Ruza Stevic

Large Cell Lung Carcinoma with Unusual Imaging Feature, Immunophenotype and Genetic Finding

We present a case of large cell lung carcinoma in sixty-one year old male with typical lung cancer symptoms but unusual radiological presentation and immunophenotype. Tumor morphological finding related to its radiological finding was suggestive for large cell lymphoma or carcinoma, but its immunophenotype made confusion for pathological diagnosis. No p53 mutations were detected in genetic investigation. Multidisciplinar diagnostic approach to some tumors is useful for their final diagnosis.

Solitary fibrous pleural tumor associated with loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia

The patient suffered loss of consciousness, dysarthria and right sided hemiparesis. The CT scan and MRI scans were negative. These findings are more in keeping with a diagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mild CVA. Hypoglycemia per se does not usually cause hemiparesis. The blood glucose level was low but I am not sure if one can conclude that hypoglycemia caused the above noted neurological signs and symptoms. The authors do not present any data to prove that this patient had “hypoglycemic coma”.

Sclerosing Mesenteritis Presenting as a Pseudotumor of the Greater Omentum

Objective: The aim was to demonstrate a diagnostic challenge of sclerosing mesenteritis initially considered as liposarcoma. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 45-year-old man was admitted with a painful abdominal mass. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a well- demarcated tumor in his left hemiabdomen, with a large fat component and areas of soft tissue attenuation suggestive of liposarcoma. Intraoperative findings showed a tumor arising from the greater omentum. The tumor was completely removed, and histopathology confirmed a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis with dominant mesenteric lipodystrophy. Conclusion: This case showed that a pseudotumorous type of sclerosing mesenteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the mesenteric tumors.

Acute left bundle branch block as a complication of brachytherapy for lung cancer

Endoluminal brachytherapy for lung cancer ensures the delivery of a maximal therapeutic radiation dose to the tumor with a minimal effect on normal surrounding tissues. We report on a 62-year-old man, who acutely developed LBBB and heart failure 48 hours after the second course of combined endoluminal and external beam radiation therapy. After administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, electrocardiographic changes resolved and patient completely recovered. Radiotherapy was reintroduced after ten days.

Amiodarone-Induced Pulmonary Toxicity Mimicking Metastatic Lung Disease: Case Report

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug that is commonly used for the treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. It is an iodine-containing compound, and has a tendency to accumulate in certain organs, including in the lungs. We describe a case of amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity with concurrent lung cancer which demonstrated good treatment response. A sixty nine-year old male smoker presented to our emergency department with a four-month history of progressive dyspnea, cough and 5 kilogram weight loss. Chest x-ray at admission showed enlarged heart shadow and prominent hilum bilaterally; CT revealed ground glass opacities in right lung and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. His past medical history was significant for dilated myocardiopathy and atrial fibrillation (for which he had been taking amiodarone for 5 years). Radiological findings, decrease in total lung capacity (TLC=84%), decrease in lung diffusing capacity (DLCOc=73%), and corneal epithelial opacities suggested amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity (APT) and/or advanced malignant disease. Amiodarone was eliminated from his medication profile due to suspicion of drug toxicity. The patient’s clinical condition promptly improved, and chest x-ray performed after 7 days showed corresponding improvement. Subsequent bronchoscopy included a transbronchial biopsy which revealed lung adenocarcinoma. The patient’s presumed APT was treated with methylprednisolone 40mg IV daily during the first two weeks, and subsequently with prednisone 20 mg/day orally for two months. One month after steroid therapy (and prior to chemotherapy) both lungs demonstrated radiographic improvement. Treatment response to chemotherapy was successful, with good performance status (ECOG1) after 10 months. This case with comorbid APT and lung cancer illustrates the importance of diligence in developing differential diagnoses for pulmonary infiltrates. Chest physicians should take care to remember that amiodarone induced pulmonary toxicity (APT) can sometimes mimic disseminated lung malignancy.

Emerging pathology: pulmonary disease caused by mycobacterium xenopi - a challenge in clinical practice

Introduction. Human nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) or environmental mycobacteria related disease is on increase. Risk factors are unclear and associations are observed in relation to climate differences, population density, or host susceptibility. With availability of molecular techniques for NTM identification, we faced emergence of NTM pulmonary cases. The work is an invitation more to colleagues to enroll the rare NTM cases into large study group. Case report. During an episode of productive cough and fever in a 73-year-old HIV-negative man smoker with minimal sequellae of pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum smears were acid fast bacilli positive on direct microscopy. The LöwensteinJensen culture results were positive with 20, 30 and 50 colonies, and molecular identification confirmed Mycobacterium xenopi (M. xenopi). Standard chest radiography showed no signs of active lesions. Examination was completed with bronchoscopy and thorax multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT). Cavitary lesions in the apico-posterior part of the left upper lobe (LUL) were detected. Under treatment (rifampicin, ethambutol, clarithromycin) sputum conversion was achieved, but irregular cavitation in the LUL remained at MSCT after 6 and after 12 months with signs of minimal regression. Patient’s general condition only mildly improved and asthenia remained. Observed risk factors were previous pulmonary disease, tobacco smoking, malnutrition and prolonged emotional stress. Conclusion. M. xenopi related pulmonary disease, difficult to cure and with uncertain prognosis, is a challenge in clinical practice. Since treatment is still controversial, more randomized clinical trials are needed. Current international multicentre approach might be a good option for a larger sample size and development of new guide.

Radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma - analysis of the clinical outcome

Introduction/Objective Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality for primary and metastatic liver tumors. It can be performed percutaneously or as a laparoscopic or open surgical procedure under ultrasound or computerized tomography guidance. The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of the initial 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) managed by percutaneous RFA at a tertiary institution and to assess the efficacy of this procedure in the management of selected patients with HCC. Method From June 2011 until December 2013, 16 patients with early-stage HCC were managed by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation at the Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade. All the patients were treated by the same team composed of an interventional radiologist and a liver surgeon. We analyzed the clinical outcome and the biologic effect of this treatment by comparing the preand post-treatment levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Results Post-treatment values of liver transaminase levels returned to the pre-treatment values from Day 3. Post-treatment hospital stay was two days. Post-procedural complications included mild pain in all patients, skin necrosis at the site of the electrode puncture in five patients, and transient hepatic decompensation in one patient. In all the patients the AFP level correlated with the findings of liver imaging (ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging with liver-specific contrast agent) indicating viability of the treated tumor. Conclusion RFA is a feasible and effective procedure providing favorable clinical outcome in patients with early-stage HCC.

Durable complete remission of poor performance status metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patient treated with second-line erlotinib: a case report

This paper presents a rare case of an elderly patient treated with erlotinib for disseminated lung adenocarcinoma with poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [PS]3). This treatment led to a long duration of complete remission according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 – almost 7 years (81 months) of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 10 years by March 2017. The treatment with erlotinib started in September 2008 and it was well tolerated with no adverse effects. Mutation analyses (real-time polymerase chain reaction method) revealed deletion of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene and wild-type Kirsten-ras protein gene in exon 19. In May 2015, the patient relapsed with jaundice and enlarged lymph nodes of the liver hilum, with no other metastasis, PS 2. Biopsy confirmed metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR molecular testing did not reveal T790M mutation. Treatment was continued with gemcitabine–cisplatin chemotherapy. A total of six cycles were administered with nearly complete response and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0. Further on, gemcitabine monotherapy has been administered with nearly complete response maintained and OS of 10 years by March 2017. This report describes an extremely rare case of a poor performance patient with advanced metastatic adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutation – deletion in exon 19 – who was receiving salvage erlotinib and had a complete response with 81 months of PFS followed by a relapse and subsequent chemotherapy which led to nearly complete response, with an OS of 10 years by March 2017. Such a complete response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in a poor PS patient, with long PFS and OS achieved, justifies tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment approach in poor PS patients with EGFR-sensitizing tumors, and furthermore points to the feasibility of administering chemotherapy at the time of relapse.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Mismatch: A Case of Tracheal Hamartoma

Objective: To demonstrate the diagnostic challenge of tracheal hamartoma in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 65-year-old man with COPD was admitted with sudden onset of asphyxia attacks related to the position of his body. Computerized tomography (CT) of the neck showed a soft tissue mass with calcification, which occluded more than two-thirds of the proximal part of the trachea. The tumor was completely removed, and histopathology confirmed hamartoma. Conclusion: This case report showed the detection of a primary tracheal tumor on CT. This finding enabled the correct diagnosis and led to appropriate treatment in the form of surgery.

Rare tracheal tumor: Solitary plasmacytoma

Primary tracheal tumors are rare and trachea is an exceedingly rare site of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP). We report a case of solitary tracheal plasmacytoma causing symptoms of airway obstruction in a 59-year-old man. Flow/volume loop indicated the fixed central airway obstruction. Computerized tomography and bronchoscopy demonstrated a sessile tumor on posterior tracheal wall obstructing 80% of the lumen. Partial tracheal resection with T-T anastomosis was performed. Pathologic analysis of resected mass revealed EMP. Additional investigations excluded multiple myeloma. There are no signs of disease recurrence after 7-year follow-up.