.5, 4.3 and 2.8%, respectively. In conclusion, cisplatin-based new-generation cytotoxic agents for combined modality therapy offer an increased hope of long-term survival for patients with locally advanced and advanced NSCLC.

Endobronchial tuberculosis: histopathological subsets and microbiological results.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is defined as a tuberculous infection of the tracheobronchial tree with microbial and histopathological evidence, with or without parenchymal involvement. Bronchoscopic appearances of EBTB have been divided into seven subtypes: actively caseating, edematous-hyperemic, fibrostenotic, tumorous, granular, ulcerative, and nonspecific bronchitic. However, information for establishing a definite microbiological diagnosis in each of these categories is lacking.We aimed to present bronchoscopic appearances and percentages for the EBTB subtypes and to compare bronchoscopic appearances with microbiological positivity in bronchial lavage fluid. METHODS: From 2003 to 2009, 23 biopsy-proven EBTB patients were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of EBTB was histopathologically confirmed in all patients. RESULTS: The commonest subtype was the edematous-hyperemic type (34.7%); other subtypes in order of occurrence were: tumorous (21.7%), granular (17.3%), actively caseating (17.3%), fibrostenotic (4.3%), and nonspecific bronchitic (4.3%). Although all patients were sputum-smear-negative for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), 26% of patients were smear-positive for AFB in the bronchial lavage fluid. The bronchial lavage fluid grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 39.1% of all patients.The bronchial lavage smear positivity for AFB in the bronchial lavage fluid was 75%, 25%, 20%, 12.5%, 0%, and 0% for the granular, actively caseating, tumorous, edematous-hyperemic, fibrostenotic, and nonspecific bronchitic subtypes of EBTB, respectively. Culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchial lavage fluid was 75%, 50%, 40%, 25%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The commonest subtype of EBTB was the edematous-hyperemic subtype. The granular type had the highest smear positivity and culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchial lavage fluid. Bronchoscopy should be performed in all patients suspected to have EBTB.

Clinical, histopathological and mineralogical analysis findings of an unusual case of pneumoconiosis.

A 43-year-old man with a long history of dyspnea which had progressively worsened over the preceding month is presented. He had worked in an antimony mine for 3 years. Radiologically, there were diffuse reticulonodular shadowing opacities in both lung parenchymas. Histopathologic examination of the open-lung biopsy specimen revealed alveolar spaces filled with dust-laden macrophages and amorphous proteinaceous semifluid, the latter being immunoreactive for Human Surfactant Apoprotein A, associated with marked interstitial accumulation of the similar-looking macrophages along the bronchovascular bundles and mild interstitial fibrosis. Silicotic nodules or mixed dust fibrosis were not seen. The patient was diagnosed as silicoproteinosis with unusual histopathological features because he had worked in an antimony mine for only 3 years and had 86% silica in a mineralogical analysis. Pneumoconiosis is a rare lung disease which may be confused with other interstitial lung diseases. Clinical, radiological and unusual histopathologic features of this rare case are presented and discussed with the differential diagnosis, especially of mixed dust pneumoconiosis.

The costs of hospitalization in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. It imparts a substantial economic burden on individuals and society. Acute exacerbations are the main cause of hospital admissions and hospitalizations in patients with COPD in Turkey. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the costs of hospitalization in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). RESULTS: A total of 7832 (1556 women, 6276 men) patients were hospitalized due to acute exacerbations of COPD between 2005-2009 in the Samsun Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Hospital, northern Turkey. The mean age was 64.6 ± 19.8 years old and median length of hospital stay was 14.8 ± 9.5 days. The mean cost per admission was US$718 ± 364. Drug costs accounted for the largest portion (53.5%) of the mean cost, followed by bed cost (19.6%). One hundred seventy-four (2.2%) of the total hospitalized patients with AECOPD died in hospital. CONCLUSION: AECOPD continues to have both significant economic burden and high mortality rate.

Sarcoidosis and Gullain-Barré syndrome.

A 35-year-old female presented with three days' history of aching discomfort in her back, chest, and ankles. She had also noticed increasing weakness of her legs and a week before admission had shown flu-like symptoms. Chest X-ray showed bilateral hilar and right paratracheal lymphadenopathy. Bronchoscopic biopsies revealed non-caseating granuloma. She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and was given prednisolone. The patient developed facial palsy and rapidly progressive ascending paralysis beginning from the lower extremities on the third and fourth days after initial presentation, respectively. Analysis of lumbar puncture showed acellular fluid with a high protein content. EMG was consistent with diffuse sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy. Thus, the diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) presenting with sarcoidosis. Intravenous immune globulin was given and prednisolone stopped. One month after initial presentation the patient was completely recovered and discharged on prednisolone therapy. If neurologic symptoms such as aching discomfort and weakness are the main complaints in patients with suspected or biopsy proven sarcoidosis, GBS should be suspected.

A prospective evaluation of hemoptysis cases in a tertiary referral hospital.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hemoptysis is symptomatic of a potentially serious and life-threatening thoracic disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative frequency of the different causes of hemoptysis, the change of the frequency of diseases, the value of the evaluation process and the outcome in a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on consecutive patients presented with hemoptysis. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients (136 male, 42 female) were included to the study. Lung cancer (51), pulmonary embolism (23) and bronchiectasis (23) constituted most of the diagnosis. The most frequent cause of hemoptysis in males was by far lung carcinoma (50). Twelve cases of bronchiectasis and 11 cases of pulmonary embolism were observed in females. While lung cancer and pulmonary embolism were associated with mild to moderate amounts of bleeding (84% and 100%, respectively), patients with active tuberculosis and pulmonary vasculitis had severe to massive hemoptysis (50% and 44%, respectively). Transthoracic and other organ biopsies, spiral computed tomography (CT) angiography (X pres/GX model TSX-002a, Toshiba, Tochigi Ken, Japan) and aortography yielded high diagnostic results in our group (100%, 67%, 59% and 100%, respectively). The most frequent final diagnosis in patients with normal chest radiograph was pulmonary embolism (seven cases). CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer, pulmonary embolism and bronchiectasis were the main causes of hemoptysis in this prospective cohort; however, this is the first report showing pulmonary embolism as a leading cause of hemoptysis. CT angiography with high-resolution CT should be the primary diagnostic modality if the initial investigation is inconclusive in hemoptysis cases.

Vena caval thromboses.

BACKGROUND: Patients with vena caval (VC) thrombosis have been reported with a variety of clinical presentations, which may create a diagnostic challenge for physicians. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with VC thrombosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Files and all imaging methods of consecutive patients with superior or inferior VC thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism (PE) between January 26, 2001, and May 12, 2006, were retrospectively studied in detail. RESULTS: In our series, VC thromboses within the inferior and superior VC were detected in 28 patients, mostly by combined computed tomographic venography and spiral computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. Nine of these 28 patients (32.1%) had VC thromboses without PE (7 patients with isolated and 2 patients with nonisolated VC thrombosis). Key symptoms and findings in the 9 patients without PE were unexplained dyspnea and tachypnea, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with VC thrombosis do not have peripheral vein thrombosis. Moreover, nearly one third of patients with VC thrombosis have negative pulmonary angiograms but do have dyspnea and tachypnea.

Asymptomatic double aortic arch.

A 51-year-old male patient with a past history of lung tuberculosis was referred to our clinic for routine control. The patient reported no complaints and chest X-ray was normal. Three-dimensional thoracic computed tomography revealed a balanced-type double aortic arch with no compression of trachea or esophagus.

[The evaluation of 92 interstitial lung disease patients]. / Klinigimizde interstisyel akciger hastaligi tanisi alan 92 hastanin incelenmesi.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) include many acute and chronic pulmonary disorders. We aimed to evaluate the patients diagnosed as ILD in our clinic. Between January 2000 and August 2004, 92 patients were included in the study. Fifty eight (63%) of our patients were female, 34 (37%) were male and the median age was 50.2 + or - 14.2 (19-80) years. The most frequent diagnoses were sarcoidosis in females, and IPF in males. The diagnostic methods used were as follows; clinically and radiologically in 36 (39.1%) patients, bronchoscopy in 33 (34.8%) patients, mediastinoscopy in 10 (10.9%) patients, open lung biopsy in 8 (8.7%) patients, skin biopsy in 2 (2.2%), oral mucosal biopsy in 1 (1.1%), lymph node biopsy in 1 (1.1%), renal biopsy in 1 (1.1%) and pleural fluid examination in 1 (1.1%). Bronchoscopic biopsies were diagnostic in 60.9% of sarcoid patients. Twelve (48%) IPF patients had an occupational toxic exposure history. Medical treatment were given to 80 patients. There were good clinical and radiological response in patients with sarcoidosis (96.9%) and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) (85.7%), however disease was stable in CTD patients and only three of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients (15.7%) responded to treatment. In IPF patients, diagnosis was established medially 35.7 months later after the first symptom appeared. Two of the IPF patients had also lung cancer. Treatment related complications occurred in six patients. Fourteen patients died during the follow-up period and eight were IPF. ILD is frequently encountered in general practice of pulmonary physicians and should be considered in differential diagnosis during routine pulmonology clinic. Sarcoidosis and IPF were the most commonly seen diseases. Although ILD is a difficult challenge to diagnose in clinical practice, it may be diagnosed by means of clinical features, radiologic techniques and several biopsy procedures.

Penile metastasis as a first sign of lung cancer.

Lung cancer does not generally produce any symptoms at the early stages and it rapidly metastasizes. Although lung cancer has a potential of metastasis to all organs and tissues, metastasis to the penis from lung cancer is very rare. We present a case with a penile lesion as the first sign of lung cancer.

Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of the ribs: An unusual cause of chest pain and dyspnea.

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign bony abnormality that may be monostotic or polyostotic and is not included in the differential diagnosis of chest pain and dyspnea, since it is typically asymptomatic. A 36-year-old man presented with left-sided chest pain and dsypnea for three months. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan revealed a large solid mass arising from the anterior parts of the left fourth, fifth, and sixth ribs and compressing the adjacent lung parenchyma. The tumor was completely removed surgically and histopathologic examination was consistent with fibrous dysplasia without malignant transformation. This report demonstrates that polyostotic dysplasia of the ribs may cause chest pain and dyspnea and present radiographically as a large mass.

Role of bacteria in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY OBJECTIVE: Infections are major causes of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which result in significant mortality and morbidity. The primary aim of the study was to determine the microbiological spectrum including atypical agents in acute exacerbations. The secondary aim was to evaluate resistance patterns in the microorganisms. METHODS: The sputum culture of 75 patients admitted to our clinic from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2002 was evaluated prospectively, for aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and serologically for Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Sensitivity patterns in potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) were also investigated. RESULTS: An infectious agent was identified in 46 patients, either serologically or with sputum culture. Pathogens most commonly demonstrated were: Haemophilus influenzae (30%), Chlamydophila pneumoniae (17%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (9%). Mixed infections were diagnosed in 9 patients. PPMs showed a high resistance rate to commonly used antibiotics. CONCLUSION: We have shown that microorganisms causing acute exacerbations of COPD are not only typical bacteria (46%) but also atypical pathogens (26%), with unpredictable high rates. Typical agents showed a high resistance to commonly used antibiotics.

Massive pulmonary emboli and CT pulmonary angiography.

BACKGROUND: Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a devastating form of PE which usually results in acute right ventricular failure and death within 1-2 h. OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively assess pulmonary vascular, cardiac, pleural, and parenchymal findings on CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with a diagnosis of massive PE (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, syncope and/or shock). METHODS: In 33 consecutive patients with proven massive PE, hemodynamic severity was assessed by the extent of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD); diameter of the main pulmonary artery; the shape of the interventricular septum; and the extent of obstruction to the pulmonary arterial circulation (CT obstruction index). RESULTS: Central pulmonary arteries were embolized in all patients. RVD was detected in all patients (94% of them had severe RVD); the diameter of the main pulmonary artery was wider than normal in 76% of the patients; the shape of the interventricular septum was abnormal in all patients, and the CT obstruction index was higher than or equal to 50% in 85% of the patients. Wedge-shaped pleural-based consolidation was the most common parenchymal abnormality (36%). Pleural effusions were seen in 26 patients (79%). Twenty-eight patients were alive, and only the use of thrombolytic therapy was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute massive PE, embolization of the central pulmonary arteries, RVD and displacement of the interventricular septum are commonly seen with CTPA. A CT obstruction index of >50% is commonly observed in massive PE. There was no association between CTPA findings and survival.

Comparison of vinorelbine-Cisplatin with gemcitabine-Cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The objective of this trial was to compare cisplatin-plus-vinorelbine regimen with cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine regimen in patients with stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemonaive patients with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC received either vinoelbine 30 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) (day 1) every 21 days (VC arm) or gemcitabine 1250 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 8) plus cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) (day 1) every 21 days (GC arm). RESULTS: One hundred thirtyfour patients (67 VC and 67 GC) were included to the study. Overall response rates for the VC arm (31.2%) were not significantly different from that of the GC arm (34.3%). There were no differences in overall survival and one-year survival rates. Median survival and one-year survival rates for the VC and GC groups were 10.6 and 11.5 months, 45% and 46.8%, respectively. Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was significantly higher on the GC arm (VC 1.4% v GC 8.9%, p < 0.05), as was febrile neutropenia on the VC arm (VC 8.9% v GC 1.4%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: VC and GC demonstrated similar efficacy but there were differences in toxicity profiles.