Objective: To determine the accuracy of the variables related to the fixed-height stair climbing test (SCT) using maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) as the gold standard. Methods: The SCT was performed on a staircase consisting of 6 flights (72 steps; 12.16 m total height), with verbal encouragement, in 51 patients. Stair-climbing 'time' was measured, and the variables 'work' and 'power' also being calculated. The VO2 max was measured using ergospirometry according to the Balke protocol. We calculated the Pearson linear correlation (r), as well as the values of p, between the SCT variables and VO2 max. To determine accuracy, the VO2 max cut-off point was set at 25 mL/kg/min, and individuals were classified as normal or altered. The cut-off points for the SCT variables were determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The Kappa statistic (k) was used in order to assess concordance. Results: The following values were obtained for the variable 'time': cut-off point = 40 s; x_ = 41 ± 15.5 s; r = −0.707; p < 0.005; specificity = 89%; sensibility = 83%; accuracy = 86%; and k = 0.724. For 'power', the values obtained were as follows: cut-off point = 200 w; x_ = 222.3 ± 95.2 w; r = 0.515; p < 0.005; specificity = 67%; sensibility = 75%; accuracy = 71%; and k = 0.414. Since the correlation between 'work' and VO2 max was not significant, that variable was discarded. Conclusion: Of the SCT variables tested, using VO2 max as the gold standard, the variable 'time' was the most accurate.

Keywords: Exercise test; Respiratory function tests; Heart function tests; Spirometry; Ergometry

Background: Extended thymectomy is one of several types of thymectomy. Literature suggests that the outcome and prognosis will be enhanced by performing a more extensive resection of the gland and of the anterior mediastinum tissue. Objective: To retrospectively evaluate response of MG patients to extended thymectomy. Method: From August 1992 to January 2003, forty-six MG patients were submitted to preoperative plasmapheresis and extended thymectomy. According to the time elapsed since onset of symptom they were divided into three groups; < 12 months, 13 to 24 months, and > 25 months. Results: There were 31 female and 15 male patients, mean age 30 years and average evolution time 26.3 months. Outpatient post-operative follow-up was on the average of 26.6 months. Level of response was good, 50% had full remission and a further 39% had good response. There was one death. The most common histopathology finding was thymic hyperplasia. Only 3 patients (6.5%) had benign thymomas; 5 (10.8%) had extra glandular thymic tissue: 2 in the perithymic fat and 3 in the pericardiac fat adjacent to the left phrenic nerve and aortal-pulmonary window. Conclusion: Treatment of MG by extended thymectomy is safe and efficient with high levels of complete remission. Extra glandular thymic tissue was found in some patients. As soon as diagnosis is completed, thymectomy is indicated together with plasmapheresis and medication, independent of age, onset of symptoms, and thymus pathology.

Keywords: Thymectomy/methods. Myasthenia gravis/pathology. Neuromuscular diseases/rehabilitation.

Objective: To determine the proportion of negative preoperative sputum smear results among patients presenting active TB, as identified through the evaluation of surgical samples. Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery between 2003 and 2006 at a university hospital and receiving a histopathological diagnosis of active or latent TB. We reviewed patient histories, TB-related clinical aspects, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) test results, type of surgery performed and histopathological findings in surgical samples. Results: We included 43 patients, 27 of whom were male. The mean age was 44 ± 19 years. Twenty-eight patients had a history of TB (treated appropriately), and 15 reported no history of the disease. The main reason for seeking treatment was recurrent infection, followed by alterations seen in imaging studies. Of the 43 patients, 35 underwent preoperative AFB testing: 32 tested negative, and 3 tested positive. Among those 35 patients, the histopathological diagnosis was active TB in 26 and latent TB in 9. The 8 patients not submitted to preoperative AFB testing were also diagnosed with latent TB. The proportion of active TB in patients with negative sputum smear results was 72% (23/32), whereas that of negative sputum smear results in patients with active TB was 88% (23/26). Only 11.5% (3/26) of the patients had tested positive for AFB. Conclusions: Direct sputum smear microscopy has a very low yield. Many previously treated patients can present negative sputum smear results and yet have active TB. Active TB can be mistaken for secondary infections or for cancer.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Diagnosis, differential; Sputum; Thoracic surgery; Thoracic surgery, video-assisted.

Objective: To analyze principal histological types of lung cancer, as well as the staging, treatment and survival of lung cancer patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study based on the analysis of medical charts of patients treated at the Botucatu School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas over a six-year period. Results: From January of 2000 to January of 2006, 240 patients with lung cancer, most (64%) of whom were male, were treated. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (37.5%), followed by adenocarcinoma (30%), neuroendocrine carcinoma (19.6%) and large cell carcinoma (6.6%). Only 131 patients (54.6%) were treated. Of those, 52 patients (39.7%) received only chemotherapy, 32 (24.4%) were treated with chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, and 47 (35.9%) were submitted to surgery alone or surgery accompanied by chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. Only 27 patients (20.6%) were submitted to surgery alone. Concerning staging, 34.4% presented stage IV at the time of diagnosis, 20.6% presented stage IIIB, 16.8% presented stage IIIA, and the remaining 28.2% were classified as stage I or II. Five-year survival was 65% for those in stage I and 25% for those in the remaining stages. Conclusions: Of the various histological types, the most common was squamous cell carcinoma and the least common was large cell carcinoma. Most cases presented advanced stages at the moment of diagnosis, and less than 30% of the cases presented early stages. This accounts for the low survival rate and the small number of patients submitted to surgical treatment alone, the majority being submitted to chemotherapy alone.

Keywords: Carcinoma, bronchogenic; Lung neoplasms/histology; Lung neoplasms/drug therapy; Lung neoplasms/radiotherapy; Surgery; Survival.

To review the cases of patients with congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) submitted to surgical treatment at two university hospitals over a 30-year period. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of children with CLE undergoing surgical treatment between 1979 and 2009 at the Botucatu School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas or the Mogi das Cruzes University Hospital. We analyzed data regarding symptoms, physical examination, radiographic findings, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and postoperative follow-up. Results: During the period studied, 20 children with CLE underwent surgery. The mean age at the time of surgery was 6.9 months (range, 9 days to 4 years). All of the cases presented with symptoms at birth or during the first months of life. In all cases, chest X-rays were useful in defining the diagnosis. In cases of moderate respiratory distress, chest CT facilitated the diagnosis. One patient with severe respiratory distress was misdiagnosed with hypertensive pneumothorax and underwent chest tube drainage. Only patients with moderate respiratory distress were submitted to bronchoscopy, which revealed no tracheobronchial abnormalities. The surgical approach was lateral muscle-sparing thoracotomy. The left upper and middle lobes were the most often affected, followed by the right upper lobe. Lobectomy was performed in 18 cases, whereas bilobectomy was performed in 2 (together with bronchogenic cyst resection in 1 of those). No postoperative complications were observed. Postoperative follow-up time was at least 24 months (mean, 60 months), and no late complications were observed. Conclusions: Although CLE is an uncommon, still neglected disease of uncertain etiology, the radiological diagnosis is easily made and surgical treatment is effective.

Keywords: Respiratory system abnormalities; Congenital abnormalities; Pulmonary surgical procedures; Pulmonary emphysema.

A 45-year-old man presented with recurrent pulmonary infection for four years, cough, bloody sputum, yellowish excretion and nonpleuritic chest pain. Tomography of the chest revealed a calcified nodule occluding the right lower lobe bronchus. A right lower and middle lobectomy was performed, and the histopathological examination of the bronchi revealed chondroma, a rare pulmonary tumor usually associated with the Carney triad (pulmonary chondroma, gastric leiomyosarcoma and extra-adrenal paraganglioma), being the less common of the three components. In the present case, the other two components of the triad were not observed. Since these components may appear years later, long-term follow-up care is necessary.

Keywords: Chondroma; Lung neoplasms/radiography; Lung neoplasms/surgery; Leiomyosarcoma;