Survey of academic pulmonologists, oncologists, and infectious disease physicians on the role of bronchoscopy in managing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients with pulmonary infiltrates.

Background: In the absence of evidence-based guidelines, there is potential for variability in the management of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with pulmonary infiltrates. We decided to perform a nationwide survey of pulmonologists, oncologists, and infectious disease physicians on the role of bronchoscopy in managing HSCT patients.

Methods: An 18-question survey was prepared, and after being internally reviewed it was sent through electronic mail to all hematology oncology, pulmonary and critical care, and infectious disease fellowship programs in the United States.

Perception versus reality: the measuring of pleural fluid pH in the United States.

Background: Pleural fluid pH measured by a blood gas analyzer is the only recommended method of pH measurement to guide management for patients with parapneumonic pleural effusions. Not all hospitals use blood gas analyzers for pleural fluid pH determination and it is unknown if physicians are aware of this problem.

Objective: To determine if a discrepancy exists between the modality used for measuring pleural fluid pH and how physicians believe it is measured.

Use of microdebrider bronchoscopy for the treatment of endobronchial leiomyoma.

Aims: Pulmonary leiomyomas are rare benign tumors that may cause symptoms when they spread endobronchially. Traditionally they were managed surgically or through interventional bronchoscopy with the aid of thermal modalities to assist in debulking of tumor. We report the novel use of microdebrider bronchoscopy to debulk an endobronchial leiomyoma in a symptomatic patient.

Pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the formation and development of blood cells outside of the bone marrow. Of particular interest to chest physicians and radiologists is the occurrence of EMH in the lungs and pleura. There have been several reports of patients presenting with pulmonary EMH published in the literature and the majority are due to a secondary process, such as myeloproliferative disorders, hemolytic anemias, hereditary spherocytosis, and Gaucher disease.