The new proposed classification system for non-invasive urothelial neoplasms does not increase the reproducibility. There is still a need for uniformity in grading in order to compare the different studies and therapies and to provide more accurate information for management.

No abstract

Endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) success can be affected by many factors. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of chronic inflammation on the surgical outcome of En-DCR. A series of 25 primary En-DCR cases and their lacrimal sac specimens were involved in the study. The surgical outcomes were assessed subjectively (satisfied and unsatisfied) and objectively (successful and unsuccessful). All the specimens were examined for the chronic inflammation related histopathological features (inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis and capillary proliferation) and graded according to their severity. Moreover, a "chronic inflammation score" was established to determine the intensity of chronic inflammation using the grade of histopathological features. A quantitative and statistical analysis of histopathological features and chronic inflammation were performed between patients with satisfactory and unsatisfactory outcome; and patients with successful and unsuccessful outcome. The overall success rate according to subjective and objective assessment was 60%. However, 9 of 10 patients with unsatisfactory and/or unsuccessful outcome (90%) had severe chronic inflammation of lacrimal sac. In subjective assessment, inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.050), fibrosis (p = 0.037), capillary proliferation (p = 0.007) and chronic inflammation (p = 0.003) had a statistically significant difference between patients with satisfactory and unsatisfactory outcome. In objective assessment, statistically significant differences were detected between patients with successful and unsuccessful outcome when they compared according to inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.027), capillary proliferation (p = 0.007) and chronic inflammation (p = 0.003). Chronic inflammation related histopathological features of variable degree may have a role on En-DCR outcome. Chronic inflammatory score can be used as an indicator of En-DCR success.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to investigate the additional diagnostic value of endobronchial biopsy (EBB) in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This retrospective cross-sectional study included 59 patients with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis who were admitted to the Pulmonary Diseases Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary healthcare center between January 2005 and October 2012. The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients as well as clinical and radiological findings were recorded. All patients, irrespective of the presence of an endobronchial lesion (EBL), underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB); two to four specimens were taken using EBB from the carina of the right middle lobe in the patients with EBL. RESULTS:Of the patients, 39 (66.1%) had normal bronchoscopic findings, while 5 had EBL. Diagnosis was based on EBB in 11 patients (18.6%). Six patients (15.3%) with normal bronchial mucosae were pathologically diagnosed by EBB. There was no statistically significant relationship between the diagnostic ratio of EBB and disease stage, extrapulmonary involvement, FOB findings, elevated lymphocyte rate in bronchoalveolar lavage (≥ 13%), a CD4/CD8 ratio of ≥ 3.5, and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) level (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION:EBB not only offers the advantage of a high diagnostic ratio in patients with mucosal abnormalities but also contributes to pathological diagnosis in patients with normal mucosa. We recommend using EBB to support diagnosis with a low complication rate for patients undergoing FOB with a preliminary diagnosis of sarcoidosis in healthcare centers, where endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is unavailable.