Respiratory investigation
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Respiratory investigation · Jan 2016
Diagnostic significance of cerebrospinal fluid EGFR mutation analysis for leptomeningeal metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer patients harboring an active EGFR mutation following gefitinib therapy failure.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been successfully used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations. However, despite an initial excellent response, recurrence within one or two years is common. Diagnosis and treatment of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), a form of NSCLC recurrence, remains particularly difficult. Here, we analyzed the EGFR mutation status of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) directly using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and evaluated the efficacy of therapy with erlotinib, an EGFR TKI. ⋯ Analysis of EGFR mutations in CSF using a highly sensitive real-time PCR assay is a potentially powerful diagnostic method for LM.
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Respiratory investigation · Jan 2016
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia in Japanese patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.
Pulmonary involvement in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) includes lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH). This retrospective study investigated pulmonary involvement in Japanese TSC patients and pulmonary function testing in TSC-LAM. ⋯ There was no difference in the prevalence of pulmonary involvement in TSC patients among countries. LAM and MMPH occur even during adolescence in TSC patients. DLco and the number of cysts are useful predictors of onset and progression of TSC-LAM.