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Objective: To define the clinical spectrum of tracheobronchial straight metallic pin aspiration in adults, assess predisposing conditions, evaluate the efficacy of bronchoscopy, and determine the outcome and complications at the largest 2 hospitals in Jordan., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 60 consecutive clinical cases from 2 referral-based medical centers (32 patients at King Hussein Medical Center [KHMC] and 28 patients at Al-Basheer Hospital). Medical records of adult patients (>13 years of age) who presented with history of straight metallic pin aspiration over 6-year period (July 2000 and July 2006) were analyzed. Clinico-radiological features and location of the pins were studied. The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) was used for foreign body (FB) identification and removal in all KHMC patients; video assisted rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia was used at Al-Basheer Hospital., Results: All patients were females <28 years of age. Fifty-six patients (93%) presented within the first 24 hours after aspiration. Medical history was suggestive of FB aspiration in all patients. Chest x-rays demonstrated the radio opaque pins in all patients. At bronchoscopy, the intermediate bronchus was the most common site of FB lodgment (62%). Ninety-two percent of patients were discharged on the same day of the procedure., Conclusion: Tracheobronchial straight metallic pins are relatively frequent FB in Jordanian young females and can occur in a very specific clinical setting. Removal of these FBs can usually be accomplished successfully by FFB.

Objective: To identify the pattern of the clinical, radiological, and diagnostic procedures of the diagnosed cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients presented to the Respiratory Medicine Division at King Hussein Medical Center over the last 10 years., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the medical records and chest radiographs of 137 active pulmonary TB patients who were diagnosed between March 1995 and October 2005. Patient's symptoms were recorded and analyzed. Radiological findings were assessed. Procedures used to identify Mycobacterium TB were identified., Results: One hundred and thirty-seven patients medical records were retrieved and analyzed (84 males and 53 females). The mean age (range) was 48.43 +/- 14.65 (14-83) years. The most common presenting symptoms were cough (79%), weight loss (74%), and fatigue (69%). Other presenting complaints were fever (69%), excessive night sweating (55%), chest pain (41%) and dyspnea (39%). Thirty-one percent of the cohort presented with hemoptysis. Seventy-one patients had different types of opacities and infiltrates in their chest x-ray. Micro- or macro- nodular lung changes were reported in 22 (16%) patients. Lung cavitations and pleural effusions were present in 13% of the studied patients. In 7% of cases, bronchiectasis was noted as a sequelae of long-standing lung disease. The right lung was involved in 51% of cases; the left lung in 27% and bilateral lung involvement was noted in 22% of patients. The upper lobes were involved in 63%. Sputum for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) Z-Nielson stain and culture was positive in 51%, bronchial wash was positive in 27% of cases. The diagnosis was made by histopathological examination in 15% of cases., Conclusion: This study showed that active pulmonary TB patients vary in clinical presentation. The radiological manifestations of pulmonary TB are heterogeneous. Sputum for AFB remains an important, easy and inexpensive measure for TB diagnosis, but may not be always helpful in early diagnosis. Bronchoscopy with bronchial washings for Mycobacterium stain and culture is an important method, and it helps in confirming the diagnosis in sputum negative patients. In sputum and bronchial wash negative cases histopathological diagnosis can identify an important proportion of active pulmonary TB cases.