Long-term survivors of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): a French multicenter study. Groupe d'Oncologie de Langue Française.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze SCLC patients beyond 30 months, particularly their outcome, their way of life, and factors which could influence relapses, second-primary cancers and death.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1986 and May 1995, 263 SCLC patients who survived longer than 30 months were included from 52 French institutions. The analysis was performed on the 155 cases confirmed by a pathologic review.

Superior vena cava stent placement: results with the Wallstent endoprosthesis.

Purpose: To assess the clinical success and short-term patency of the Wallstent endoprosthesis in the treatment of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one 14-mm-diameter endoprostheses were implanted in 15 patients (mean age, 60 years) treated for SVC syndrome due to malignant compression (n = 14) or postirradiation fibrotic stenosis (n = 1) of the SVC.

Results: Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients.

[Treatment of respiratory insufficiency in mucoviscidosis].

Cystic fibrosis respiratory disease leads to chronic respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. Clinical evaluation must be helped by diurnal artérial gasometry and nocturnal saturation measure, especially in acute phase and during the weeks after respiratory infections. Treatment of hypoxemia is based on oxygenotherapy, but also on nasal nocturnal ventilation for patients waiting for a pulmonary transplantation.

Cardiac angiosarcoma revealed by lung metastases.

Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare tumour with very poor prognosis especially in patients with metastatic disease. We present the case of a 43 year old patient with angiosarcoma revealed by open lung biopsy for multiple pulmonary metastases. Cardiac symptoms were limited to a moderate pericarditis and no echocardiographic sign of heart tumour was observed.