[Neoplastic pericarditis--the role of different diagnostic procedures]. / Ocena przydatnosci róinych metod diagnostycznych dla rozpoznawania zajecia osierdzia przez proces nowotworowy.

The aim of the study was to assess the role of different diagnostic procedures in the recognition of malignant pericarditis. Consecutive medical records of the patients with pericardial effusion treated with pericardiocentesis or pericardioscopy in the period of 1982-2002 were analyzed retrospectively. Criteria of neoplastic pericarditis were: positive result of pericardial fluid cytology and/or neoplastic infiltration found in pericardial biopsy specimen. Criteria of non-neoplastic pericarditis were: negative result of pericardial fluid cytology and pericardial biopsy specimen, no neoplastic disease diagnosed at presentation and during 3-years of follow up. Malignant pericarditis was diagnosed in 47 patients (pts), nonmalignant in 51. Echocardiographic signs of cardiac tamponade were found in 80% of pts with neoplastic pericarditis and 40% of pts with non-malignant disease (p = 0.0001). Chest CT scan revealed the presence of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in 94% of pts with malignant pericarditis and only 11% of pts with non-malignant disease (p = 0.00001). Pericardial thickness on CT scan exceeded 8 mm in 75% of the pts with malignant pericarditis and 8% of pts with nonmalignant disease (p = 0.0003). Pericardial fluid (pf) CEA concentration was significantly higher in the patients with neoplastic pericarditis than in the pts with non-malignant process. CEA > 5 ng/ml and Cyfra 21-1>50 ng/ml were found in 43% of the pts with malignant pericarditis and none of the pts with benign pericarditis. Thus we recommend chest CT scan and pericardial fluid tumor markers (CEA and Cyfra 21-1) assessment as the procedures helpful in the recognition of malignant pericarditis.

[Sepsis with staphylococcal vegetation on tricuspid valve. Differential diagnosis with Wegener's granulomatosis]. / Posocznica gronkowcowa z wegetacja bakteryjna na zastawce trójdzielnej. Trudnosci w róznicowaniu z ziarniniakowatoscia Wegenera.

Acute, febrile disease in a young person with no previous medical history is most often caused by infection. If disease progresses despite antimicrobial treatment vascular and collagen diseases should be taken into account in differential diagnosis We present a case of a young man, with lung infiltrations and cavities in the course of febrile illness. He was referred to our hospital with a suspicion of Wegener's granulomatosis after few days of ineffective antimicrobial therapy. Positive blood culture for S. aureus and demonstration of tricuspid valve vegetation on echocardiographic examination enabled to make a final diagnosis of infective endocarditis with multiple lung abscessus.

[Purulent lung diseases necessitating surgical treatment--case reports]. / Ropne choroby pluc wymagajace leczenia chirurgicznego--opis przypadków.

Majority of purulent lung diseases are treated with antibiotics. But sometimes this therapy is not successful and surgical treatment is necessary. Two patients are described in this paper. 68 years old woman in whom infiltration in left lung enlarged during antibiotics therapy. CT examination did not allow to differentiate between abscessus and tumor. Results of bacteriologic and cytologic examination of transthoracic biopsy were negative. During thoracothomy abscessus was resected and diagnosis was confirmed by patomorphologic examination. The second case: 16-years old girl was addmitted to hospital because of high temperature and abnormal chest X-ray picture (infiltration and liquid level in lower right lobe). During puncture the pus was evacuated but bacteria were not cultured. Antibiotics were not effective. Thoracothomy was done and large cysta bronchogenes was resected. In both cases surgical treatment was effective.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism as a late complication of mitochondrial myopathy (Kearns-Sayer syndrome ]. / Zatorowosc plucna jako odlegle powiklanie miopatii mitochondrialnej (zespól Kearns-Sayer'a).

A case of pulmonary thromboembolism with transient pulmonary hypertension of a rare cause is presented. In 24-year-old woman myasthenia was recognised on the ground of ptosis and fixation of eyes muscles from the 14th year of age. The treatment with mestinon was ineffective. Before planned thymectomy serious disturbances of heart rhythm and conduction were confirmed. Stimulator was implanted and thymectomy was done. No improvement of neurological state was observed despite the treatment with mestinone and prednisone. When she was 30 years old disease of lung appeared with fever, cough and parenchymal and pleural lesions of right lung. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective. CT scan and US examination revealed large thrombus inside the right auricle connected with stimulator electrodes. Embolisation of right pulmonary arteria was confirmed also. Treatment with heparin was ineffective and thrombectomy was performed. Exact neurological examination stated that the patient had no typical symptoms of myasthenia and that symptoms related with eyes and heart could be result of mitochondrial myopathy. Diagnosis was confirmed by EMG examination and muscle biopsy.

[Antiphospholipid syndrome--primary or secondary? Therapeutic problem]. / Zespól antyfosfolipidowy--pierwotny czy wtórny? Problem leczniczy.

A 44-year old woman hospitalized because of chest pain, pleuropneumonic lesions and high temperature is described. Disease of connective tissue was suspected because of symptoms (fever, chest pain) aggravated despite antibioticotherapy. During diagnostic procedures hypoxemia was observed and thrombotic lesions were discovered in the right popliteal vein and in numerous pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary thrombosis was recognised and patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Anti-ds.-DNA antibodies were not found but anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and lupus anticoagulant (LA) were present in high concentrations in serum. We didn't find all symptoms required for SLE diagnosis. Anticoagulant treatment was effective and we recognised primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It is a less frequent syndrome than "secondary APS" connected with systemic lupus erythematosus. Patient should be treated with anticoagulant drugs and observed whether symptoms of SLE would appear.