Background: Due to new therapeutic options in thoracic oncology, the pathological diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma has become more challenging. The majority of bronchial cancer is diagnosed from small biopsy specimens and the diagnosis often based on cytological methods. Aims: In this study, we reevaluated cytologic specimens in order to determine the diagnostic reliability of pulmonary cytopathologic techniques performed in our department. Material and methods: In our center bronchial lavage/bronchoalveolar lavage (BL/BAL) specimens are obtained both before and after forceps biopsy (FB) and subsequently processed. Retrospective data from a period of 60 months were retrieved from the institutional files. Sensitivity, specificity, as well as accuracy of cytological tumor typing were determined using histopathology of FB as gold standard. Also, the diagnostic yield of BL/BAL before and after FB was determined. Results: 678 cases were retrieved from the institutional files. The sensitivity and specificity of cytology were 83.0% and 83.4%, respectively. By FB in 3.9% of cytologically diagnosed non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) a histological assignment to a NSCLC entity was not possible. Conclusions: Cytology is a reliable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of lung malignancies. High diagnostic accuracy is achieved by a combination of BL/BAL before and after FB. The diagnostic yield of BL/BAL after FB was significantly higher than BL/BAL before FB. Subsequent tumor typing of cytologically diagnosed NSCLC was feasible in more than 95% of cases.
The uveal effusion syndrome is a rare disease characterized by serous choroidal detachment. The pathogenesis of idiopathic uveal effusion syndrome has not yet been conclusively established. One hypothesis is an abnormality of diffusion of extravascular proteins in the choroid leading to decompensation of the pigment epithelium pumping capacity. Fluid then accumulates in the subretinal space leading to retinal detachment which results in loss of visual acuity. It typically affects males and hypermetropia is another risk factor. When looking at the fundus a circular serous detachment of the choroid and choroidal puckering is typical. The fluorescein angiography shows hyperfluorescence in the form of a leopard-spot pattern. Space-occupying lesions have to be excluded with the help of ultrasound or magnetic resonance tomography. The uveal effusion syndrome is a diagnosis by exclusion. Treatment varies because of the different hypotheses for the pathogenesis. An intraocular tamponade in combination with laser coagulation may for example be an effective treatment.
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