Hülya Abalı

Although sex differences in the characteristics and prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well-documented, it is overlooked in the

Occult Bronchial Carcinoid Tumor: A Rare Case of Lung Cancer - Bagcilar Medical Bulletin

Should the Mandatory Health Referral System be Implemented in Türkiye? A Perspective from a Tertiary Pulmonology Hospital - Thoracic Research and Practice

Purpose: Due to similar clinical, radiological, and pathological features, distinguishing tuberculosis (TB) from sarcoidosis can be challenging. We aimed to assess the significance of lipid levels and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in differentiating TB from sarcoidosis.Methods: This retrospective observational study included 265 patients with newly diagnosed TB and 270 patients with sarcoidosis. Demographics and baseline levels of serum glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were recorded. TyG indices were calculated separately. Data were compared between the TB and sarcoidosis groups using Chi-square and Student’s t-tests, and significant variables were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Discriminative ability was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results: Males and younger individuals were more prevalent in TB (62% vs. 28%, p < 0.0001; 45.2 ± 17.1 vs. 48.8 ± 11.2 years, p = 0.004). Additionally, TG, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, and TyG index were significantly lower in the TB group (p < 0.0001 for all except HDL, where p = 0.001). Male sex, TG level, and TyG index were independent predictors for TB in logistic regression analysis. A cut-off value of 92.5 mg/dl for TG level predicted TB with 58% sensitivity and 80% specificity (AUC = 0.309, 95% CI 0.265-0.354). A cut-off value of 4.52 mg/dl for the TyG index predicted TB with 57% sensitivity and 80% specificity (AUC = 0.309, 95% CI = 0.265-0.354).Conclusion: TG level and TyG index appear to be hypothesis-generating biomarkers that may help explain metabolic differences between TB and sarcoidosis, rather than standalone diagnostic tools. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify their potential adjunctive roles.

Background: Early diagnosis is one of the most critical factors influencing the prognosis of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate radiological diagnostic delays and their underlying causes in lung cancer. Methods: The previous radiological images of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of 2 chest physicians and 1 radiologist. Radiological abnormalities were identified, and potential factors contributing to delayed diagnosis were analyzed. Results: Among 100 patients, 76 had prior thoracic imaging. In 22 of these, lesions had been previously identified and patients informed about the potential risk of malignancy, but further evaluation was declined. Retrospective review revealed unrecognized radiological abnormalities in 30 patients—12 on chest X-rays and 18 on computed tomography (CT) scans. In 7 cases, the lesions had been documented in the CT reports. Lesions located in peri-hilar, tracheobronchial, and paravertebral regions, as well as those originating from areas of lung sequelae, were among the most common factors associated with later diagnosis. Diagnostic delays were more common in cases of adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of lung cancer cases might have been detected earlier. Increased awareness of specific radiological features and careful co-evaluation of both imaging reports and the images themselves may enhance earlier detection in lung cancer. Cite this article as: Tokgöz Akyıl F, Abalı H, S.kücü SN, et al. Could it be diagnosed earlier? A retrospective analysis of lung cancer. Eurasian J Med. 2025, 57(2), 0893, doi:10.5152/ eurasianjmed.2025.25893.

Objective: Disclosing to patients the diagnosis of lung cancer is an issue, especially in the Middle East where cultural factors may prohibit disclosure from being done. The psychosocial consequences of diagnostic awareness and its impact on life expectancy is an important issue that may influence the disclosure decision. The present study evaluated the effects of diagnostic awareness on psychosocial symptomatology and survival time in patients with advanced lung cancer in Turkey. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 126 advanced lung cancer patients admitted to the oncology department between February 2021 and August 2021. A face-to-face survey included questions on age, gender, marital/employment statuses, comorbidities, and psychological symptoms (SCL-90-R). Diagnostic awareness was assessed by asking patients whether they knew their diagnosis. The correlation of diagnostic awareness with 2-year survival time was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Results: Of the 126 patients, had 86 died at the time of follow-up. Survival time and scores on SCL-90-R symptom subscales were compared between diagnosis-aware (79.4%) and diagnosis-unaware groups (20.6%). Somatization ( P = 0.04), depression ( P = 0.01), hostility ( P = 0.03), scores on additional symptom scales ( P = 0.01), and symptom total scores ( P = 0.01) were significantly higher in the diagnosis-unaware group. No significant difference was found between diagnostic awareness and survival time ( P = 0.24). Conclusions: Advanced lung cancer patients aware of their diagnosis experienced less psychosocial burden. However, no significant difference was found in survival time between diagnosis-aware and diagnosis-unaware patients. These findings suggest that the diagnosis should be disclosed to lung cancer patients after confirmation.

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is the collapse of the trachea and bronchi, which leads to respiratory symptoms and complications, often on forced expiration. Radiotherapy (RT) is a rare cause of adult TBM. Here, we report the first case of progressive TBM following palliative RT in a patient with squamous cell lung carcinoma. TBM was diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and thoracic CT scans. In patients with advanced-stage lung cancer who experience worsening dyspnea and cough following palliative RT, TBM should also be taken into account.

Introduction: While there is sufficient information about acute COVID-19, which can cause a multisystemic and fatal disease, post-COVID syndrome and risk factors for this condition remain poorly known. We aimed to identify postCOVID symptoms and risk factors for chronic post-COVID syndrome through this study. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 254 out of 384 COVID-19 patients admitted to our COVID-19 polyclinic between February and April 2021. The patients were questioned with a list of 37 symptoms at the fifth and twelfth weeks after disease onset via phone review, and their acute post-COVID (APC) and chronic post-COVID (CPC) symptoms were recorded. Data on risk factors were collected from the hospital's medical records system. Associations between symptom count in the CPC phase and age, sex, hospitalization, RT-PCR result, specific radiological findings, comorbidities, and long-term medications were evaluated. Results: Two hundred twenty-one patients had APC symptoms, and 138 patients had CPC symptoms. While the most common symptom was fatigue at week five, it was hair loss at week 12. Symptoms were observed significantly less in the CPC phase than in the APC phase (Z= -12.301, p= 0.00). Female sex and the presence of specific radiological findings were significantly associated with the occurrence of CPC symptoms (p= 0.03, p= 0.00, respectively). Long-term use of angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) was correlated with a low symptom count in the CPC phase (p= 0.00). Conclusion: Female sex and the presence of specific radiological findings were risk factors for developing CPC. Long-term use of ARBs was associated with a low chronic post-COVID symptom burden. A substantial cluster of multisystemic symptoms was observed in both phases, and this condition highlights the requirement for customized outpatient management that includes long-term follow-up and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Identifying the high-risk patients that will develop persistent symptoms can guide this management.