Lack of an association between spleen volume and risk of pneumococcal infection in cancer patients: a nested case-control study.

Background: The spleen is a key organ in preventing pneumococcal infection, especially in patients with immunocompromised condition such as those with cancer. Previous studies have shown that a small spleen volume in pneumococcal pneumonia patients is associated with severe disease course. However, it is unknown whether a small spleen increases risk of pneumococcal infection.

[A case of malignant pleural mesothelioma with elevation of G-CSF and CYFRA in the serum and pleural fluid].

A 68-year-old man complaining of hoarseness and back pain, with no history of exposure to asbestos, was referred to our hospital in June 2002. He was admitted because his chest X-ray and CT scan showed atelectasis and a tumor-like region in the right lower lobe of the lung. Serum-CYFRA was 2.