ObjectiveBronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a diagnostic tool often used during the management of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). However, its diagnostic value in discrimination between entities comprising the very heterogenous group of ILD, is still a controversial issue. The objective of our study is to assess the diagnostic value of BAL in the management of ILD, by comparing the cytological findings in BAL fluid among the different diseases of this group.MethodsIt was a retrospective, observational study of 151 patients between January 2012 and December 2015. BAL fluid cytology was performed to analyse the distribution of leucocytes population subsets in patients with ILD.ResultsThe mean age was 52.78 years; 74.83% were women. The analysis of the following main groups of diseases was performed : sarcoïdosis (n = 30), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 22), other idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (non specific interstitial pneumonia, cryptogenic organising pneumonia and respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease; n = 20) and connective tissue disease (n = 14).Overall, out of 141 patients, 22% had sarcoïdosis, 15.6% had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 14.18% had other idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and 9.9% had connective tissue disease (CTD). Mixed alveolitis was common in the 4 groups, sarcoïdosis had higher proportion of lymphocytes and IPF had higher neutrophils count. However, there was no significant statistical difference of BAL cellular count among these diseases (p > 0.05). Also, the prevalence of studied diseases did not change with variation of BAL cellular count (p > 0.05).ConclusionAlone, the BAL cytological analysis has a limited value to provide substantial information that could lead to discriminate between diseases that form ILD. Thus, it must be always associated with other diagnostic methods.

BackgroundThe occurrence of lung metastasis from benign uterine leiomyomas is rarely reported especially in post menopausal women. The pathogenesis of these metastatic benign tumors still remains a subject of various speculations.Case presentationA 57-year-old woman presented with a chronic cough and dyspnea. She had undergone 8 years previously, hysterectomy for benign leiomyomas. A chest computed tomography scan showed a 4 cm solitary nodular parenchymal tumor that increased in size after 12 months. The histological analysis of the biopsy from this nodule showed a benign tumor with regular spindle cells disposed in intersected fascicles. At immunohistochemical analysis, the tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle markers and oestrogen-progesterone receptors with a low mitotic index assessed by Ki-67. These features were consistent with a benign metastasizing uterine leiomyoma. At the multidisciplinary meeting, prescription of an aromatase inhibitor has been decided for the patient.ConclusionsBenign metastasizing uterine leiomyomas of the lung are very rare tumors. Although extremely rare in post menopausal women, their diagnosis should be considered in symptomatic patients with a history of hysterectomy for leiomyomas.

Mature teratoma is the most common primary germ cell tumor in the mediastinum. On rare occasions, cystic teratomas rupture in adjacent structures, such as pleural space, pericardium, lung or tracheobronchial tree. We present a case of a mediastinal mature cystic teratoma in 16-year-old female with complex rupture into the lung, bronchus and skin. Mature mediastinal teratoma fistulized to the skin has not been previously described.

Postpneumonectomy empyema is a collection of pus in the pleural space after removal of the underlying lung. Postpneumonectomy empyema is a serious complication responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality. Several risk factors for the development of postpneumonectomy empyema have been highlighted in the literature. The association of postpneumonectomy empyema with a bronchopleural fistula increases the rate of mortality by flooding the remaining lung. The management of postpneumonectomy empyema depends on the timing of presentation and the presence or absence of a bronchopleural fistula. The goals of care in the acute period are mainly preservation of the contralateral lung and sterilization of the pleural space, which may take a considerable time. The aims in the late period are closure of the bronchopleural fistula, obliteration of the pleural space, and closure of the chest wall.

Pulmonary aspergilloma is a form of aspergillosis characterized by the colonization of a preexisting pulmonary cavity, most often of tuberculosis origin. Clinical symptoms are predominately hemoptysis that can be life-threatening, and thoracic computed tomography can distinguish simple from complex pulmonary aspergilloma. The best therapeutic option remains surgery which allows surgical resection of the mycetoma and the underlying cavity. Nonsurgical treatment is performed in inoperable patients because of severe respiratory failure or a poor general condition.

Liposarcoma of the lung is an extremely rare disease with less than 10 cases reported to date. A case of a locally advanced, pulmonary mixed liposarcoma in a 49-year-old male is presented here. Left pneumonectomy with radical lymph node dissection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and no recurrence or metastasis was observed for 3 years. Although liposarcoma of the lung is classified as an aggressive, highly metastatic disease, complete resection may result in disease-free survival.

In the industrialized countries, most of Bilio-bronchial fistula are secondary to hepatobiliary trauma, hepatic resection surgery or in the case of congenital malformation of the biliary tract, Bilio-bronchial fistula is recognized as the complication of a number of infectious pathologies such as hydatidosis and hepatic amoebiasis. Among the causes, the Bilio-bronchial fistula of hydatic origin is by far the most frequent especially in the zones of hydatid endemic as Morocco. It is a serious complication of liver hydatid cysts. The surgical management has long been believed to be difficult, and often associated with a very pejorative prognosis due to the simultaneous attack of the thoracic and abdominal stage through the diaphragm. This tripartite involvement reflects the difficulty of choosing the first approach between the thoracic, abdominal or a combination of both approaches. However, progress, especially in the possibility of carrying out adequate preoperative preparation with the increasing introduction of retrograde endoscopic cholangiography with sphincterotomy, has made possible this exclusive thoracotomy surgery with acceptable outcomes.

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