Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm in COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Mucormycosis: Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature

Mycopathologia - Literature on COVID-19-associated pulmonary mucormycosis (CAPM) is sparse. Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) is an uncommon complication of pulmonary mucormycosis (PM), and...     

Impact of Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) Training on the Diagnostic Yield of Conventional Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Lymph Node Stations 4R and 7

BackgroundThere is sparse literature on whether training in endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) improves the diagnostic yield of conventional TBNA (cTBNA).ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of cTBNA before and after the introduction of EBUS.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent cTBNA at our center. The study was divided into two periods, before and after the introduction of EBUS at our facility. The diagnostic yield of cTBNA was compared between the study periods. Rapid on-site cytological examination was not available.ResultsA total of 1,050 patients (61.6% men; mean age 45.6 years) underwent cTBNA during the study period (849 before EBUS; 201 after EBUS). Sarcoidosis (n = 527) followed by bronchogenic carcinoma (n = 222) formed the most common indications for performing cTBNA. There was a significant increase in both the success of obtaining a representative sample (from 71% to 85%), and the diagnostic yield (from 33% to 49.5%) of cTBNA, after the introduction of EBUS. The increase in the diagnostic yield of cTBNA after introduction of EBUS remained significant even after adjusting for years of performing cTBNA and the type of anesthesia (topical vs. sedation and topical) on a multivariate analysis.ConclusionThe diagnostic yield of cTBNA at our facility increased after the introduction of EBUS-TBNA. However, given the retrospective nature of the study, prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal. A case report with diagnosis by fine needle aspiration

BACKGROUND: Although the cytologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma have been reported frequently, fine needle aspiration diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal has not been reported before in the English-language literature. CASE: A 70-year-old female presented with a mass occluding the external auditory canal. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed. The smears showed hyaline globules surrounded by tumor cells. The tumor cells had uniform, round, hyperchromatic nuclei, visible nucleoli and little cytoplasm. Based on these cytomorphologic features, diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was rendered and then confirmed by histopathologic examination. CONCLUSION: This is the first cytologic report of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal, a rare site for this tumor.