Clostridial myonecrosis of the chest wall complicating spontaneous esophageal rupture.

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave's syndrome) has a dismal survival rate without prompt surgical management. A variety of surgical regimens have achieved survival of 70% or greater; however, the postoperative course is frequently complicated by fistula, would infection, empyema, and sepsis. We report an unusual postoperative chest wound infection of clostridial myonecrosis, which presumably originated from the patient's gastric microflora.

Endobronchial polyposis following smoke inhalation.

A 50-year-old fireman was found to have multiple endobronchial polyps when investigated for hemoptysis two months after acute thermal inhalation injury. Biopsy was obtained and the histology demonstrated benign granulation tissue. The polyps spontaneously regressed, without specific treatment, six months after the accident.

Site of recurrence in patients with stages I and II carcinoma of the lung resected for cure.

Ninety-nine patients with Stage I or II lung carcinoma that was other than the small cell type and who survived for more than 30 days after a "curative" resection were followed for five years or until death if it occurred prior to the five-year anniversary. Recurrent disease developed in 44 patients. Clinical data and data from postmortem examination were reviewed in these 44 patients in an attempt to classify each recurrence as either initially local or distinct metastatic disease.