Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai zasshi = the journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society最新文献

A 55-year-old man with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease was referred to our hospital with dyspnea on exertion and general fatigue. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a nodular shadow with pleural indentation in the left S(1+2), left pleural effusion, and a thick-walled cavitary lesion due to pulmonary MAC disease in the right S1. A biopsy specimen of the nodule in the left S(1+2) revealed adenocarcinoma, which various examinations confirmed to be stage IV lung adenocarcinoma (T2aN0M1a) complicated with active pulmonary MAC disease. Anti-non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM) chemotherapy consisting of rifampicin, ethambutol, clarithromycin and streptomycin was administered to treat the pulmonary MAC disease, and the lung cancer was then treated with 4 courses of carboplatin/pemetrexed. This improved the patient's pulmonary MAC disease, and the lung cancer went into partial remission without severe adverse effects. Although a more detailed analysis of the drug interaction is required, we concluded that a combination of anti-NTM and carboplatin/pemetrexed chemotherapy was safe and effective.

An 83-year-old man had been prescribed clopidogrel for pontine infarction since 8 months previously, and had had a cough for the last 2 weeks of this period. Laboratory examinations on admission showed a marked increase in eosinophils and elevated serum immunoglobulin E levels. Chest radiography showed bilateral ground-glass opacities, mild reticulation, and interlobar pleural effusion in the minor fissure. After clopidogrel was discontinued his symptoms resolved, and his laboratory tests showed normal results. Bronchoalveolar lavage also showed an increase in eosinophils, and transbronchial biopsy revealed infiltration of eosinophils in the subepithelium of the bronchial mucosa. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed eosinophilic pneumonia induced by clopidogrel. Reports on cases of lung diseases caused by anti-platelet drugs are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this case is the first report on clopidogrel-induced eosinophilic pneumonia.

A 58-year-old man was given a diagnosis of urachal carcinoma and underwent a partial cystectomy with enbloc removal of the tumor and radical lymphadenectomy in 2006. In April 2009 he was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis and left chest pain. Chest CT showed a 4-cm mass shadow in the left S3 and nodular shadows in the right S1 and left S10. Flexible bronchoscopy demonstrated a tumorous lesion at the orifice of the left B3 bronchus. Although the cytological diagnosis suggested high-grade adenocarcinoma, the tumor was producing mucin and consisted of cells with anisonucleosis, which is not typical of primary lung adenocarcinoma. We then performed immunohistochemical and histological examination of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen. The histological findings of the specimen were very similar to those of the previously resected urachal carcinoma. In addition, the tumor cells were negative for thyroid transcription factor-1 and surfactant precursor protein B, which are specific to primary lung adenocarcinoma. We therefore diagnosed metastatic pulmonary cancer from urachal carcinoma, which is a rare manifestation in bladder cancer. We report a rare case of metastatic pulmonary cancer from urachal carcinoma that required differentiation from primary lung adenocarcinoma in addition to a discussion of the literature.

A 52-year-old man presented with a pulmonary bulky mass, fever and cough. Chest CT showed a necrotizing bulky mass 10 cm in diameter in the right lung lower lobe. Transbronchial biopsy and CT-guided biopsy of the tumor and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of the right hilar lymph node did not yield a definitive diagnosis, but the histological findings showed necrosis. We performed CT-guided biopsy of the part of the lesion where a high uptake of FDG-PET was observed. The histological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The immunohistochemical findings were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Because the patient was more than 50 years old and had no underlying diseases, he was given a diagnosis of EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of an elderly patient. The pulmonary manifestation of this disease as a bulky tumor is extremely rare. In spite of the presence of a bulky pulmonary tumor, the EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma contained necrotizing tissue, and it was difficult to obtain tissue specimens for histological examination.

Since the avian antigen is one of the important causative antigens in hypersensitivity pneumonitis, measurement of bird-specific antibody should be readily available. We measured IgG and IgA antibodies against pigeons and budgerigars by the ImmunoCap system in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (BRHP) to evaluate their diagnostic utility. In acute BRHP, antibodies markedly increased and showed high sensitivity and specificity ranging from 75-100% based on the cut-off values determined by ROC analysis. In chronic BRHP, antibody reactivity slightly increased, showing a sensitivity of 27-73% and specificity of 45-100%. Pigeon antibodies evaluated by the ImmunoCap system showed a good correlation with anti-pigeon dropping extract antibodies measured by ELISA. In conclusion, measurement of antibodies against pigeons and budgerigars are helpful for the diagnosis of BRHP.

A 75-year-old woman who lived in a retirement home was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital because of acute respiratory failure with sudden onset of wheezing on awakening. A differential diagnosis of heart failure, showed that she had experienced an attack of bronchial asthma. She was therefore given beta-agonists via inhalation and theophylline and steroids intravenously. Her wheezing decreased but her respiratory failure persisted. Therefore, she was transferred to the intensive care unit and was referred to our department. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of her chest showed pulmonary embolisms involving both lower lung lobes. Moreover, pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy showed defects in both lower lobes. Thus, pulmonary embolism was diagnosed. Subsequently, we started anticoagulant therapy, and her respiratory failure was saved. Pulmonary embolism is known to induce symptoms such as bronchial asthma, although such symptoms are rare.

A 78-year-old man with COPD was admitted in August 2010 complaining of productive cough and fever of 38 degrees C for 2 days. He was admitted with septic shock and pneumonia of the right upper lobe. Despite antibiotic administration, infiltration progressed to the right lung and lower left lung after 24 hours, and he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation. All cultures from both sputum and blood grew Acinetobacter baumannii. He recovered following intensive care. Although some community-acquired pneumonias by A. baumannii are reported in Japan, this is the first report concerning a successfully treated patient.

An 80-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital because of bloody sputum. He had a history of malignant melanoma of the left fourth digit, which was surgically excised 16 years previously. On hospital admission, chest computed tomography revealed several nodules in the lower lobes. He underwent thoracoscopic lung biopsy and amelanotic malignant melanoma was histologically diagnosed by immunohistochemical staining. The staining pattern with several antibodies was similar to that of the melanoma excised 16 years previously. Therefore, we concluded that the nodules in the lung were metastases of the malignant melanoma of the digit. Despite treatment with interferon, the nodules progressed rapidly, and the patient died 4 months later. This case suggests that the risk of recurrence with rapidly progressive distant metastasis should be considered in patients with malignant melanoma, even after a long disease-free interval. In addition, this case suggests that immunohistochemical stains with several antibodies are useful in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

A 75-year-old man with diabetes mellitus visited our hospital because of a chest radiograph abnormality. He was asymptomatic, and no abnormality was detected by blood tests including QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-2 G); hence we conducted a follow-up examination. In 8 months, his chest radiography and CT findings worsened despite remaining asymptomatic. He was admitted for further tests. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) showed normal results for total cell counts and lymphocytes, but the CD4/8 ratio increased, and bacterial examination yielded negative results. Surgical lung biopsy showed an epithelioid cell granuloma with fibrinoid necrosis and Langhans giant cells, and some bacilli were positive for acid-fast stain. At this point, we suspected sarcoidosis, necrotizing granulomatosis, and mycobacterosis. However, the mycobacterial culture from the lung tissue was positive, and it was identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. Even if QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-3 G) for active tuberculosis is negative, it may yield false negative results in individuals in an immunosuppressed state and low CD4 count. When we suspect pulmonary tuberculosis from radiographic and pathological findings, we should consider the results of QFT-2 G and QFT-3 G carefully as an adjunct to the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Background: Although pleurodesis is an effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion, we hesitate to use in patients with poor performance status (PS) because of its side effects.

Methods: Of 46 pleurodesis cases in our institution between 2006 and 2010, 24 poor PS cases (>3) were classified into 2 groups according to survival (beyond 3 months) or non-survival, and 3 groups according to condition: PS improved after pleurodesis, remained stable, or was exacerbated and we analyzed their backgrounds.

Results: Among the 24 cases (66.7%), there were 5 and 19 survival and non-survival cases. Patient backgrounds, characteristics of the lesions and examination results did not differ significantly among them. On the other hand, the ratio of successful initial pleurodesis in the exacerbated PS group was lower than in the improved and stable groups (16.7% vs. 100%, 87.5%). The 1- and 3-month survival rates of unsuccessful cases were lower than those of successful cases (33.3% vs. 77.8%, 0% vs. 32.4%).

Conclusion: Success of initial pleurodesis can affect PS and outcome, thus it is important to improve the number of successful cases of initial pleurodesis.