By integration of FTIR imaging and a novel trained random forest classifier, lung tumour classes and subtypes of adenocarcinoma are identified in fresh-frozen tissue slides automated and marker-free. The tissue slices are collected under standard operation procedures within our consortium and characterized by current gold standards in histopathology. In addition, meta data of the patients are taken. The improved standards on sample collection and characterization results in higher accuracy and reproducibility as compared to former studies and allows here for the first time the identification of adenocarcinoma subtypes by this approach. The differentiation of subtypes is especially important for prognosis and therapeutic decision.

No abstract

Intrathoracic vacuum therapy after extended thoracic surgery seems to be an effective and safe adjunct to conventional treatment modalities for the therapy of intrathoracic infections or deep wound infections.

Abstract. BACKGROUND:Lung cancer is the leading cause of death for male and female cancer patients alike. Early diagnosis improves prognosis. A blood test would be a valuable support. OBJECTIVE: Infrared spectroscopy provides a label-free biochemical fingerprint of a sample. A study was conducted on 161 patients with initial cancer suspicion to identify and verify spectral biomarker candidate patterns to detect non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS: Blood serum and plasma samples were analysed with an automated FTIR spectroscopic system. Two pattern recognition algorithms and two classifiers were applied. Monte Carlo cross validation was performed with linear discriminant analysis and random forest classification. RESULTS: Marker patterns for the discrimination of cancer from clinically relevant disease control patients were identified in FTIR spectra of blood samples. An accuracy of up to 79% was achieved. Squamous cell and adenocarcinoma patients were separable with an accuracy of 80%. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the applicability of FTIR spectroscopic blood testing for lung cancer detection. Evidence for cancer subtype discrimination is given. With an improved performance, the method could be developed as a routine diagnostic tool for blood testing detecting NSCLC.

I ndividuals with long-lasting ankylosing spondylitis (AS, Bechterew disease) are at increased risk for developing fractures as the fused spine often becomes osteoporotic. These bony protuberances may compress all elements lying in front of them and induce a soft-tissue inflammation to the extent that it causes irreversible dysphagia, especially at the level of the cervical spine. 1 We describe here the decompression of the entire visceral mass of the median thoracic aperture by a simple manubriectomy in an AS patient with refractory dyspnea and dysphagia.

ost would agree that a flexible application of a variety of endoscopic techniques, even combined in the same patient, provide the best chance for a successful outcome for benign but unresectable airway obstruction. 1 However, concern has been raised concerning the enthusiastic attitude toward endoluminal stents and their preference over surgical repair in the absence of true contraindications. 2 A life-threatening clinical scenario of this attitude is presented here.