Looking for Lepidic Component inside Invasive Adenocarcinomas Appearing as CT Solid Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPNs): CT Morpho-Densitometric Features and 18-FDG PET Findings.

Objective: To investigate CT morphologic and densitometric features and 18-FDG PET findings of surgically excised lung adenocarcinomas "mixed subtype" with predominant lepidic component, appearing as solid solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) on CT scan.

Materials And Methods: Approval for this study was given from each local institutional review board according to its retrospective nature. Nodules pathologically classified as lung adenocarcinoma mixed subtype with bronchioloalveolar otherwise lepidic predominant component, in three different Italian institutions (Napoli; Varese; Parma), were retrospectively selected.

A surgical case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma of T-cell origin arising from the chest wall in chronic empyema.

We report a surgical a case of pyothorax-associated lymphoma of T-cell origin arising from the chest wall and developing on pleural sequelae of therapeutic pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis. The tumor was removed with resection of the fifth to eighth ribs. The chest wall defect repaired with a Marlex (Phillips Sumika Polypropylene Co, Houston, TX) prothesis.

Lung mast cells are a source of secreted phospholipases A2.

Background: Secreted phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) are released in plasma and other biologic fluids of patients with inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic diseases.

Objective: We sought to evaluate sPLA(2) activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic patients and to examine the expression and release of sPLA(2)s from primary human lung mast cells (HLMCs).

Methods: sPLA(2) activity was measured in BALF and supernatants of either unstimulated or anti-IgE-activated HLMCs as hydrolysis of oleic acid from radiolabeled Escherichia coli membranes.

The role of technetium-99m hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile in the detection of neoplastic lung lesions.

Objective: Our goal was to determine the role of technetium-99m hexakis-2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) in the detection of neoplastic lung lesions.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively studied 79 consecutive patients with indeterminate lung lesion between January 2006 and September 2007. All patients were submitted to (99m)Tc-MIBI single-photon emission chest tomography (SPECT) before invasive diagnostic procedure.

Pulmonary hernia secondary to limited access for mitral valve surgery and repaired by video thoracoscopic surgery.

Iatrogenic pulmonary hernia is a rare condition. Repair is performed due to persistent symptoms and it is usually carried out by open surgery. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman who developed a lung hernia after small anterior thoracotomy that was performed for mitral valve surgery.

A home-made device for safe intraoperative aspiration of pulmonary hydatid cysts.

Surgical intervention is still the main modality for the treatment of hydatid disease. Different surgical procedure have been described; however, in the literature there is no collective agreement on the best surgical strategy. For intact pulmonary hydatid cysts, an enucleation or needle aspiration are possible strategies.

Electrothermal bipolar tissue sealing systems in lung surgery.

Various techniques have been proposed to reduce intraoperative blood loss in surgery. We report our experience with the use of LigaSure, a new electrothermal bipolar tissue sealing system, in lung surgery. This system has been already applied with good results in other surgical fields.

Intraoperative pleural lavage: is it a valid prognostic factor in lung cancer?

Background: In patients undergoing lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the primary TNM (tumor-regional lymph node-distant metastasis) staging system is the best prognostic factor. However, it is necessary to investigate other factors that could more accurately predict a patient's prognosis. In this study we evaluated the significance of positive intraoperative pre-resectional lavage in patients with NSCLC.