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Background and objective: Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis is common, and is almost always associated with concomitant thoracic involvement. Extrapulmonary manifestations vary on the basis of gender, age at presentation and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate extrapulmonary involvement in patients with sarcoidosis in Turkey. Methods: This study was conducted by Turkish Thoracic Society Clinical Problems Study Group. New cases of sarcoidosis between 1 June 2004 and 31 May 2006 were recorded on electronic case record forms sent to all potential investigators and information about extrapulmonary involvement was collected. Results: One hundred and nineteen of 293 patients (83 female, 36 male, mean age = 45 +/- 12 years) had extrapulmonary involvement in this study (40.6%). The median time to diagnosis was 6 months and this was longer than patients with just thoracic sarcoidosis (P = 0.001). Extrapulmonary symptoms were present in 181 (61.8%) patients, and skin lesions, arthralgia and back pain were the commonest (33.4%, 20.8% and 16.4%, respectively). Incidence of organ involvement was independent of age with the exception of ocular involvement, which was higher in those under the age of 40 years (P = 0.007). Conclusions: Skin and peripheral lymph node involvement were the most common sites of extrapulmonary involvement and ocular involvement was more common in those under the age of 40 years in patients with sarcoidosis in a Turkish population.

In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the frequency of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in asymptomatic thalassemia major (TM) patients, and to investigate the impact of pulmonary function test (PFT) and CO diffusion results on the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension. Data from 50 asymptomatic patients with TM over age 10 were evaluated. Pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed in 10 patients (20%). High tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity was found in 14% of adults and in 25% of children. Pulmonary function test including CO diffusion testing results were not different between the TM patients with or without pulmonary hypertension. In conclusion, PHT was frequent among TM patients even they were asymptomatic and although PFT results has shown lack of association, it should be investigated in larger population. © 2010 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) could not be diagnosed correctly in 2/3 of patients saving of that pathology, and unfortunately mortality in them could be as high as 30%. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the gender differences in clinical, electrocardiography (ECG) and laboratory findings of PE patients diagnosed with contrast-enhanced helical computerized tomography of thorax. 31 patients (18 females, 58% and 13 males, 42%) were Included into the study. Symptoms, risk factors, ECG and arterial blood gases were evaluated, and then Wells, Geneva and ECG scores were obtained in each subject. Alveolo-arterial (A-a) oxygen gradient was calculated as P(A-a)O2= 150-(PCO 2/0.8)-PO2. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured by echocardiography. In female and male patients, Weils score (4.8 ± 1.9 and 3.2 ± 2.2, p= 0.017); ECG score (5.9 ± 3.6 and 3.1 ± 1.8, p= 0.036) and mean PAP (33.5 ± 12.3 mmHg and 23.2 ± 10.0 mmHg, p= 0.017) were significantly different. However, between female and male patients Geneva score (4.8 ± 1.7 and 5.0 ± 1.6), A-a gradient (35.2 ± 17.3 and 42.9 ± 12.3) and PaCO2 (33.5 ± 15.1 and 29.8 ± 5.4) did not differ significantly (p> 0.05). Immobilization and surgical interventions as risk factors for PE were established significantly higher In females than males (50%-30.8%, p= 0.02 and 50%-23.1%, p= 0.01). In female patients with PE, Wells and ECG scores, Immobilization, surgical interventions and mean PAP are significantly higher than male patients. So, In the clinical practice, these parameters may help to diagnose acute PE especially in females.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) could not be diagnosed correctly in 2/3 of patients saving of that pathology, and unfortunately mortality in them could be as high as 30%. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the gender differences in clinical, electrocardiography (ECG) and laboratory findings of PE patients diagnosed with contrast-enhanced helical computerized tomography of thorax. 31 patients (18 females, 58% and 13 males, 42%) were Included into the study. Symptoms, risk factors, ECG and arterial blood gases were evaluated, and then Wells, Geneva and ECG scores were obtained in each subject. Alveolo-arterial (A-a) oxygen gradient was calculated as P(A-a)O2= 150-(PCO 2/0.8)-PO2. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured by echocardiography. In female and male patients, Weils score (4.8 ± 1.9 and 3.2 ± 2.2, p= 0.017); ECG score (5.9 ± 3.6 and 3.1 ± 1.8, p= 0.036) and mean PAP (33.5 ± 12.3 mmHg and 23.2 ± 10.0 mmHg, p= 0.017) were significantly different. However, between female and male patients Geneva score (4.8 ± 1.7 and 5.0 ± 1.6), A-a gradient (35.2 ± 17.3 and 42.9 ± 12.3) and PaCO2 (33.5 ± 15.1 and 29.8 ± 5.4) did not differ significantly (p> 0.05). Immobilization and surgical interventions as risk factors for PE were established significantly higher In females than males (50%-30.8%, p= 0.02 and 50%-23.1%, p= 0.01). In female patients with PE, Wells and ECG scores, Immobilization, surgical interventions and mean PAP are significantly higher than male patients. So, In the clinical practice, these parameters may help to diagnose acute PE especially in females.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of bronchiectasis has decreased significantly over recent decades in developed countries. However, resection for bronchiectasis still plays an important part in thoracic surgery practice in developing countries such as Turkey. This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis, particularly in aspects related to the effects on functional well-being. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From January 1995 through December 2003, operations for bronchiectasis were performed in 81 patients. Demographic features, type of resection, and operative morbidity and mortality were evaluated. The outcomes related to overall "social" or nonpulmonary functional status were classified and compared according to a scale constructed to assess patients' well-being preoperatively and at the 6th postoperative month. RESULTS: The mean age was 24.4 years and 47 patients (58%) were male. Surgical treatment was lobectomy in 37 (45%), pneumonectomy in 10 (12%), segmentectomy in 13 (16%), and lobectomy plus segmentectomy in 22 (27%) of the operations. Complete resection of disease was achieved in 69 patients (85%). There was no operative mortality. The rate of morbidity was 18.3%. Improvement to a functional status of excellent was observed in 81.7% and improvement to a status of good was seen in 12.7% of patients; 5.6% experienced no change. The results of complete resection were significantly better than those of incomplete resection (P=.0015). CONCLUSION: Functional results of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis in this series suggest that the outcomes are favorable and promising, particularly in selected patients with sufficient pulmonary reserves and localized disease who are suitable for complete resection.