Twelve weeks administration of azithromycin in bronchiectasis produces significant reductions in mean sputum volume, health status and stabilization of lung function values. Sputum volume reduction and the improvement of quality of life were sustained for 12 weeks after cessation of azithromycin. (Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT02107274).

Primary Intrapulmonary Thymoma (PIT) is an infrequent ectopic lung tumor that poses a diagnostic dilemma and has a poorly understood origin. We report a previously healthy 61-year-old lady who presented with cough and weight loss for a month. Diagnostic imaging showed a large left upper lobe mass and two multifocal pleural based nodules in the left lower lobe. She underwent Computed Tomography (CT) guided biopsy of the lung mass and histopathological findings was consistent with a combined Type B1 and B2 thymoma. She was planned for 6 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the intent of achieving tumor downstaging and resectability. Due to the lack of established evidence for management of unresectable disease, we wish to highlight the importance of multidisciplinary consensus before pursuing multimodality treatment.

Background: In real-life practice, only 20% of hospitalised pneumonia cases have an identified etiology. The usage of Legionella urine antigen test (LUAT) in developed nations revolutionised case detection rates. Accordingly, our objectives were to study the microbiological etiology for hospitalised pneumonia patients and the diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia. Methods: A prospective, observational single-centre study was conducted where all 504 cases that were consecutively admitted for pneumonia were enrolled. Blood and sputum samples obtained were used to identify pathogens using standard microbiological culture methods. The urine samples collected were tested using the ImmunocatchTM Legionella immunochromatographic (ICT) urine antigen test. Results: A microbiological diagnosis was only achieved in 104 cases (20.6%) and a Gram-negative infection predominance was observed. Culture-positive cases required longer hospitalisation (8.46 days versus 5.53 days; P < 0.001) and the higher usage of antipseudomonal antibiotics (23.1% versus 8.3%; P < 0.001). Only 3 cases (0.6%) were diagnosed with Legionella pneumonia. Conclusion: The local pathogen distribution is diverse compared to other regions. Culture-negative pneumonia is common and significantly differs from culture-positive pneumonia. Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 is not a common cause of pneumonia and LUAT did not help demystify the cause of culture-negative pneumonia.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) is an unusual myofibroblastic spindle cell neoplasm that is rarely discovered in the airway of adults. Previously, it was regarded as a reactive lesion and was infamously known as inflammatory pseudotumour before recent insights revealed that significant majority of cases harboured neoplastic genes. Diagnosis is difficult as clinical presentation and imaging findings are non‐specific. Diagnosis and a favourable prognosis require the complete resection of the tumour. Detection of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase expression via immunohistochemistry expedites diagnosis. We report a young adult with an endotracheal mass occluding the central airway. The patient successfully underwent bronchoscopic resection using interventional techniques. IMT was diagnosed. No recurrence was seen after a year of surveillance. Due to the rarity of the disease, the recurrence rates for large airway disease is unknown. Recurrence rates for pulmonary lesions is reported to be lower compared to extrapulmonary IMTs and recurrence is unlikely if compete surgical excision is achieved.