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The chances of treating bronchial carcinoma successfully must be regarded with scepticism. The tumor develops mainly in elderly people who often succumb to concurrent diseases before the tumor can take its natural course. Because growth rates vary independently of the various tumor types, prognosis is hardly to assess in a given case. Early detection merely prolongs the period of clinical observation and does not improve the chance of healing. Long survivors often develop a second carcinoma. The functional state of lymph nodes reflects the tumor stage rather than prognosis. At the moment prevention is the only promising measure for control of lung cancer.

The article deals with a case report of a 71-years-old female who suffered from hemoptysis over a period of five years. The first hemoptysis occurred postoperatively after a cholecystectomy in December 1966 and was thought to be caused by pulmonary embolism. Persisting episodes of more or less slight hemoptysis in the following years lead to repeated different diagnostic procedures. Radiologically there was an infiltration of the right lower lobe rather constant in size. Endoscopically no bronchial obstruction was visible. In July 1972 the patient suffered from a more severe hemoptoe. X-ray findings were nearly unchanged. With bronchoscopy the hemorrhage could be localized to the segmental bronchi 8 and 9. Right lower lobectomy was done in September 1972 without an exact preoperative diagnosis. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course despite of her age. Pathological examination of the specimen showed a foreign body looking like a gallstone. This diagnosis was confirmed by chemical analysis. To get an explanation we inquired into the circumstances of the cholecystectomy performed 5 years ago. These lead to the conclusion that the concrement must have been vomited and aspirated by the evidently not intubated patient. These suggestions were supported by the fact, that the former operation has been done because of a gangrenous gallbladder with a highly delated common duct and the duodenum, stomach and transverse colon being involved in an inflammatory infiltration. Dangers of asymptomic foreign body aspiration and diagnostic problems in non-opaque peripheral foreign bodies are discussed.

The method described below combines an immunoreaction with Papanicolaou's stain on cytological smears. For the immunoreaction, the avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) method was used. The method was tested on various cytological material with the monoclonal antibody lu-5 and two polyclonal antibodies (anti-keratin and anti-chymotrypsin). Wet fixation of the smears with a modified Delaunay's solution is recommended. Drying of the material impairs immunoreactivity. The main advantages of the technique are the clear-cut permanent immunostaining and the preservation of the nuclear structure, permitting a combined immuncytological characterization of cellular products and conventional cyto-diagnosis.

A 71-year-old man with a long-standing history of rheumatoid arthritis required methotrexate treatment since 1986, with a total dose of 210 mg. In April 1987, before arthroplastic surgery, methotrexate was discontinued. Four weeks later a syndrome of fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and diffuse air-space consolidations on the chest radiograph evolved. An antibiotic therapy had no beneficial effect, and a bronchoscopy yielded no pathogens. An open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of methotrexate-induced pneumonitis. This is the first report of a case where methotrexate-induced pneumonitis developed several weeks after cessation of the treatment. Methotrexate can cause four types of pulmonary adverse reactions: pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis, and pleuritis. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis are discussed.

Six methods of lung biopsy are discussed on the basis of literature reports: 1. Aspiration biopsy by fine needle, 2. split needle biopsy (Vim-Silverman), 3. cutting needle biopsy (Travenol), 4. trephine biopsy by rotating needle, 5. transbronchial biopsy, 6. open biopsy. Because of the high risk, biopsies with thick needles (methods 2--4) should be abandoned. Transbronchial biopsy is renounced because reliable results are only achieved in sarcoidosis which can be clearly diagnosed in high percentage of cases by other less dangerous procedures. In solitary tumors which could not be diagnosed by any other means aspiration biopsy is indicated because of its low risk and its diagnostic accuracy of more than 80%. In disseminated pulmonary disorders which cannot be diagnosed by any other means open lung biopsy is the most reliable method. The lung specimens can be taken under eye control. They should contain tissue from the transitional zone between diseased and unchanged areas, however. The specimens are usually big enough for additional electron and fluorescence microscopic examinations as well as dust analyses. The pathologist must be aware of all clinical data including X-ray pictures, laboratory findings, case history, and history of occupational and nonoccupational dust exposure. If these conditions are fulfilled and adequate methods are applied, lung biopsy provides diagnosis and prognosis, makes causal therapy possible, and amplifies the medical knowledge of pulmonary diseases.

Quantitative analyses of morphologic findings are the condition of clinico-pathological correlation studies. These quantitative analyses are possible by morphometry. The present correlation study shows that morphometry may therefore contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of obstructive airways disease: decreasing bronchial lumen and increasing volume of grandular ducts are correlated to increasing airways resistances (clinical parameters: RAW, FEV1). Increasing volume of bronchial muscles is correlated with resistance of airways at quiet breathing (RAW) and less with increasing residual volume (RV). Increasing volume of bronchial glands and glandular ducts is correlated with increasing resistance at forced expiration which is clinically shown by decreasing FEV1. These findings can be interpreted as follows. Airway resistances are mainly influenced by airway narrowing. At quiet breathing, muscle constriction is an additional cause of increasing airflow resistance due to bronchial narrowing. At forced expiration, however, mucus plugs probably limit the airflow because thickening of bronchial glands points to increased secretory activity. Until now it is not possible to understand why bronchial muscle volume correlates with residual volume.