Palliative care in poor-performance status small cell lung cancer patients: is there a mandatory role for chemotherapy?

Purpose: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy but with a high response rate to chemotherapy. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) has been recognized as one of the main prognostic factors in SCLC. There are few data about risk-benefit ratio of chemotherapy over exclusive best supportive care in ECOG PS 3 and 4 patients.

[Lipoid pneumonia].

Lipoid pneumonia (LP) is a pneumonitis resulting from the aspiration of lipids, and is commonly associated with the use of mineral oil as a laxative. LP is relatively unfamiliar to clinicians and is probably underdiagnosed. Making a diagnosis of LP requires a high degree of clinical suspicion.

[Transbronchial needle aspiration of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes].

Background: Besides clarifying the etiology of unidentified lymphadenomegaly, puncturing hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes by a flexible bronchoscopic needle is an aid in diagnosing and staging broncho- genic cancer or other metastatic cancers.

Objective: Our study had the principal objective to evaluate the positivity of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA).

Method: We evaluated retrospectively the effectiveness of all TBNA done in 74 consecutive patients.

Phase II trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy using alternating doublets in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Lung cancer is an epidemic disease in developing countries. Incorporation of new active drugs in the neoadjuvant treatment of operable patients might lead to improved outcomes. Postchemotherapy mediastinal-based treatment decisions allow for in vivo testing of activity and could help to determine the ideal local treatment.