MJC2 (United Kingdom)

Multiple or second primary lung cancers can develop at any sites in the lung with same or different histologic types, synchronously and/or metachronously. In case of metachronous occurrence of the second primary lung cancer, it is easy to confuse with the primary lung cancer as a recurrence of precedent lung malignancy treated successfully or metastasis. Previous reports have demonstrated that majority of the second primary lung malignancies have same histologic types regardless of their developing time and location. However, the repeated occurrence of the second primary lung malignancy, in particular with the different histologic features, is a very rare condition.A 62-year-old male who had past history of squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and the recurrence of lung malignancy on the trachea, which was also resected successfully visited our hospital due to blood tinged sputum. Evaluation using bronchoscopy and chest computed tomography revealed the tracheal mass looked similar grossly to the previous recurred tracheal mass that was resected surgically. Unexpectedly, the newly developed tracheal mass was confirmed as small cell lung cancer, the different histologic type from previous ones.In this report, we describe an interesting case of subsequent occurrence of second primary lung cancers showing histologic shifting at different sites in trachea, suggesting that it is important for physician to make an effort to identify the histologic characteristics of second primary lung cancers for the correct and adequate treatment no matter what they exhibit similar gross morphology.

Objective To determine whether the administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) to critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) would reduce the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions required. Design A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled, multicenter trial. Setting ICUs at three academic tertiary care medical centers. Patients A total of 160 patients who were admitted to the ICU and met the eligibility criteria were enrolled in the study (80 into the rHuEPO group; 80 into the placebo group). Interventions Patients were randomized to receive either rHuEPO or placebo. The study drug (300 units/kg of rHuEPO or placebo) was administered by subcutaneous injection beginning ICU day 3 and continuing daily for a total of 5 days (until ICU day 7). The subsequent dosing schedule was every other day to achieve a hematocrit (Hct) concentration of >38%. The study drug was given for a minimum of 2 wks or until ICU discharge (for subjects with ICU lengths of stay >2 wks) up to a total of 6 wks (42 days) postrandomization. Measurements and Main Results The cumulative number of units of RBCs transfused was significantly less in the rHuEPO group than in the placebo group (p < .002, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). The rHuEPO group was transfused with a total of 166 units of RBCs vs. 305 units of RBCs transfused in the placebo group. The final Hct concentration of the rHuEPO patients was significantly greater than the final Hct concentration of placebo patients (35.1 ± 5.6 vs. 31.6 ± 4.1;p < .01, respectively). A total of 45% of patients in the rHuEPO group received a blood transfusion between days 8 and 42 or died before study day 42 compared with 55% of patients in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.6, 1.1). There were no significant differences between the two groups either in mortality or in the frequency of adverse events. Conclusions The administration of rHuEPO to critically ill patients is effective in raising their Hct concentrations and in reducing the total number of units of RBCs they require. (Crit Care Med 1999; 27:2346–2350)