Diagnostic yield of baseline and follow-up PET/CT studies in ablative therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Although they have proven effectiveness, radiofrequency and microwave ablation techniques have a high rate of partial responses. Diagnostic studies that anticipate the changes in morphology are essential for earlier detection of residual viable tumor tissue or local recurrences to identify patients who will benefit from a new treatment. Our study has determined the diagnostic yield of PET/CT studies at baseline and follow-up and adequate time between them and the ablation intervention.

Intrapleural fibrinolysis in the management of empyemas and haemothoraces. Our experience.

Purpose: We evaluate our experience in the management of empyemas and haemothoraces by means of intracavitary trans-catheter instillation of urokinase (UK).

Material And Methods: We reviewed 54 patients (44 men and 10 women) ranging in age from 12 to 86 years (average 56.3) admitted between May 1999 and April 2001 with loculated pleural effusions (45 empyemas and 9 haemothoraces) and treated by percutaneous drainage and intrapleural urokinase instillation.