APRIL02 Concerning mesothelioma, Which of the following statements IS INCORRECT:
Mesothelioma, also known as malignant mesothelioma, is an aggressive malignant tumour of the mesothelium. Pleura (visceral and parietal) .
Given the presence of the mesothelium in different parts of the body, mesothelioma can arise in various locations pleural mesothelioma (~90%) peritoneal mesothelioma (~10%) pericardial mesothelioma (<1%) cystic/multicystic mesothelioma, tunica vaginalis, testis mesothelioma (<1%)
Risk factors for mesothelioma:
Amphibole fibres (needle like): CrocidoLITE (most hazardous), anthophylLITE
Serpentine (curly, more soluble and gets impacted upper airway): ChrysoTILE.
Histology: epithelial: 60%, sarcomatoid: 20% mixed: 20% (or slightly more)
Histologic subtype has significant implications for prognosis, with the poorest outcomes observed for sarcomatoid tumors.
Ddx: Fibrous solitary tumour
APRIL02 Concerning bronchogenic carcinoma, which of the following statements is correct?
Not assoc with primary TB
3. Ghon complex defined as the pulmonary lesion only
Ghon focus = initial tuberculous granuloma formed during primary infection and is not radiologically visible unless it calcifies - this occurs in up to 15% of cases
Ghon complex = parenchymal granuloma (Ghon focus) + ipsilateral mediastinal LN
Ranke = Calcified Gohn focus + calcified LN (ie a progression of Ghon complex)
ref: Radiopaedia
*LW:
Gohn Focus = primary infection of bacilli causing small inflammatory consolidation focus.
Gohn compex = Combination of parenchymal lung lesion (Gohn focus) and nodal involvement.
Ranke complex = Progressive fibrosis of Gohn complex, becoming radiologically calcified.
**LJS - Robbins 9th ed says no increased risk of TB either
Robbins:
The spectrum of lung findings in coal workers is wide, varying from asymptomatic anthracosis, to simple coal workers’ pneumoconiosis with little to no pulmonary dysfunction, to complicated coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or progressive massive fibrosis, in which lung function is compromised.
Coal workers may also develop emphysema and chronic bronchitis independent of smoking.
Unlike silicosis, there is no convincing evidence that coal dust increases susceptibility to tuberculosis. There is also no compelling evidence that coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in the absence of smoking predisposes to cancer.
**LJS - intrapulmonary nodes = N1, so does have relevance. Old question, previously distance to carina was important, now only involvement of carina is (8th edition staging). If this were asked now, distance from carina would be least true
Previous answers:
1. TB (Incidence of TB increased)
1. Productive cough in 3 consecutive months over for 2 consecutive years
• Plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy in primary pulmonary hypertension.
Plexogenic arteriopathy has been a term used to describe a constellation of vascular changes occurring in those with pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is considered the histologic hallmark of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; it is seen in approximately 75% of cases
The term for the clinical situation has not been largely replaced by idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.
chest CT, may been seen as small, tortuous peripheral arteries without a significant connection to pulmonary veins.
Features of background pulmonary hypertension may also be present.
features of pulmonary hypertension on CT- dilated pulmonary trunk- peripheral pruning and tortuousity of pulmonary arteries- right ventricular dilation and/ or hypertrophy- interventricular septal flattening/ bowing- right atrial dilation
*LW quoting Robbins:
Organising stage, type 2 pnuemocytes undergo proliferation to try and regenerate the alveolar lining damaged. Resolution is unusual, more commonly there is organisation of the fibrin exudate with resultant intra alveolar septa fibrosis, and marked thickening of alveolar septa, due to proliferation of interstitial cells and collagen deposition.
Fatal cases often have superimposed broncho-pneumonia.
Initial injury is to capillary endothelium most commonly, progressing to both endothelium and alveolar epithelium.
Acute consequences of damage to alveolar capillary membrane include increased vascular permeability, and alveolar flooding, loss of difusion capacity, surfactant abnormalities due to type 2 cell injury, Exudate and diffuse tissue destruction cannot be easily resolved, resulting in organisation with scarring –> chronic disease.
Thus:
1. Usually associated with bacterial superinfection: not always (tend to be fatal cases), so less correct
Previous answer:
• the exudate and diffuse tissue destruction that occur with ARDS cannot be easily resolved, and the result is generally organization with scarring, producing severe chronic changes, in contrast to the transudate of cardiogenic pulmonary edema, which usually resolves
Course → either
(1) Progressive Chronicity Or
(2) Periods of activity interspersed with remissions
• 70% recover with no/minimal residual manifestations
• 20% have permanent loss of some lung function / visual impairment
• 10% have progressive pulmonary fibrosis & cor pulmonale
*LW:
Additional facts:
–> Approximately, 50 to 65 percent of patients with sarcoidosis have granulomas on liver biopsy, but symptomatic hepatic sarcoid occurs in 5 to 15 percent
–> The frequency of splenic involvement in sarcoidosis has been reported to be 10% to 50%, depending on whether it is detected on physical examination (5% to 14%), a radiological test (33% to 53%), or a tissue biopsy (24% to 59%)
–> 3 main patterns of sarcoid fibrosis described corresponding to pulmonary function testing results:
1) central bronchial distortion or bronchiectasis featuring air trapping, with predominantly obstructive physiology.
2) peripheral honeycombing, with predominantly restrictive physiology and low DLCO:
usually a minor feature and present only in severe fibrosis, subpleural, mainly the middle and upper lung zones, lower lobes predominance resembling UIP is rare
3) diffuse linear fibrotic pattern, with more mild effect on respiratory function: typically radiate away from hila in all directions