[Synchronous Multicentric Thymoma]

A 76-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. His physical exams and laboratory data were not notable. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed 2 nodular lesions with clear margin in anterior mediastinum. The nodule at the left inferior pole of the thymus was 9 cm in diameter, and another one at the right inferior pole was 3.5 cm in diameter. We performed thymo-thymectomy by median sternotomy. Histological study revealed that the left tumor was type B2 thymoma and the other one was type A thymoma. Both were completely encapsulated without invasion, which means stage Ⅰ by Masaoka's classification. The patient has showed no evidence of recurrence for 11 years following the surgery. This is the 1st case in Japan that reported synchronous multicentric thymoma with apparently different histology of type A and B2.

Spiritual care of cancer patients by integrated medicine in urban green space: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Psycho-oncological care, including spiritual care, is essential for cancer patients. Integrated medicine, a therapy combining modern western medicine with various kinds of complementary and alternative medicine, can be appropriate for the spiritual care of cancer because of the multidimensional characteristics of the spirituality. In particular, therapies that enable patients to establish a deeper contact with nature, inspire feelings of life and growth of plants, and involve meditation may be useful for spiritual care as well as related aspects such as emotion. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of spiritual care of cancer patients by integrated medicine in a green environment.

METHODS

The present study involved 22 cancer patients. Integrated medicine consisted of forest therapy, horticultural therapy, yoga meditation, and support group therapy, and sessions were conducted once a week for 12 weeks. The spirituality (the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual well-being), quality of life (Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire), fatigue (Cancer Fatigue Scale), psychological state (Profile of Mood States, short form, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and natural killer cell activity were assessed before and after intervention.

RESULTS

In Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual well-being, there were significant differences in functional well-being and spiritual well-being pre- and postintervention. This program improved quality of life and reduced cancer-associated fatigue. Furthermore, some aspects of psychological state were improved and natural killer cell activity was increased.

CONCLUSIONS

It is indicated that integrated medicine performed in a green environment is potentially useful for the emotional and spiritual well-being of cancer patients.

[A case of Paragonimus westermani with elevated FDG uptake into a pulmonary nodular lesion and right hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes on FDG-positron-emission tomography]

A 47-year-old Chinese woman living in Japan was referred with a 2-month history of cough with hemoptysis. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed increased FDG uptake into a pulmonary nodular lesion 25 mm in greatest dimension in the right upper lobe, and right hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. Laboratory investigation did not reveal either eosinophilia or a marked elevation of serum IgE titer. A culture of bronchial lavage fluid was sterile and culture for mycobacteria was negative. Cytological examination results of transbronchial brushing samples were Class III. A partial resection of the right upper lobe was performed because of the possibility of primary lung cancer. Pathological examination of the nodular lesion showed helminthic eggs surrounded by dense inflammatory infiltrates, which mainly consisted of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Based on the findings of a serological study for helminth, the morphological characteristics of the eggs and the patient's history of eating raw crab, the patient was given a diagnosis of Paragonimus westermani, which can mimic primary lung cancer.

[Interstitial pneumonitis caused by seasonal influenza vaccine]

A 74-year-old man who received seasonal influenza vaccination at a clinic developed fever and cough the following morning. He was referred to our hospital on the 5th day after vaccination because of bilateral pulmonary infiltration shadows on a chest X-ray film. Despite the administration of sulbactam/ampicillin and roxithromycin after admission, his symptoms did not improve. His bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained by bronchoscopy on the 8th hospital day revealed a CD4/CD8 ratio of 6.8, 109 x 10(4)/ml, and 39% and 16% increases in lymphocyte fractions and eosinophil levels, respectively. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed organizing pneumonia. A drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) for seasonal influenza vaccine with BALF showed 210% of seasonal influenza (S.I). These results indicate that this vaccine caused pneumonitis with a hypersensitive reaction, according to drug-induced lung injury criteria.

[Idiopathic esophageal rupture (Boerhaave syndrome)]

The idiopathic esophageal rupture, Boerhaave syndrome, is very rare disease. Early diagnosis and treatment will produce good clinical course. We experienced a case of Boerhaave syndrome with good clinical prognosis because of the prompt diagnosis and surgical repair by thoracotomy. A 58-year-old man complained sudden chest pain after vomiting. Esophageal rupture was diagnosed by chest computed tomography, and the operation was performed after 5 hours from the onset. The lesion of the esophageal rupture was on the left side of esophagus just above the diaphragm 3 cm in length, which was detected by the combination of thoracoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful and he discharged from our hospital 17 days after the thoracotomy. Further development of imaging techniques and surgery, such as intraoperative endoscopy and thoracoscopy, are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Boerhaave syndrome.

[Thymic basaloid carcinoma]

We report a case of thymic basaloid carcinoma combined with multilocular thymic cyst (MTC). A 72-year-old man was found to have an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray without pny symptoms. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a smooth edged anterior mediastinum tumor projecting to the left lung field. After preoperative chemotherapy by irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and radiotherapy of 40 Gy, chest CT showed a large part of the tumor projecting to the left lung field had changed to a cyst. After the pericardium and upper lobe of the left lung to which the MTC adhered was partially resected via left thoracotomy, the tumor was resected with innominate vein via median sternotomy. The operation was followed by CPT-11 chemotherapy and radiotherapy of 20 Gy. The tumor was thymic basaloid carcinoma 3 x 2.5 x 2 cm in size combined with MTC 8.2 cm maximum in diameter. As he died of another disease 6 months after excision, sufficient postoperative observation was not obtained. Thymic basaloid carcinoma is rare and only 14 cases including the present case have been reported.

[Successful treatment of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma by bronchoplasty]

A 63-year-old man who was pointed out abnormal shadow on chest X-ray admitted to our hospital. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a tumor originated from right upper bronchus and grew into right main bronchus. The tumor was diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma by bronchoscopic biopsy. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed abnormal uptake localized at the tumor. The standardized uptake values of the tumor 60 minutes after injection were 2.86, and 120 minutes after injection, it increased to 3.97. Right upper lobectomy with bronchoplasty by deep wedge resection of right main bronchus at the orifice of right upper bronchus and lymphadenectomy was performed. Pathological diagnosis was high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma without lymph nodes metastasis which was compatible with FDG-PET. Postoperative course was uneventful.

[A case of successful medical treatment for necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall with diabetic nephropathy]

A 52-year-old man was given a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus at age 39. At age 46, he stopped taking medication. Two weeks after burning his legs at low temperature, he fell, using his right arm to protect his legs. The next day, he complained of pain and slight swelling from his right shoulder to his anterior chest and came to our hospital. At that time, a plain computed tomography scan suggested gasogenic bacterial infection and we discussed the indications for debridment. Although his widespread inflammation required extensive treatment including thoracostomy, we abandoned surgical treatment and administered several antibiotics in appropriate combination because of his severe condition. After admission, the mass grew rapidly and it was diagnosed as necrotizing fasciitis based on percutaneous needle biopsy and clinical findings. Although both inflammatory reactions and mass size tended to improve, he had repeated recurrence of pain and swelling in his right anterior chest. When he had a second recurrence, he received additional short-term steroid therapy. Afterwards he had no further recurrence. In this case, early clinical diagnosis, using broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to definite diagnosis, and additional short-term steroid therapy at the time of the recurrence were effective.

[A pulmonary tumorlet with caseous granuloma associated with atypical mycobacterium]

We encountered a case of pulmonary tumorlet with caseous granuloma associated with atypical mycobacterium. A 73-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because a chest x-ray film showed enlargement of an abnormal shadow in the middle lobe of the right lung. Primary lung cancer was suspected and right middle lobectomy was performed. Acid-fast bacilli (Gaffky 1) were found in a caseous lesion and examination of intraoperatively obtained frozen specimens showed caseous granulomas. The bacilli were later identified as Mycobacterium avium complex. The permanent specimen showed a minute lesion consisting of small clusters of epithelial cells resembling carcinoid tumor in contact with granulomatous tissue. Histopathological examination revealed argyrophilia on Grimelius stain and immunoreactivity to chromogranin-A in the clusters of epithelial cells. Although these results are consistent with small cell carcinoma or peripheral carcinoid tumor, pulmonary tumorlet was diagnosed because of the lesion's small and minimal cytologic atypia, and because of chronic pulmonary damage around the lesion. Pulmonary tumorlets are minute, usually microscopic, tumor-like lesions mostly found in damaged lung tissue obtained at autopsy or during surgery. Morphological diagnosis is sometimes very difficult, but recently these lesions have been regarded as hyperplastic lesions arising in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (Kultschitzky cells) and caused by chronic pulmonary damage, such as hypoxia and inflammation. Pulmonary tumorlets must be considered in the differential diagnosis of minute lesions suspected to be small cell carcinoma or peripheral carcinoid tumor.

Fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of p53 gene by capillary electrophoresis

Mutation of the p53 gene plays an important role in neoplastic progression in human tumorigenesis. Polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) techniques are now available for the detection of point mutations. The original method using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is disadvantageous, particularly for clinical tests and for analysis of large numbers of samples. Therefore, using an automated capillary electrophoresis (CE) technique with a molecular-sieving polymer solution, we have devised a completely automatic fluorescence-based PCR-SSCP system (CE-FSSCP) for the differential detection of point mutations that dose not require SSCP with radioisotopes and polyacrylamide gels. The automatic CE-FSSCP system was developed for reproducible operations in the denaturation of double-stranded DNA and electrophoresis of single-stranded DNA. The detection system consists of a 100 W I2 lamp and photomultiplier. We performed CE-FSSCP with a 2% linear polyacrylamide polymer solution containing 5% glycerol. Four tissue specimens of lung tumors with mutations in exon 7 of the p53 gene were found to have mutant alleles; six-base-pair deletion at codons 247-248, a one-base-pair deletion at codon 260, a one-base-pair deletion at codon 244 and a GGC to CGC substitution at codon 244. We expect this technique to prove useful for the clinical DNA diagnosis of human cancers, determination of the therapeutic effect of anticancer agents and for the study of the molecular aspects of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of human cancers.

[Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA content of resected non-small cell lung cancer with reference to long-term follow-up]

We measured the cellular DNA content of paraffin-embedded tumor specimens by flow cytometry from 340 cases of resected non-small cell lung cancer, and investigated the correlation of DNA content and prognosis of these cases with long-term follow-up. These 340 cases were divided into some populations according to pathological stage, histologic type, surgical curativity and N factor, and we compared the prognosis of DNA diploidy cases and DNA aneuploidy cases in each population. DNA aneuploidy cases had a significantly less favorable prognosis than DNA diploidy cases in population of stage I adenocarcinoma, stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer and N2 cases among stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer, all after curative operation. But in other populations, there was no significant difference in prognosis between DNA diploidy cases and DNA aneuploidy cases. In conclusion, DNA ploidy pattern is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with stage I adenocarcinoma and N2 cases of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

[T cell lymphoma presenting as recurrent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates over five years]

A 52-year-old man presented with BOOP-like recurrent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. In 1989 a chest X-ray film showed an infiltrative shadow in the right S6 region which disappeared after administration of prednisolone. Thereafter, bilateral patchy infiltrates recurred many times, and each time they resolved rapidly with steroid therapy. Skin eruptions on the face recurred. In October 1994 the patient underwent an open-lung biopsy of the infiltrate in the left S6 region. The pathological findings were consistent with BOOP, except for the moderate-to marked infiltration of lymphocytes. A lymphoproliferative disorder was suspected, and Southern blot analysis of the specimen revealed a rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene, which led to the diagnosis of T cell lymphoma. Ten months after the diagnosis, no recurrence of the lymphoma had been detected. In this case a gene analysis of the biopsy specimen was very useful for the diagnosis of T cell lymphoma.

[Chest wall reconstruction using polyester mesh]

From January 1987 through December 1994, we performed chest wall reconstruction using the polyester mesh in 15 patients with lung cancer, 11 with empyema after open drainage, 8 with chest wall tumor and 1 with radiation dermatitis and costal chondritis. Twenty five patients were resected 3 or more ribs. Chest wall defects were reconstructed with the polyester mesh covered with Gore-Tex soft tissue patch. Twenty two cases passed more than a year without signs of infection and follow-up averaged 27.6 months. Polyester mesh was removed due to bronchial fistula (3 cases), deformities (3 cases) and abscess formation (1 case). In these cases, polyester mesh was well incorporated and had no foreign body change. In conclusion, the polyester mesh seems to be a dependable prosthetic material for chest wall reconstruction.

[Positive expression of c-myc and p53 products in two cases of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma]

The c-myc and p53 genes are thought to be an oncogene and a tumor suppressor gene, respectively. These genes' products are characteristic of malignant tumors. We quantitatively analyzed the c-myc and p53 products by flow cytometry in two cases of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma. In case 1, 32.3% of the tumor cells were found to have the c-myc product, and 8.9% were found to have the p53 product. In case 2, 6.7% of the tumor cells were found to have the c-myc product and 15.5% were found to have the p53 product. The percentages in both cases were twice as high as those in a negative control lymphocytes stained with c-myc and p53 products. Therefore, these two cases showed positive expression of the c-myc and p53 products. In addition DNA from six other patients with sclerosing hemangioma was analyzed with paraffin-embedded sections. All six had DNA diploidy, with DNA indexes ranging from 0.91 to 1.03 and coefficients of variation ranging from 3.0 to 5.5. We suggest that pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma is a very weakly malignant tumor.

[Detection of loss of heterozygosity by microsatellite probe and DNA content analysis]

We examined replication error (RER) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the region of microsatellites in 60 cases of resected lung cancer. We used microsatellite probes for the short arm of the 2nd chromosome (D2S123, D2S136), the short arm of the 3rd chromosome (D3S1067), and the short arm of the 17th chromosome (TP53). According to stage, the frequency of LOH was 25% in stage I, 33% in stage II, 44% in stage IIIA, 11% in stage III B, and 63% in stage IV. According to histological classification, the frequency of LOH was 41% for squamous cell carcinoma, 24% for adenocarcinoma, and 100% for small cell carcinoma. According to microsatellite probe results, the frequency of LOH was 6.7% for D2S123, 5.0% for D2S136, 16.7% for D3S1067, and 18.3% for TP53. Two of the 60 cases showed RER. One case was stage I squamous cell carcinoma, and the other was stage IV adenocarcinoma. Except for stage III B,LOH in the microsatellite region increases with the stage. LOH is often detected in the order of small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. According to the chromosome number, LOH is detected more often in the 3rd and 17th chromosomes than in the 2nd chromosome. In 20 cases with LOH, only two showed DNA diploidy. Compared to LOH of the microsatellite region, DNA content analysis by flow cytometry has accuracy problems.

[The result of reoperation for lung cancer]

Twenty four patients with recurrent or multiple lung cancer were reoperated in our center. Five-year survival rate was 20% for 11 patients with recurrent, while was 25% for 13 patients with multiple after reoperation. The patients with limited operation had well survival and there was no significant difference in procedure. However all four patients with N2 had poor prognosis. Seven patients (29%) had the post reoperative complication in pulmonary system. All of them had the impairment of pulmonary function (FEV1.0% was less than 50%) or more than 75% perfusion ratio, measured with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy, in the side of the reoperation.

[A case of solitary plasmacytoma of the chest wall]

A 58-year-old man with a solitary plasmacytoma of the chest wall is reported. He was admitted because of a painless tumor on the right lateral chest wall. The chest CT scan showed a chest wall tumor surrounding the 7th and 8th ribs without rib destruction. A transcutaneous needle biopsy of the tumor with a Sure-Cut-Needle revealed a plasmacytoma. The bone marrow biopsy findings were normal. Under a diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma, the chest wall tumor was resected. The tumor was an extramedullary plasmacytoma. Southern blot analysis of the immunoglobulin light chain gene of the tumor cells detected a rearrangement of genes in the lambda chain, while no rearrangements of immunoglobulin genes were detected in the bone marrow specimen. Seven months later another solitary plasmacytoma was found at the left radius, and was resected. Southern blot analysis of the immunoglobulin light chain gene was useful in the differential diagnosis from systemic myeloma and in determining the monoclonality of the tumor.

[DNA content analysis and detection of c-myc and p53 products using flow cytometry in resected lung cancer cases]

We quantitatively analyzed the c-myc and p53 products using flow cytometry in 28 cases of resected lung cancer and one case each of chorio-carcinoma, plasmacytoma, malignant mesothelioma and sclerosing hemangioma. In the lung cancer cases, c-myc and p53 products were detected in 10 cases (35%) and 7 cases (21%), respectively. These rates are higher than the DNA abnormal expression rates of the c-myc and p53 genes (15% and 12%, respectively) in our own data. In the adenocarcinoma of lung cancer cases, c-myc and p53 products were detected in 9 cases (53%) and 5 cases (29%), respectively. Among the squamous cell carcinoma cases, there were one case (11%) of c-myc expression and one case (11%) of p53 expression. DNA content analysis of the lung cancer patients revealed 7 cases of DNA diploidy and 21 cases of DNA aneuploidy. All 10 c-myc-positive cases showed DNA aneuploidy; thus the positive rate for c-myc products in the DNA aneuploidy cases was significantly different compared with the DNA diploidy cases (p < 0.05). In the sclerosing hemangioma case, we detected both c-myc and p53 products. Sclerosing hemangioma has been thought to be a benign tumor, but it may be a malignant tumor.

[Preoperative staging in T1 and T2 lung cancers by mediastinoscopy and mediastinal lymph node dissection]

Between 1975 and 1992, mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy were performed on 184 T1 and 271 T2 lung cancer cases consisting of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Mediastinoscopy gave true negative findings in 90.8% of the T1 patients, true positive findings in 7.6% and false negative findings in 1.6%. The comparable rates were 76.7%, 17.0% and 6.3% in T2 patients. The 5-year survival rate was 91.3% for T1N0M0 patients (n = 64) who underwent non-radical dissection (= NRD), and 69.4% for those (n = 70) who underwent radical dissection (= RD). The rate with NRD was significantly better (p < 0.006). The 5-year survival rate was 63.2% for T2N0M0 patients (n = 62) undergoing NRD, and 49.8% for those (n = 72) undergoing RD, but the difference was not significantly. Distant metastasis was a common cause of death, whereas there were no deaths due to local recurrence in the T1N0M0 patients, whether NRD or RD was performed. These results support our opinions that preoperative mediastinoscopy and intraoperative node staging are sufficient for assessment of the N factor in T1 and T2 lung cancer, and that mediastinal node dissection should not be performed in T1N0M0 patients.

[Correlation between DNA content and amplification of oncogenes (c-myc, L-myc, c-erbB-2) and correlation with prognosis in 143 cases of resected lung cancer]

DNA content analysis using flow cytometry and amplification of c-myc, L-myc, and c-erbB-2 oncogenes in 143 cases of resected lung cancer were analyzed using the same specimen, and we examined the correlation with prognosis of DNA content and amplification of oncogenes. There were 54 DNA diploid cases (38%), 81 DNA aneuploid cases (57%) and 8 DNA multiploid cases. Analysis of oncogene amplification revealed 22 cases of c-myc, 4 cases of L-myc, and 22 cases of c-erbB-2. In curatively resected cases, the 5-year survival rate was 65% in 31 DNA diploid cases, and 36% in 40 DNA aneuploid cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.02). However, in non-curatively resected cases, the 5-year survival rate was 11% in 23 DNA diploid cases, and 33% in 49 DNA aneuploid cases. There were no statistically significant differences among these groups. The correlation between DNA content and amplification of oncogenes was as follows. In DNA diploid cases, there were 4 cases of c-myc, and 6 cases of c-erbB-2. In DNA aneuploid cases, there were 15 cases of c-myc, 4 cases of L-myc, and 15 cases of c-erbB-2. In DNA multiploid cases, there were 3 cases of c-myc, and 1 cases of c-erbB-2. Amplification of oncogenes was seen more frequently in DNA aneuploid and multiploid cases than in DNA diploid cases. In 71 curative resected cases, the 5-year survival rate for amplified cases of c-myc (10 cases) was 0%, and that of cases with no amplification was 61% (no statistically significant difference). The 5-year survival rate for amplified cases of c-erbB-2 (10 cases) was 40%, against 52% for cases with no amplification. DNA content analysis using flow cytometry was more convenient than analysis of amplification of oncogenes, and reflects the prognosis of resected lung cancer better than oncogenes. There was no relation between DNA content and gene amplification.

[An autopsy case of primary pulmonary malignant lymphoma associated with right pulmonary infiltrative shadow and macroglobulinemia]

We experienced a patient with two peaks of elevated monoclonal IgM and IgA in the serum, and lambda type Bence-Jones protein in the urine. Chest X-ray films showed right pulmonary infiltrative shadow and effusion. The results of the autopsy of this patient revealed infiltration of malignant lymphoma cells in both lungs, but in no other organs. The results of immunohistochemical staining for L26. UCHL-1, IgM, IgA and lambda chain in this case led to the diagnosis of diffuse small cell type. B-cell lambda, IgM type malignant lymphoma. Gene analysis using bone marrow did not reveal any rearrangement bands for the heavy chain, light chain kappa and lambda, or TcR beta genes. Therefore, we concluded that malignant lymphoma cells had infiltrated only the bilateral lungs, causing a rare case of primary pulmonary malignant lymphoma with two monoclonal peaks of increased serum IgM and IgA.

[Diagnosis of mediastinal neoplasms using mediastinoscopy and CT-guided needle biopsy supported by gene analysis]

Of 140 cases of mediastinal neoplasms in our hospital, histological diagnosis was confirmed in 129 cases. We examined the methods of preoperative biopsy with those 129 cases. Biopsy had been performed in 25 cases. Mediastinoscopy was performed in seven cases, needle biopsy in eight cases, lymph node biopsy in eight cases, esophageal biopsy using a gastrofiberscope in one case, transbronchial biopsy using a bronchoscope in one case. The true positive rates of those methods were 100% for both mediastinoscopy and lymph node biopsy, and 75% for needle biopsy. Preoperative misdiagnosis occurred in two cases of needle biopsy. The postoperative histological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma in both cases. We performed gene analysis of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene, light chain kappa and lambda genes, and the T-cell receptor beta gene by use of biopsied specimens, and we found rearrangement bands of these genes in the cases of malignant lymphoma. Therefore, we summarize that gene analysis is a reliable method if malignant lymphoma is suspected. If a needle biopsy is performed under CT guidance, the needle is sure to puncture the tumor. We concluded, therefore, that if a tumor is located in the anterior mediastinum, CT-guided needle biopsy should be performed first of all. Mediastinoscopy is a useful method if the tumor is located in the mid-mediastinum.

Gene analysis of pulmonary pseudolymphoma

The value of gene analysis was assessed in patients with pulmonary pseudolymphoma. Two patients with histopathologic evidence of pseudolymphoma took part in the study. High molecular weight DNA was extracted from resected specimens and digested with restriction enzymes, followed by southern blotting. Gene rearrangement of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors was investigated using DNA probes against heavy chain (H chain), kappa chain, and lambda chain of immunoglobulin genes and that against the beta-chain of T-cell receptor genes. Both patients with pseudolymphoma showed rearranged bands for the H chain; B-cell lymphoma was diagnosed from the gene analysis. Gene analysis is a valuable method when it is difficult to judge whether the tumor cells are of T-cell origin or B-cell origin in phenotype analysis by immunohistologic studies and when it should be judged whether or not the lymphoid hyperplasia is tumor related.

[A resected case of leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus--the diagnosis was supported with DNA content analysis]

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus was reported. The tumor was located in the lower esophagus. The esophagus was very stenotic, but the mucosa was clear. We thought the tumor had not invaded the mucosa. Enucleation was performed on the tumor. The tumor was encapsulated, so at the time of operation, the microscopic diagnosis was leiomyoma. However, after the operation, the diagnosis was changed to the leiomyosarcoma, because there are many spindle-shaped atypical cells, and many mitoses. We also analyzed the DNA content of the tumor. The DNA index of this tumor was 0.9 and 1.48, therefore, this tumor was DNA aneuploidy. The result of DNA content analysis showed that the tumor is malignant. DNA content analysis is helpful for diagnosis of this kind of sarcoma, because microscopic examination can not readily distinguish benign leiomyoma from malignant leiomyosarcoma. This patient was still alive one year after the operation. Thus, we thought that enucleation of the tumor is a good operational procedure to the leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus, if the tumor is polypoid type and encapsulated.

[A case of malignant thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia and high serum level of SCC antigen]

We present a case of 43-year-old man with pure red cell aplasia appearing 8 years after thymothymectomy. He underwent an operation and postoperative radiotherapy for malignant thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis in 1983. In 1991 high serum level of SCC antigen was noted and a metastatic tumor was found in the retroperitoneal region. After removal of the tumor pure red cell aplasia developed, which responded to steroid therapy. The serum level of SCC antigen is still abnormally high.

[A case of neurinoma combined with testicular feminization syndrome]

A 23-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of a mediastinal tumor. She complained of primary amenorrhea, and abdominal echosonography was therefore performed, revealing the absence of a uterus. Chromosome analysis revealed a 46 XY genotype, indicating the patient to be a male, not a female. Left renal venography demonstrated residual blood vessels originating in the Mullerian ducts. Thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed, and the mediastinal tumor and bilateral testes were resected. Postoperative pathology revealed that the mediastinal tumor was a neurinoma. There was no spermatogenesis, but hyperplasia of Sertoli cells in the testes was seen. Neither the neurinoma nor the testes were malignant. Bioassay of the testes showed no androgen receptors, leading to the diagnosis of testicular feminization syndrome with the complete form of androgen insensitivity. There have been many reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and malignant tumors of the testes, but few reports of an association between testicular feminization syndrome and benign tumors such as neurinoma. Accordingly, the present case was considered to be unusual and worth reporting.

[Surgical treatment of lung cancer with mediastinoscopic positive lymph nodes]

There are no definite criteria for the indication of surgery in lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node involvement. During the past 20 years, 100 patients (76 patients with adenocarcinoma and 24 patients with squamous cell carcinoma) have undergone thoracotomy for lung cancer with mediastinoscopic positive lymph nodes at our hospital. Of these, relatively curative resection was performed on 13 patients. The 5-year survival rate in these 13 patients was 28%, which was significantly higher than the 0% in 42 patients with relatively non-curative resection and the 0% in 26 patients with absolutely non-curative resection. The 5-year survival rate was 9% in both T1 (n = 14) patients and T2 (n = 37) patients. No T3 (n = 21) and T4 (n = 9) patients survived 3 years. The 5 year survival rate in patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 12% and that in patients with adenocarcinoma was 0%, but there was no significant difference. The survival rates of T1 and T2 patients were significantly higher than that of T3 patients (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.005) respectively. Contralateral mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N3) was observed significantly more frequently in patients with adenocarcinoma (38%) than in those with squamous cell carcinoma (13%), but there was no significant difference in the survival rate. In N2 patients, the survival rate was compared between those with mediastinal nodal involvement of an early stage (N2-1) and those with lymph node metastasis of more advanced stage (N2-2) according to the lobe bearing the primary cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diagnosis, incidence, clinicopathology and surgical treatment of acquired tracheobronchomalacia]

We report our recent findings on the diagnosis, incidence, appearance of the trachea at autopsy, and surgical treatment of acquired trachobronchomalacia. In the diagnosis of this disease, continuous dynamic CT scanning (1 slice/0.6 second) from inspiration to deep expiration was better than X-ray cine recording. It is difficult to observe the most collapsed airway on coughing using bronchofiberscopic recording, because its duration time was estimated to be 1/10 second by X-ray cine recording, whereas the findings at one instant were easily recorded by video-bronchoscopy on coughing. The degree of severity of this disease was classified into three groups. 1st degree 0-50% narrowing of airway caliber, 2nd degree 50-75%; and 3rd degree 75-100%. Severity of 2nd or 3rd degree was present in 542 (12.7%) of 4283 patients suffering from chest disease who underwent bronchoscopy. Seventy-two percent of patients were aged 50 to 80 years. Third degree tracheomalacia was found in 131 patients with an incidence of 3.1%, which increased from 2.2% at 50 years to 6.2% at 80 years. The autopsy findings of the trachea consisted of fragmentation of the tracheal cartilage and extension of the membranous portion. The pathogenesis may be varied with different types of collapse of the airway, including the saber sheath type and the crescent type. Surgical treatment consists of prevention of the airway collapse by wrapping the airway with Marlex mesh and bonding Lyodura (lyophilized dura mata) with fibrin glue, which is more reliable than the span plasty proposed by Nissen.

[Chest wall reconstruction using polyester mesh]

Using polyester, we prepared a new material for chest wall reconstruction. The polyester mesh has the same rigidity and elasticity as Marlex tracheal mesh. From January 1987 through July 1991, we performed chest wall reconstruction using the polyester mesh in 8 patients with lung cancer, 9 with empyema after open drainage, 2 with metastatic chest wall tumors, 1 with a primary osteogenic giant cell tumor originating from the rib and 1 with radiation dermatitis and costal chondritis. Three or more ribs were resected in 17 patients. The defects of the chest wall were reconstructed with the polyester mesh covered with a GORE-TEX soft tissue patch to achieve air tightness. Fifteen cases have passed at least one year with no sign of infection. In conclusion, the polyester mesh prevents flail chest and seems to be a satisfactory material for chest wall reconstruction.

[Gene analysis of pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorders]

The authors performed gene analysis of pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorders. Cell suspensions were obtained from tissues of malignant lymphoma or pseudolymphoma in Cases 1 to 3. High-molecular-weight DNA was extracted from these specimens, digested with restriction endonucleases, size-fractionated by agarose-gel electrophoresis and transferred by the Southern procedure to nitrocellulose. Hybridization to nick-translated 32P DNA probes of the immunoglobulin JH, C kappa, C lambda, regions, and T cell receptor beta 1 region. In case 1 and 2, which were diagnosed as B cell lymphoma, cells from tumor had rearranged heavy chain genes, clearly establishing the clonal nature. In Case 3, which was diagnosed as pseudolymphoma, the tumor contained clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements as detected with both the JH heavy chain and C kappa light chain gene probes. It was concluded that gene analysis is an effective procedure for establishing a diagnosis of lymphoma in neoplastic disorders of uncertain cell type and for detecting clonal T cell or B cell populations with atypical lymphofollicular hyperplasia.

[Surgical indications for thoracotomy in cases of small advanced lung cancer by use of DNA content analysis and mediastinoscopy]

Twenty-seven patients with small advanced lung cancer were treated at Kyoto Katsura Hospital. Of 27 patients, 19 patients underwent thoracotomy. The mean survival time of the 19 resected patients was 49 months, while that of the 8 unresected patients was 36 months. There was no statistically significant difference between these mean survival times. Of the 19 resected patients, 6 patients underwent a relative curative operation (RCO), 4 patients underwent a relative noncurative operation, and 9 patients underwent an absolute noncurative operation. The respective mean survival times were 79 months, 30, and 33. We compared the mean survival time of RCO cases with that of the unresected cases, and there was a significant difference in favor of the RCO cases. So we recommend thoracotomy for patients with small advanced lung cancer if RCO is possible, and that requires of a histological classification of less than N2. We performed mediastinoscopy for 18 of the 27 patients to check for mediastinal lymph node metastasis, and 16 of those patients were confirmed to have metastasis pathologically. Mediastinoscopy is useful and reliable for confirming lymph node metastasis, because it gives us a pathological diagnosis. We also performed DNA content analysis on the 19 resected cases. There were 7 DNA diploidy cases, 11 DNA aneuploidy cases, and 1 case couldn't be determined. There was no significant difference between the mean survival times of DNA diploidy cases and the DNA aneuploidy cases.

Chronic pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium terrae complex: a resected case

A case of localized cavitary disease in lung with multiple isolations of Mycobacterium terrae complex from the patient's sputum is presented. The patient's past history and clinical tests supported his immunologic competency. Prolonged cavitary disease with persistent positive sputum led him to submit to right lower lobe resection after 5 months of chemotherapy. Innumerable isolates of the same mycobacteria from the resected cavity with a compatible histopathologic finding supported Mycobacterium terrae complex as the definitive etiologic agent in this case.