Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas are rare tumors that primarily originate in the salivary glands but have also been found in the tracheobronchial tree. We report the first case of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma associated with sarcoidosis. A 61 year old Hispanic man presented with altered mental status and hypercalcemia. Imaging revealed diffuse intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy. A diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed where an incidental tracheal nodule was discovered and biopsied. Pathology was consistent with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. Lymph node biopsy demonstrated non-caseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. Patient underwent tracheal resection of the primary tumor with primary tracheal reconstruction. Hypercalcemia subsequently normalized with clinical improvement. Repeat CT imaging demonstrated complete resolution of lymphadenopathy. Our findings are suggestive of a possible paraneoplastic sarcoid-like reaction to the epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma with associated lymphadenopathy and symptomatic hypercalcemia.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations develop in approximately 50% of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are often treated with coil embolization therapy. We report a case of a 45-year-old female with multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations due to underlying hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia who had undergone 14 coil embolization procedures over 16 years. She presented with sudden onset severe, unremitting, nonproductive cough from a foreign body sensation in the airway. Computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a metallic foreign body extending from the left lower lobe of the lung into the left mainstem bronchus and trachea. Bronchoscopy-guided removal of the foreign body revealed an intact embolization coil placed 8 years prior to presentation had partially migrated through the vessel and airway walls into the airway lumen, extending from the left lower lobe bronchus to the left mainstem bronchus. Coil migration is a rare, but potentially dangerous, complication of coil embolization therapy.

Background

Appropriate placement of left-sided double-lumen endotracheal tubes (LDLTs) is paramount for optimal visualization of the operative field during thoracic surgeries that require single lung ventilation. Appropriate placement of LDLTs is therefore confirmed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) rather than clinical assessment alone. Recent studies have demonstrated lung ultrasound (US) is superior to clinical assessment alone for confirming placement of LDLT, but no large trials have compared US to the gold standard of FOB. This noninferiority trial was devised to compare lung US with FOB for LDLT positioning and achievement of lung collapse for operative exposure.

Methods

This randomized, controlled, double-blind, noninferiority trial was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand from October 2017 to July 2019. The study enrolled 200 ASA classification 1-3 patients that were scheduled for elective thoracic surgery requiring placement of LDLT. Study patients were randomized into either the FOB group or the lung US group after initial blind placement of LDLT. Five patients were excluded due to protocol deviation. In the FOB group (n = 98), fiberoptic bronchoscopy was used to confirm lung collapse due to proper positioning of the LDLT, and to adjust the tube if necessary. In the US group (n = 97), lung ultrasonography of four pre-specified zones (upper and lower posterior and mid-axillary) was used to assess lung collapse and guide adjustment of the tube if necessary. The primary outcome was presence of adequate lung collapse as determined by visual grading by the attending surgeon on scale from 1 to 4. Secondary outcomes included the time needed to adjust and confirm lung collapse, the time from finishing LDLT positioning to the grading of lung collapse, and intraoperative parameters such has hypotension or hypertension, hypoxia, and hypercarbia. The patient, attending anesthesiologist, and attending thoracic surgeon were all blinded to the intervention arm.

Results

The primary outcome of lung collapse by visual grading was similar between the intervention and the control groups, with 89 patients (91.8%) in the US group compared to 83 patients (84.1%) in the FOB group (p = 0.18) experiencing adequate collapse. This met criteria for noninferiority per protocol analysis. The median time needed to confirm and adjust LDLT position in the US group was 3 min (IQR 2-5), which was significantly shorter than the median time needed to perform the task in the FOB group (6 min, IQR 4-10) (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

In selected patients undergoing thoracic surgery requiring LDLT, lung ultrasonography was noninferior to fiberoptic bronchoscopy in achieving adequate lung collapse and reaches the desired outcome in less time.

Trial registration

This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03314519 , Principal investigator: Kasana Raksamani, Date of registration: 19/10/2017.

Background: A significant number of patients with severe respiratory failure related to COVID-19 require prolonged mechanical ventilation. Minimal data exists regarding the timing, safety, and efficacy of combined bedside percutaneous tracheostomy and endoscopy gastrostomy tube placement in these patients. The safety for healthcare providers is also in question. This study's objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined bedside tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement in COVID-19 patients. Design and Methods: This is a single arm, prospective cohort study in patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation who underwent bedside tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement. Detailed clinical and procedural data were collected. Descriptive statistics were employed and time to event curves were estimated and plotted using the Kaplan Meier method for clinically relevant prespecified endpoints. Results: Among 58 patients, the median total intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay was 29 days (24.7-33.3) with a median of 10 days (6.3-13.7) postprocedure. Nearly 88% of patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation postprocedure at a median of 9 days (6-12); 94% of these were decannulated. Sixty-day mortality was 10.3%. Almost 90% of patients were discharged alive from the hospital. All procedures were done at bedside with no patient transfer required out of the ICU. A median of 3.0 healthcare personnel total were present in the room per procedure. Conclusion: This study shows that survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients after tracheostomy and gastrostomy was nearly 90%. The time-to-event curves are encouraging regarding time to weaning, downsizing, decannulation, and discharge. A combined procedure minimizes the risk of virus transmission to healthcare providers in addition to decreasing the number of anesthetic episodes, transfusions, and transfers patients must undergo. This approach should be considered in critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

The emerging field of liquid biopsy stands at the forefront of novel diagnostic strategies for cancer and other diseases. Liquid biopsy allows minimally invasive molecular characterization of cancers for diagnosis, patient stratification to therapy, and longitudinal monitoring. Liquid biopsy strategies include detection and monitoring of circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA, and extracellular vesicles. In this review, we address the current understanding and the role of existing liquid-biopsy-based modalities in cancer diagnostics and monitoring. We specifically focus on the technical and clinical challenges associated with liquid biopsy and biomarker development being addressed by the Liquid Biopsy Consortium, established through the National Cancer Institute. The Liquid Biopsy Consortium has developed new methods/assays and validated existing methods/technologies to capture and characterize tumor-derived circulating cargo, as well as addressed existing challenges and provided recommendations for advancing biomarker assays.