Randomized placebo-controlled trial of isotretinoin in chemoprevention of bronchial squamous metaplasia.

Purpose: Retinoids have proven chemopreventive efficacy in both preclinical and clinical studies. This trial was designed to confirm the finding of an earlier uncontrolled trial that the synthetic retinoid etretinate had major activity in reversing squamous metaplasia found in the bronchial epithelium of chronic smokers.

Patients And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 152 smokers with bronchoscopy and obtained biopsies from six sites.

Squamous metaplasia of the bronchial mucosa and its relationship to smoking.

We performed flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) on 106 heavy cigarette smokers. Six bronchial biopsy specimens, obtained from the carina and five major bronchi, were screened for squamous metaplasia. Individual biopsy specimens were sectioned into 4-microns sections, and a metaplasia index (MI), or percentage of sections containing squamous metaplasia, was determined.

Radiation-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and usually fatal disease. Its association with asbestosis is well recognized. The authors report a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma that developed 30 years after the patient underwent radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Morphologic and immunocytochemical evaluation of 220 fine needle aspirates of malignant lymphoma and lymphoid hyperplasia.

A total of 220 fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from 212 patients with clinically suspected or previously histologically confirmed lymphoma were evaluated by cytology in conjunction with immunophenotyping analysis of the aspirate; the results were compared with the histologic diagnosis made on previous or current accessions of lymph node or extranodal tissue. Smears of the aspirates were stained with the Diff-Quik and Papanicolaou stains while immunoperoxidase staining using antibodies against kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chains and Leu-4 was routinely performed on Cytospin preparations. Where indicated, additional marker studies (including T-200, Leu-1, Leu-2a, Leu-3a + 3b, Leu-M1, B1, Leu-12, IgM, CALLA and TdT) were performed.