Objective: To describe the main clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with histoplasmosis mimicking lung cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study based on the analysis of the medical records of the 294 patients diagnosed with histoplasmosis between 1977 and 2011 at the Mycology Laboratory of the Santa Casa Sisters of Mercy Hospital of Porto Alegre in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis was established by culture, histopathological examination, or immunodiffusion testing (identification of M or H precipitation bands). After identifying the patients with macroscopic lesions, as well as radiological and CT findings consistent with malignancy, we divided the patients into two groups: those with a history of cancer and presenting with lesions mimicking metastases (HC group); and those with no such history but also presenting with lesions mimicking metastases (NHC group). Results: Of the 294 patients diagnosed with histoplasmosis, 15 had presented with lesions mimicking primary neoplasia or metastases (9 and 6 in the HC and NHC groups, respectively). The age of the patients ranged from 13 to 67 years (median, 44 years). Of the 15 patients, 14 (93%) presented with pulmonary lesions at the time of hospitalization. Conclusions: The clinical and radiological syndrome of neoplastic disease is not confined to malignancy, and granulomatous infectious diseases must therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Histoplasmosis; Multiple pulmonary nodules; Solitary pulmonary nodule.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the parenchymal and extracellular matrix remodeling process in two histologic patterns-nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-in cases of idiopathic and sclerosis/systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial pneumonia. Methods: We examined 15 cases of idiopathic NSIP, 10 cases of idiopathic UIP, 5 cases of SSc-UIP and 9 cases of SSc-NSIP. In the lung parenchyma, epithelial cells, endothelial cells and myofibroblasts were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, whereas histochemical staining was used in order to evaluate collagen/elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix. Results: The percentage of surfactant protein A-positive epithelial cells was significantly greater in idiopathic NSIP than in SSc-NSIP, as well as being greater in idiopathic UIP than in SSc-UIP. Idiopathic NSIP and idiopathic UIP presented significantly higher immunoexpression of alpha smooth muscle actin in myofibroblasts than did SSc-NSIP and SSc-UIP. The percentage of CD34 endothelial cells in the pulmonary microvasculature was significant lower in idiopathic UIP than in SSc-UIP. The density of collagen fibers was significantly greater in idiopathic NSIP and idiopathic UIP than in SSc-NSIP and UIP. In contrast, the elastic fiber density was significantly lower in idiopathic UIP than in SSc-UIP. Conclusions: Increased collagen synthesis, destruction of elastic fibers, high myofibroblast proliferation and poor microvascularization might represent a remodeling process found in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, whereas the reverse might represent a repair process in SSc-associated interstitial pneumonia.

Keywords: Epithelial cells; Neovascularization, pathologic; Collagen; Elastin; Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; Scleroderma, systemic.

Meningiomas account for approximately one-sixth of all primary neoplasms of the central nervous system and rarely present extracranial metastases. A finding of multiple metastases is rare, as is the presence of respiratory symptoms. Herein, we report the case of a 67-year-old female patient presenting subacute onset of respiratory symptoms. The patient had undergone resection of a benign intracranial meningioma six months prior, but had no history of lung disease. Upon examination, multiple pulmonary metastases, originating from the primary tumor, were observed.

Keywords: Key words: Meningioma. Neoplasm Metastasis. Lung Neoplasms..

We report a case of breast cancer identified in a 72-year-old male as an accidental finding during the course of the investigation of a primary tumor and the search for pulmonary metastases. We address aspects related to the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this condition in males.

Keywords: Neoplasm metastasis/lung; Breast neoplasms; Male.

Incidence of metastatic disease to the hypothalamic-pituitary area is low (1 to 6% in most studies), the lung and the prostate being the most common primary sites in men. Clinical presentation as panhypopituitarism is rare (0.2 to 0.8%) in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. The authors describe a case of a man with diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung that, during the clinical course of the disease, presented clinical and laboratorial evidence of panhypopituitarism, with an expansive sellar and supra-sellar lesion image in the CT scan of the brain.

Keywords: Panhypopituitarism. Bronchogenic carcinoma. Hypothalamic-pituitary metastases.

Objective: To describe demographic characteristics, surgical results, postoperative complications, and overall survival rates in surgically treated patients with lung metastases. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 119 patients who underwent a total of 154 lung metastasis resections between 1997 and 2011. Results: Among the 119 patients, 68 (57.1%) were male and 108 (90.8%) were White. The median age was 52 years (range, 15-75 years). In this sample, 63 patients (52.9%) presented with comorbidities, the most common being systemic arterial hypertension (69.8%) and diabetes (19.0%). Primary colorectal tumors (47.9%) and musculoskeletal tumors (21.8%) were the main sites of origin of the metastases. Approximately 24% of the patients underwent more than one resection of the lesions, and 71% had adjuvant treatment prior to metastasectomy. The rate of lung metastasis recurrence was 19.3%, and the median disease-free interval was 23 months. The main surgical access used was thoracotomy (78%), and the most common approach was wedge resection with segmentectomy (51%). The rate of postoperative complications was 22%, and perioperative mortality was 1.9%. The overall survival rates at 12, 36, 60, and 120 months were 96%, 77%, 56%, and 39%, respectively. A Cox analysis confirmed that complications within the first 30 postoperative days were associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.09-3.06; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Surgical treatment of lung metastases is safe and effective, with good overall survival, especially in patients with fewer metastases.

Keywords: Neoplasm metastasis; Survival analysis; Thoracic surgery; Metastasectomy.

The evaluation of patients with lung cancer involves not only the detection of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes and the delineation of the relationship between the primary lesion with the mediastinal structures but also the determination of extra thoracic metastases. This article reviews the major imaging techniques that are currently used to stage bronchogenic carcinoma. Radiologic studies have made an important impact on the evaluation of the solitary pulmonary nodule. Mediastinal staging coupled with imaging methods is not accurate. CT and MR imaging of the chest and abdomen are often used to stage a known or suspected lung carcinoma. Despite their limitations, CT and MR prevent unnecessary thoracotomies and invasive procedures. MR can be helpful in the evaluation of parts of the chest not well shown on CT. PET-FDG imaging complements chest CT in the noninvasive evaluation of lung cancer and strategies for its use merit further investigation.

Keywords: Radiology. Bronchogenic carcinoma. Lung neoplasms. Diagnostic imaging. Emission-computed tomography. Nuclear magnetic resonance.

Once a rare disease, lung cancer has become the most common type of lethal cancer throughout the world. This change has occurred since the 1920s , when it was observed both in Europe and in North America that the number of the cases began to increase. Although mentioned sporadically in the medical literature in the first half of the century, it was in 1950 that several well-performed case-controlled studies first suggested tobacco smoking as the overwhelming cause of lung cancer. It took even more years before results of large prospective studies, like the pioneering work of Doll and Hill, convinced both the public and the governments that smoking is the most important cause of the disease. Histologically, lung cancer is divided into four major subgroups: squamous-, adeno-, small cell, and large cell carcinomas. In a substantial number of cases, however, accurate histological diagnosis may be difficult, due to both intrinsic tumor heterogeneity and to inter-observer variability. Kreyberg suggested that only squamous and small cell carcinomas were caused by tobacco smoking, but most of the more recent studies indicate that the majority of adenocarcinomas is also caused by tobacco smoking. In all studies the proportion of adenocarcinoma is much higher in females than in males and secular trends during 1980s and 1990s have shown an increase in the occurrence of adenocarcinoma. Most occupational carcinogens, with the exception of chloromethyl ethers and radiation (radon), which have a higher tendency to promote small cell lung cancer, give rise to tumors with a histological distribution that is similar to tumors caused by tobacco smoke.

Keywords: Lung cancer. Epidemiology.

Lung cancer is a multifactorial disease. Hereditary, genetic, and environmental factors interact in its genesis. The principal risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. However, the workplace provides an environment in which there is a risk of exposure to carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer currently lists 19 substances/work situations/occupations that have been proven to be associated with lung cancer (group 1). Thorough occupational history taking is not widely practiced in patients with lung cancer, which has a negative impact on the investigation of causality and, consequently, on the identification of cases of occupational cancer. The objectives of this review were to list the agents that are recognized as causes of lung cancer, to discuss the contribution of occupation to the development of the disease, to cite national studies on the subject, and to propose a list of procedures that are essential to the appropriate investigation of causality between lung cancer and occupation.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms; Occupational diseases; Occupations; Carcinogens.

A review of the role of radiotherapy in lung cancer is presented, with the most recent innovations. Indications for postoperative irradiation and chemo-radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer are discussed. Recommendations are made for prophylactic cranium irradiation and perspectives of thoracic radiotherapy for small cell lung cancer. Recent techniques and results of the "Brazilian Consensus on Lung Cancer - Radiotherapy" are also presented.

The relationship between cancer and coagulopathy was suggested by Trousseau nearly 150 years ago. Later, it became more evident that oncologic patients are at a higher risk of experiencing thromboembolic events. This can be due to activation of the coagulation system either by neoplastic cells or by prescribed therapies (chemotherapy or surgical procedures). In fact, these events can constitute the first manifestation of cancer, and their recurrence, despite efficient anticoagulation, has been described. The coagulation system is normally activated in order to provide healing. In the presence of neoplasms, this complex system is activated as a response to multiple stimuli and seems to contribute to cancer progression. Activation of the coagulation system has a greater effect on metastatic foci than on the primary tumor. However, most cancer victims die from complications caused by metastasis, which underscores the importance of this theme. In this area, various mechanisms have been described, creating promising perspectives for future treatments. The current success in using low-molecular-weight heparins against small cell lung cancer is encouraging. Although the knowledge of those mechanisms is relatively incipient, many basic research and clinical studies are underway.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms; Thrombophilia.

Lung cancer is one of the most incident types of cancer and a leading cause of cancer mortality in Brazil. We reviewed the current status of lung cancer by searching relevant data on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the country. This review highlights several issues that need to be addressed, including smoking control, patient lack of awareness, late diagnosis, and disparities in the access to cancer health care facilities in Brazil. We propose strategies to help overcome these limitations and challenge health care providers, as well as the society and governmental representatives, to work together and to take a step forward in fighting lung cancer.

Keywords: Lung neoplasms/epidemiology; Lung neoplasms/therapy; Lung neoplasms/diagnosis; Biomarkers; Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the association between paracoccidioidomycosis (Pcm) and cancer in a series of 25 cases and to review the literature on this topic. Methods: A retrospective review of 25 cases diagnosed with Pcm and cancer, retrieved from a series of 808 consecutive adult patients diagnosed with Pcm based on tests conducted in the Mycology Laboratory of the Santa Casa Complexo Hospitalar, in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, between 1972 and 2007. The diagnosis of Pcm was confirmed by means of direct microscopic examination, histopathological examination or immunodiffusion test. All cancer cases were confirmed by histopathological or cytopathological examination. Results: Respiratory symptoms were the principal complaints of the patients evaluated. Pulmonary involvement predominated, followed by skin and lymph node involvement. The most prevalent tumor was bronchial carcinoma, in 15 patients, followed by other types of carcinoma, and 1 patient had Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 16 patients (64%), the site of the Pcm was the same as that of the tumor. In most cases, Pcm treatment consisted of the isolated administration of sulfanilamide, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ketoconazole, itraconazole or amphotericin B. The most common treatment for cancer was surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Of the 25 patients, 12 were cured of Pcm, and 4 died. In 9 patients, the final outcome was unknown. In the general population of the area under study, the prevalence of lung cancer was significantly higher in smokers with Pcm than in smokers without Pcm (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A diagnosis of Pcm appears to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Keywords: Paracoccidioides; Paracoccidioidomycosis; Neoplasms.