Aslı KOCAOĞLU

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.

Central and peripheral types of squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) are classified in different categories due to different clinical-pathological features. Peripheral SQCC, according to histological pattern; it is classified into three subgroups as alveolar space-filling type, expanding type and combined type. Of these three subtypes, alveolar space-filling neither causes lymphatic vessel invasion nor lymph node metastasis and has the best prognosis. Herein, we present a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma that did not metastasize at two and a half years years from initial diagnosis.

Introduction: Hyponatremia is shown to prolong hospitalization and increase mortality. The role of hyponatremia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is widely studied with a focus on hospitalized patients.Objectives: To investigate whether hyponatremia increases the probability of re‐exacerbations in non‐hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).Methods: Patients with AECOPD who required an emergency department (ED) visit and who were discharged home were included in this single‐center, retrospective study. Demographics and laboratory values were compared between patients with hyponatremia (P < 0.001, for all), and higher frequency of 1‐month revisit (36.7% vs. 31.5%, P = 0.009). Independent predictors of revisits within 1 year after the index visit were detected as long‐term oxygen treatment requirement (HR: 0.768 CI: 0.695‐0.848, P < 0.0001), higher urea levels (HR: 0.997 CI: 0.995‐0.999, P = 0.003), and baseline hyponatremia (HR: 0.786 CI: 0.707‐0.873, P < 0.001). Revisit interval was median 78 ± 3.4 days in patients with normonatremia and 51 ± 4.8 days in hyponatremia.Conclusion: In non‐hospitalized AECOPD, hyponatremia is relatively frequent and correlates with inflammatory markers. The presence of hyponatremia is an independent predictor of an earlier ED return visit within 1 year. For patients with AECOPD, sodium values may present guidance on discharge versus longer observation decisions.