Генерализованный саркоидоз: трудности диагностики и выбора тактики лечения

Despite surgical treatment, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy, the vast majority of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) have a dismal prognosis. Better knowledge of the frequency of metastases to different sites might help us to perform the appropriate diagnostic tests before treatment and during the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of metastases from ATC in different sites as found at autopsy. Altogether, 205 patients were treated for ATC at our institute during the years 1972-2008. Autopsy was performed in 45 cases (30 females, 15 males; median age 66 years). The relative frequencies of metastases in different sites were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Altogether, 41 cases (91%) had metastases at autopsy. The most common sites of metastases were the lungs (78%), intrathoracic lymph nodes (58%), neck lymph nodes (51%), pleura (29%), adrenal glands (24%), liver (20%), brain (18%), heart (18%), and retroperitoneal lymph nodes (18%). Less common sites of distant metastases were the pericardium (13%), bones (13%), kidneys (13%), mesentery or peritoneum (13%), skin (9%), pancreas (4%), stomach (4%), diaphragm (4%), pituitary gland (2%), ovary (2%), jejunum (2%), axillary lymph nodes (2%), and gingival mucosa (2%). Both distant and regional metastases were present in 23 cases, while only distant metastases were present in 18 cases. An extensive local infiltration of the primary tumor was found in 76% of the cases. The total number of the involved organs and lymph node basins were 123 and 58, respectively. The mean number of metastatic sites was 4.02±2.75. Lung metastases were present in 34 of 38 (89%) of our patients who had distant metastases found at autopsy. Of these 34 patients, 27 were known to have lung metastases when they were alive. Two or more metastatic sites were found at autopsy in 84% of cases. The most common metastatic sites are lungs, followed by the intrathoracic and neck lymph nodes.

Microcalcifications are acknowledged as a malignancy risk factor in multiple cancers. However, the prevalence and association of intrathoracic lymph node (ILN) calcifications with malignancy remain unexplored. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled patients with known/suspected malignancy and an indication for endosonography for diagnosis or ILN staging. We assessed the prevalence and pattern of calcified ILNs and the prevalence of malignancy in ILNs with and without calcifications. In addition, we evaluated the genomic profile and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients, stratifying them based on the presence or absence of ILN calcifications. A total of 571 ILNs were sampled in 352 patients. Calcifications were detected in 85 (24.1%) patients and in 94 (16.5%) ILNs, with microcalcifications (78/94, 83%) being the predominant type. Compared with ILNs without calcifications (214/477, 44.9%), the prevalence of malignancy was higher in ILNs with microcalcifications (73/78, 93.6%; P<0.0001) but not in those with macrocalcifications (7/16, 43.7%; P=0.93). In patients with lung cancer, the high prevalence of metastatic involvement in ILNs displaying microcalcifications was independent of lymph node size (< or >1cm) and the clinical stage (advanced disease; cN2/N3 disease; cN0/N1 disease). The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement was significantly more prevalent in patients with than in those without calcified ILNs (17.4% vs. 1.7%, P<0.001), and all of them exhibited microcalcifications. ILN microcalcifications are common in patients undergoing endosonography for suspected malignancy, and they are associated with a high prevalence of metastatic involvement and ALK rearrangement.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) imaging is valuable in diagnosing intrathoracic lymph nodes (LNs), but there has been little analysis of multimodal imaging. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the diagnostic performance of single and multimodal combinations of EBUS imaging in differentiating benign and malignant intrathoracic LNs. Methods: Subjects from July 2018 to June 2019 were consecutively enrolled in the model group and July 2019 to August 2019 in the validation group. Sonographic features of three EBUS modes were analysed in the model group for the identification of malignant LNs from benign LNs. The validation group was used to verify the diagnostic efficiency of single and multimodal diagnostic methods built in the model group. Results: 373 LNs (215 malignant and 158 benign) from 335 subjects and 138 LNs (79 malignant and 59 benign) from 116 subjects were analysed in the model and validation groups, respectively. For single mode, elastography had the best diagnostic value, followed by grayscale and Doppler. The corresponding accuracies in the validation group were 83.3%, 76.8%, and 71.0%, respectively. Grayscale with elastography had the best diagnostic efficiency of multimodal methods. When at least two of the three features (absence of central hilar structure, heterogeneity, and qualitative elastography score 4–5) were positive, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in the validation group were 88.6%, 78.0%, and 84.1%, respectively. Conclusions: In both model and validation groups, elastography performed the best in single EBUS modes, as well as grayscale combined with elastography in multimodal imaging. Elastography alone or combined with grayscale are feasible to help predict intrathoracic benign and malignant LNs.

Objective. To study demographic, clinical characteristics and concomitant pathology of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in Gomel city and Gomel region for the period 2017-2021. To evaluate the informative value of different techniques for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) in non-respiratory samples in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.Materials and methods. A retrospective study of extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases registered from 2017 to 2021 in Gomel and Gomel region (308 patients) was carried out. The results of microscopic, bacteriological and molecular genetic methods of non-respiratory and respiratory samples relevant in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis were analyzed.Results. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with EPTB in Gomel and Gomel region for the period 20172021 were revealed. Concomitant pathology in patients with EPTB was analyzed, the features of EPTB diagnostics were studied. It was determined that EPTB is more susceptible to males aged 31 to 50 years and to women aged over 60 years. EPTB is more frequently diagnosed in patients from urban areas and when patients come to medical institutions with nonspecific complaints, except for intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis (ITLN).Conclusion. In the structure of clinical forms of EPTB, lesions of bones and joints (62.7%) and intrathoracic lymph nodes (19.5%) predominate. HIV-positive patients are more common in the ITLN group. MBT is most often detected in the following localizations of extrapulmonary process: intrathoracic and peripheral lymph nodes, pleural tuberculosis. The most highly informative method of examination of biological nonrespiratory material for detection of MBT in extrapulmonary localization is molecular genetic study.

BackgroundIt is difficult to examine mild to moderate feline intra-thoracic lymphadenopathy via and thoracic radiography. Despite previous information from computed tomographic (CT) images of intra-thoracic lymph nodes, some factors from animals and CT setting were less elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of internal factors from animals and external factors from the CT procedure on the feasibility to detect the intra-thoracic lymph nodes. Twenty-four, client-owned, clinically healthy cats were categorized into three groups according to age. They underwent pre- and post-contrast enhanced CT for whole thorax followed by inter-group evaluation and comparison of sternal, cranial mediastinal, and tracheobronchial lymph nodes.ResultsPost contrast-enhanced CT appearances revealed that intra-thoracic lymph nodes of kittens were invisible, whereas the sternal, cranial mediastinal, and tracheobronchial nodes of cats aged over 7 months old were detected (6/24, 9/24 and 7/24, respectively). Maximum width of these lymph nodes were 3.93 ± 0.74 mm, 4.02 ± 0.65 mm, and 3.51 ± 0.62 mm, respectively. By age, lymph node sizes of these cats were not significantly different. Transverse lymph node width of males was larger than that of females (P = 0.0425). Besides, the detection score of lymph nodes was affected by slice thickness (P < 0.01) and lymph node width (P = 0.0049). Furthermore, an irregular, soft tissue structure, possibly the thymus, was detected in all juvenile cats and three mature cats.ConclusionsDespite additional information on intra-thoracic lymph nodes in CT images, which can be used to investigate lymphatic-related abnormalities, age, sex, and slice thickness of CT images must be also considered.

Bronchopleural complications after pneumonectomy in generalized destructive tuberculosis are associated with the presence of intrathoracic lymph nodes (ITLN) with caseous alterations.&#x0D; Aim. To improve the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients with generalized destructive pulmonary tuberculosis by development and introduction of the method of mediastinal lymphadenectomy in tuberculous lesion of mediastinal lymph nodes.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. Results of surgical treatment of 515 patients with generalized destructive pulmonary tuberculosis were analyzed. In 274 of them the surgical treatment was supplemented with mediastinal lymphadenectomy (the main group). In the control group (241 patients) only resection was performed without removing lymph nodes.&#x0D; Results. Analysis of the postoperative course of the disease in both groups of patients (with mediastinal lymphadenectomy and without it) showed that bronchopleural complications occurred in 7 (2.6%) cases in the main group and in 30 (12.4%, p&lt;0.05) cases in the control group. In the main group exacerbation of the specific process was noted in 1 patient (0.4%), and in comparison group in 9 patients (3.7%, p&lt;0.05). Elimination of macroscopically altered ITLN in widespread destructive tuberculosis permitted to reduce the complications rate in the postoperative period by 64.8% (p&lt;0.05). Indications to removal of IHLN included: a) enlargement of ITLN (&gt;2 sm) and in duration; b) fusion with the surrounding tissues, softening of the node tissue in its caseous melting, c) existence of yellowish or whiter in comparison with the surrounding tissue inclusions in the node being manifestations of tuberculous granuloma. In histological, cytological and bacteriological examination, these macroscopic signs in 97% of cases indicated active tuberculosis of mediastinal lymph nodes.&#x0D; Conclusions. In 97% of cases, widespread destructive secondary pulmonary tuberculosis runs with an active specific process in mediastinal lymph nodes which makes it reasonable to perform a selective lymphadenectomy in such group of patients. Secondary damage of different groups of intrathoracic lymph nodes by the active process depended on localization of lung destructions and occurred along the routes of lymph drainage from them. Reliable signs of active tuberculous of ITLN include: more than 2.0 cm lymph node enlargement, in duration, periadenitis, fluctuation and in homogeneity. Removal of macroscopically altered intra-thoracic lymph nodes in widespread destructive pulmonary tuberculosis permits to reduce the rate of complications in the postoperative period by 64.8%.

The presence of individual neuroendocrine cells in rare peripancreatic lymph nodes (LNs) suggests that neuroendocrine tumor or nested neuroendocrine cell proliferation can arise in situ from neuroendocrine cells native to any LN. However, it is very difficult to ascertain whether any neuroendocrine lesion in LNs is a primary tumor or a metastasis from adjacent organs. We encountered 4 cases of neuroendocrine proliferation in intrathoracic LNs (ILNs) of patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma. All patients had a single lung mass without mediastinal lymphadenopathy based on computed tomography and positron emission tomography imaging. Mediastinal staging was done by either mediastinoscopy or thoracotomy and none of them had metastasis from adenocarcinoma in any LN. One patient had three ILNs positive for neuroendocrine proliferation measuring 1.7, 1.8, and 4.0 mm, respectively and a minute tumorlet less than 1.0 mm in the lung. Three other patients had small areas of neuroendocrine proliferation no more than 1 mm in single ILN without any lung neuroendocrine lesion. Neuroendocrine cells in ILNs often formed nests of varying size with similar morphology to carcinoid tumorlet in the lung. Small clusters of neuroendocrine cells without any particular pattern were often seen together with these nests. These cells were positive for neuroendocrine markers: synaptophysin, chromogranin, and CD56. They were also positive for CK7 and TTF-1. It is interesting to note, single cells positive for neuroendocrine markers and TTF-1 were identified near or away from these neuroendocrine nests or clusters. These findings suggest that neuroendocrine lesion can be incidentally identified in ILNs. Close clinical follow-up is warranted as metastasis from or synchronous lesions in adjacent organs cannot be excluded.

A primary papillary thyroid carcinoma in the intrathoracic lymph node is very rare. There are two potential explanations of the lesion. The first possibility of the lesion is metastatic disease from an occult primary thyroid papillary microcarcinoma. Other possibility is malignant transformation of the aberrant thyroid tissue within the intrathoracic lymph node, which is the favored etiology in this case. We experienced an extremely rare case of true intrathoracic thyroid cancer in a 78-year-old woman, presenting with an intrathoracic malignancy. We confirmed it as papillary thyroid cancer, but there were no primary sites of thyroid glands. So, we report this rare case of a primary papillary thyroid carcinoma in the intrathoracic lymph node. � Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2011;54:300-3 Key WordsZZIntrathoracic lymph node ㆍPapillary thyroid carcinoma ㆍAberrant thyroid tissue.

Background: Staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important for determining choice of treatment and prognosis. The accuracy of FDG-PET scans for staging of lymph nodes is too low...

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) puncture to obtain intrathoracic lymph node samples combined with Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) detection for the diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis. Methods: From March 2018 to June 2021, 106 patients [55 males and 51 females, age (45.1±18.6) years] with suspected intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis and EBUS-TBNA were collected in Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, including 64 patients with subsequent diagnosis of intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis and 42 patients without tuberculosis. Xpert test and traditional etiology test were performed on the patients' intrathoracic lymph node puncture specimens. The positive results of different detection methods and different methods were analyzed, and the influencing factors of Xpert independent detection positive were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The sensitivity of Xpert was 65.6% (95%CI: 52.7%-77.1%), the specificity was 97.6% (95%CI: 87.4%-99.9%), the positive predictive value was 97.7% (95%CI: 85.7%-99.7%), the negative predictive value was 65.1% (95%CI: 57.0%-72.4%). The positive rate of Xpert alone (65.6%, 42/64) was not significantly different from that of MGIT960, histopathology and Xpert combined detection (70.3%, 45/64) (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the location of the diseased lymph nodes in the mediastinum (OR=5.84, 95%CI: 1.112-30.704, P=0.037), necrosis in the lymph nodes (OR=6.32, 95%CI: 1.460-27.384, P=0.014), and the axial depth of the lymph nodes≥17 mm (OR=6.61, 95%CI: 1.408-30.969, P=0.017) were the promoting factors for the positive Xpert test. Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA combined with Xpert detection has a high clinical diagnostic value for intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis. When the number of puncture samples is small, Xpert detection can be preferred. The positive rate of Xpert detection can be improved by selecting lymph nodes with mediastinal lesions, lymph nodes necrosis, and axial lymph nodes depth≥17 mm for puncture.

The objective: to develop differentiated approaches to the choice of timing of surgical treatment of intrathoracic lymph node tuberculosis (ITLNTB) in children during the increasing incidence of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).Subjects and Methods. 52 patients of 2-12 years old had their intrathoracic lymph nodes removed at different stages of anti-tuberculosis therapy. All children had massive (more than 10-15 mm) conglomerates in their intrathoracic lymph nodes. Additionally to changes in intrathoracic lymph nodes, 12 people had active tuberculous changes in the lungs or bronchial tuberculosis.Results. 5 patients were operated before chemotherapy, 35 patients after 2 months of treatment, and 12 patients underwent surgery afterwards. The elective surgery was performed in 51 children, and 1 child had surgery before the start of chemotherapy due to vital indications (the threat of breakthrough of caseous masses into the trachea).Planned surgical treatment in children with tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes should be carried out within the following timing: before the start of anti-tuberculosis therapy in the absence of clinical, laboratory and radiological signs of the disease being active; as soon as possible from the start of chemotherapy (it is enough to focus on the results of the first CT control after 2 months of treatment (there should be no tendency to involution of pathological changes) in the presence of minimal signs of tuberculosis activity). The choice of timing of planned surgical treatment is individual and determined by the timing of stabilization of pulmonary changes or the cure of bronchial tuberculosis (after 6, 9, 12 months) in patients with newly diagnosed active tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes in combination with lung and/or bronchial lesions. The development of life-threatening complications is an absolute indication for emergency surgery.

The purposeof this study was to determine detection rate and clinical and morphological characteristics of mediastinal lymphadenopathy (ML) in patients with respiratory system sarcoidosis (RSS), disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis (DPT) and exogenic allergic alveolitis (EAA).Materials and Methods.Patients (n= 278) with established diagnosis RSS, DPT, EAA were investigated. The cumulative index parameters were determined, hematology test, assessments of pulmonary function, diffuse lung capacity, diffusion coefficient were performed in all patients. Computed tomography of chest organs and morphologic examination of mediastinal lymph node (LN) biopsy were performed.Results.Subjects with newly diagnosed (n= 72) and recurrent (n= 104) disease were observed among patients with RSS (n= 176). ML was observed in 95% of cases, involved bronchopulmonary, bifurcation, paratracheal and paraaortal groups; dimensions of intrathoracic LN (ITLN) were 20.0 ± 1.9 mm. Epitheliocellular granulomas (EG) without necrosis, not fusing with each other, were established morphologically; they were determined in recurrent disease course in association with background fibrosis. In patients with DPT (n= 41), subacute (n= 28) and chronic (n= 13) disease course was noted. With subacute course of DPT in 28.6% of cases, ML of paratracheal and bifurcation groups (dimensions of ITLN – 13.1 ± 0.3 mm) was observed, with chronic course – the enlargement of paratracheal and bronchopulmonary LN (7.7% of cases). EG with necrosis and tendency to fusion was verified histologically; inflammatory process involved LN capsule and could be spread to fatty tissue. In patients with EAA (n= 76), acute (n= 10), subacute (n= 38) and chronic (n= 28) disease courses were observed. With acute EAA course, hyperplasia of ITLN of bifurcation and tracheo-bronchial groups up to 13.5 ± 0.6 mm was observed in 20% of cases. Follicular hyperplasia with widening and edema of hermintative centers was observed at morphological investigation. With subacute EAA course, increased ITLN in bifurcation and broncho-pulmonary groups up to 13.6 ± 0.6 mm were observed in 46% of cases. Formation of histiocytic-macrophagal granulomas without epithelioid cells and deposit precipitation in the plasma cell aggregation areas was found at morphological evaluation. With chronic EAA, ML in broncho-pulmonary and paratracheal groups was detected in 17.8% of cases (enlargement of LN up to 11 ± 0.9 mm). The formation of diffuse and focal fibrosis and hyalinosis was noted morphologically.Conclusion.ML is observed in all granulomatous pulmonary diseases studied, however its rate and severity, composition of involved ITLN groups and character of morphological changes is different which is possible to use in diagnostics.

Objective: to evaluate the X-ray radiological features of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD) versus morphological findings.Material and methods. The investigation enrolled 37 patients, in whom the radiographic signs of dissemination were determined and various types of NTMPD were identified. The investigation was conducted on a Siemens Somatom Emotion 16 multislice computed tomography (MSCT) scanner using a high-resolution algorithm (Quick Time Virtual Reality). To clarify the activity of pathological changes in the thoracic organs, 16 (43.2%) patients underwent a radionuclide study with 99mTc-technetrile on a Nucline Spirit gamma camera in planar and single photon emission computed tomography modes.The diagnosis was verified by sputum smear microscopy and clinical laboratory and bronchologic examinations: bronchoalveolar lavage in 11 (29.7%) patients, various types of bronchial biopsies in 17 (46.0%), morphological examinations, and videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary resection in 9 (24.3%).Results. The dissemination foci in mycobacterial diseases were characterized by their location in the lung parenchyma with vascular and bronchial involvement and reactive changes in the pulmonary pleurae and intrathoracic lymph nodes (ITLN). In 92.7% of cases, the detected foci were predominantly centrilobular with endobronchial localization. Their contours were mixed with clear and fuzzy outlines in 98.7% of cases. In 70.3% of cases, the foci were asymmetrically localized mainly in the subpleural areas of the lung and 12.3% of cases were accompanied by reactive involvement of the visceral pleura.CT study revealed a tree-in-bud sign in 96.7% of cases, frosted glass in 10.2%, and mosaic perfusion in 13.2%. A more than 10-mm increase in ITLN was found in 11.7% of cases.In a number of cases, it was difficult to speak about the activity of the pathological process in the lung and ITLN, as shown by MSCT. In this case, a lung radionuclide study with 99mTc-technetrile was carried out in the planar mode. The degree of tracer accumulation, localization, and extent were analyzed in the planar mode.Conclusion. Thus, the CT typical signs of NTMPD are the asymmetric location of its foci with an endobronchial extension, peribronchovascular localization of foci; the presence of a CT tree-in-bud sign; and the slight involvement of the pulmonary pleurae in the process. 99mTs-technetril radionuclide study has established that the most active inflammatory process is located in the lung and the tracer accumulates in the pathologically altered lymph nodes.

Complete mediastinal lymph node dissection—does it make a difference?

Objective To explore the reasonable radiotherapy range by analyzing the patterns and characteristics of intra-thoracic lymph node metastasis in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).Methods One hundred and fifty patients with limited-stage SCLC who received radical resection of primary tumor and systemic intra-thoracic lymph node dissection were included in the study.All the lymph nodes in each area were recorded and examined pathologically to analyze the patterns and characteristics of intra-thoracic lymph node metastasis.Results A total of 2372 lymph nodes were found in 631 areas,and a total of 413 positive lymph nodes (17.4％) were found in 188 lymph node areas (29.8％ ).Intra-thoracic lymph node metastasis were found in 88 patients,with a positive rate of 58.7％.The frequencies of metastasis in the area 11,10,7,5,4 were much higher than those in the other areas,and central located lesions and the higher T-stage lung tumors were more likely to develop intra-thoracic lymph node metastasis (x2 =15.32,39.72;P =0.000,0.000,respectively).Tumors located in the right upper lobe and right middle/lower lobe had a higher tendency of metastasis to the areas 4,7,10 and 4,7,10,11,respectively.Tumors located in the left upper lobe and left lower lobe had a higher tendency of metastasis to the areas 4,5,6,10 and 4,7,9,10,11,respectively.Mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N2 ) were found in 72 patients,among whom 29 patients (40.3％ ) had skipping N2 metastasis without hilar metastasis.Tumors located in the upper lobe had a tendency of skipping metastasis to the upper mediastinum,while tumors located in the middle/lower lobe had a tendency of skipping metastasis to the upper and lower mediastinum.Conclusions The lymph node metastases in SCLC follow the lymphatic drainage routes,that is,from intrapulmonary to the hilar and then to the mediastinum,but with some skipping metastases.Tumors located in different lobes have different high risk lymph node areas for metastasis,and elective irradiation to these lymph node areas maybe increase radiotherapy gain ratio in SCLC. Key words: Carcinoma, small cell lung/radiotherapy; Neoplasms metastasis, lymph node; Radiotherapy range