Periumbilical uptake of Tc-99m MAA on lung perfusion scanning in a patient with superior vena cava obstruction.

A 25-year-old woman with severe parenchymal lung disease of unknown etiology and existing for more than a decade was referred for ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy because of suspicion of pulmonary embolism. Both ventilation and perfusion images showed, apart from perfusion defects from her severe lung disease, a left apical pneumothorax and signs of recurrent pneumonia of the left lower lobe. Noteworthy was the periumbilical uptake of the Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA). Her medical history revealed iatrogenic superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction. In this case, the main collateral pathway of portosystemic shunting is probably, after recanalization of the left umbilical vein, a network of smaller paraumbilical veins.

Continuously infused carboplatin used as radiosensitizer in locally unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicenter phase III study.

PURPOSE: To determine the radiosensitizing effect of prolonged exposure of carboplatin in patients with locally unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically proven NSCLC, performance score <2, weight loss <10%, and normal organ functions were randomized between carboplatin 840 mg/m2 administered continuously during 6 weeks of radiotherapy or thoracic radiotherapy alone (both 60 Gy). Toxicity was evaluated with National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI CTC) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Quality of life was measured with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30/LC13 questionnaires. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty patients were included. Pathologically confirmed persistent tumor was present in 53% of patients in the combination arm versus 58% in the radiotherapy alone arm (P=0.5). Median survival in the combination arm was 11.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.3-14.2] months and in the radiotherapy alone arm 11.7 (95% CI 8.1-15.5) months; progression-free survival was not different between arms [6.8 and 7.5 months, respectively (P=0.28)]. Acute toxicity was mild, late toxicity was radiation-induced cardiomyopathy (three patients) and pulmonary fibrosis (five patients). Quality of life was not different between arms, but in all measured patients cough and dyspnea improved, pain became less, and slight paresthesia developed 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Addition of continuously administered carboplatin as radiosensitizer for locally unresectable NSCLC does not improve local tumor control or overall survival.

Activity of high-dose epirubicin combined with gemcitabine in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a multicenter phase I and II study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy and tolerance of epirubicin and gemcitabine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. A phase I study was performed with the combination of escalating doses of epirubicin intravenously on day 1 and a fixed dose of gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 of a 21 -day cycle. Eighteen patients were included in the phase I part of the study before the maximum tolerated dose was found. Dose-limiting toxicity was febrile neutropenia. The phase II part of the study was continued with epirubicin 100 mg m(-2) on day 1 and gemcitabine 1125 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Forty-three chemotherapy-naive patients were included. The median age of the patients was 60 years (range 26-75). Most patients (74%) were in stage IV. Granulocytopenia CTC grade 4 occurred in 32.5% and thrombocytopenia grade 4 in 11.6% of cycles. Febrile neutropenia occurred in six patients. Non-haematological toxicity was mainly mucositis CTC grade 2 and 3 in 35% of patients. The tumour response rate was 49% (95% confidence interval (CI) 35-63%). The median survival time for the patients was 42 weeks (95% CI 13-69).

Choriocarcinoma with lung metastases during pregnancy with successful delivery and outcome after chemotherapy.

A patient with an intrauterine pregnancy of 27 weeks had a coexisting pulmonary metastatic choriocarcinoma. On the chest radiograph the lung metastases appeared as pulmonary infiltrates, simulating atypical pneumonia. Serum human chorionic gonadotrophin levels were normal for gestational age. Treatment with methotrexate was successful. This is the first reported case of choriocarcinoma in a woman with a pregnancy of less than 35 weeks in which both mother and child survived. The case emphasises the need to consider choriocarcinoma in any pregnant woman who presents with haemoptysis and pulmonary nodules or infiltrates.