Pleural tuberculosis: medical thoracoscopy greatly increases the diagnostic accuracy.

Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a standardised work-up in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (TB) that included fibreoptic bronchoscopy and medical thoracoscopy. A consecutive series of 52 pleural TB patients observed during the period 2001-2015 was evaluated retrospectively. 20 females, mean (range) age 39.

Pulmonary metastases from low grade sarcoma in a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis or sarcoid-like reaction?

An asymptomatic man with previous histopatological diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis in radiological follow-up (stable for about 4 years) presented massive right pleural effusion. After drainage, CT of the chest showed an increase in number and size of pulmonary nodules compared to the last check (8 months before). Surgical pulmonary biopsies were performed with the diagnosis of metastases from low grade sarcoma.

Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration with 23 gauge needle: a preliminary study.

Background: Conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (cTBNA) is a safe and minimally invasive procedure with a high yield for the diagnosis of large lymph nodes (LNs) in favourable locations (LNs >1.5 cm in stations #4R and/or #7). However, it is usually underutilized by pulmonologist.

Lipoid pneumonia as a complication of Lorenzo's oil therapy in a patient with adrenoleukodystrophy.

Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a rare exogenous condition caused by inhalation or aspiration of lipid material into the lungs. It is often associated with the therapeutic use of different types of oil, and the diagnosis is based on the demonstration of lipid-laden macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We reported the case of a 39-year-old male with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy who developed LP secondary to the use of Lorenzo's oil.

Foreign body aspiration in adults and in children: advantages and consequences of a dedicated protocol in our 30-year experience.

Background: Foreign body (FB) inhalation is a potentially life-threatening emergency also in clinically stable patients as the situation could worsen at any moment. There is varying opinion regarding the urgency for removal of inhaled FBs, and there are no guidelines in the literature. The aim of our study was to present our experience with FB aspiration in children and adults from 1993, when we introduced our Thoracic Endoscopy Service with the availability "on call" of a bronchologist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, defining a dedicated protocol together with our anaesthesiologists for prompt intervention in this situation.