Airway interventions for tracheobronchial involvement in esophageal carcinoma: a retrospective cohort outcome study and algorithmic approach.

Background: In advanced esophageal carcinoma (EC), there is limited data on risk factors predicting tracheobronchoesophageal fistula (TEF) formation and survival among patients who required airway interventions.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with EC, who had airway involvement requiring intervention, was conducted from 1998 to 2018. Demographics, clinical progress, disease stage, treatment and survival outcomes were recorded.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Airway Involvement in Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Airway involvement, such as airway invasion, compression, and tracheobronchoesophageal fistula (TEF), in esophageal cancer is associated with significant morbidity. However, the risk factors and outcomes of airway complications remain unclear, with limited evidence to guide management.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 804 patients with a diagnosis of esophageal cancer from 1998 to 2018 at a tertiary care medical center (Singapore General Hospital, Singapore).

Long-term outcomes of tracheobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (TSTB) in symptomatic patients: airway intervention conservative management.

Background: Patients with tracheobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (TSTB) have a variable clinical course and response to treatment including airway intervention. There are no clear guidelines on the best approach to manage such patients. This study examines long-term outcomes of patients with TSTB and factors associated with recurrent symptoms or need for repeat airway intervention following initial bronchoscopic intervention.

A diver's dilemma - a case report on bronchopulmonary sequestration.

Background: An asymptomatic SCUBA (Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diver was discovered to have an intralobar bronchopulmonary sequestration during routine pre-course screening. This is the first reported case of a diver who, having previously completed several recreational and military diving courses, was subsequently diagnosed with a congenital lung condition, possibly contraindicating diving. Presently, there is no available literature providing guidance on the diving fitness of patients with such a condition.

Resection with preserved histologic morphology of a rare tumour via bronchoscopic cryosurgery.

Tracheobronchial leiomyoma is a rare pulmonary neoplasm accounting for <2% of benign tumours of the lower airway. Published case series reported bronchoscopic resectability with laser ablation for lesions located in the large airway. Surgery was performed for tumours with wide-based and tumours located in segmental bronchus or lung parenchyma.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) exacerbated respiratory disease phenotype: Topical NSAID and asthma control - A possible oversight link.

Background: Patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) also recently known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) must avoid aspirin and all other oral NSAIDs. The effect of topical NSAID (tNSAID), especially salicylates which are commonly present in topical medicated preparations, on asthma control of this phenotype is studied.

Methods: The study inclusion criteria were adults with: 1) NSAID hypersensitivity; 2) nasal polyposis/chronic rhinosinusitis; 3) not well-/poorly controlled asthma and 4) exposure to tNSAID.

Challenges in diagnosis and management of giant solitary fibrous tumour of pleura: a case report.

Background: Majority of patients with solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura (SFTP) are asymptomatic. Acute presentation with symptoms resulting from mass effect due to rapid expansion of tumour size has not been reported before.

Case Presentation: This report chronicles the case of a giant SFTP in a 76-year-old lady who presented with acute onset of haemoptysis, left-sided pleuritic chest pain and hoarseness of voice.

Endoscopic intervention of lower airway foreign matter in adults-a different perspective.

Background: Lower airway foreign matter (FM) is uncommonly encountered in adults. This study reviews FM in the lower airway that required bronchoscopic intervention.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with FM in the lower airway seen at a tertiary hospital between 1996 and 2014 was undertaken.

Impact of Smoking and Brain Metastasis on Outcomes of Advanced EGFR Mutation Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients Treated with First Line Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Objectives: This purpose of this study was to examine clinical-pathologic factors--particularly smoking and brain metastases--in EGFR mutation positive (M(+)) lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) to determine their impact on survival in patients treated with first line EGFR TKI.

Methods: A retrospective review of EGFR mutation reflex testing experience for all ADC diagnosed at a tertiary Asian cancer centre from January 2009 to April 2013. Amongst this cohort, patients with advanced EGFR M(+) ADC treated with first line EGFR TKI were identified to determine factors that influence progression free and overall survival.

Survival of small-cell lung cancer and its determinants of outcome in Singapore.

Introduction: The survival and epidemiology of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in Singapore has not been described. We aim to present the characteristics as well as determine the survival outcome and important prognostic factors for SCLC patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of SCLC patients diagnosed from 1999 to 2002 was conducted at the Outram campus, Singapore.

Differences between small-cell lung cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer among tobacco smokers.

It is known that smoking increases the risk for all histological subtypes of lung cancer. To date, the factors that determine why some patients develop small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) while others develop non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unknown. We compared the characteristics of 774 smokers with SCLC and NSCLC diagnosed during the period January 1999 till December 2002.

Never-smokers with lung cancer: epidemiologic evidence of a distinct disease entity.

Purpose: Tobacco smoke is a definite causative agent for lung cancer. It is increasingly being recognized that never-smokers can be afflicted with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aim to assess survival differences between smokers and never-smokers with NSCLC.

Thoracic embolotherapy for life-threatening haemoptysis: a pulmonologist's perspective.

Haemoptysis is the expectoration of blood from the respiratory tract and is life-threatening when blood obstructs the major airway causing asphyxiation. This may occur in the presence or absence of pre-existing compromised pulmonary reserve and medical comorbidities. Life-threatening haemoptysis is a relatively common clinical situation encountered by pulmonologists and thoracic embolotherapy is a key therapeutic option.

Continuous positive airway pressure therapy in sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The treatment goal is to reduce the neurocognitive and cardiovascular sequelae. CPAP therapy in sleep apnoea is discussed in two parts in the article.

Negative pressure pulmonary oedema in the medical intensive care unit.

Objective: Negative pressure pulmonary oedema (NPPE) occurring in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) is an uncommon, probably under-diagnosed, but life-threatening condition.

Design: Retrospective data collection.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit in a 1,500-bedded tertiary care hospital.

Rigid bronchoscopy and stenting for esophageal cancer causing airway obstruction.

Background: Thirty percent of patients with esophageal cancer have malignant involvement of the major airways, leading to respiratory distress and life-threatening major airway obstruction. Tracheobronchial stenting has been reported to be effective in providing sustained relief from obstruction.

Methods: We conducted a chart review of all patients with advanced inoperable esophageal cancer who had malignant tracheobronchial obstruction requiring rigid bronchoscopy and airway stenting at our institution between June 1998 and July 2001.