BACKGROUND:Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that is frequently used to diagnose an infection. In some cases of thoracic malignancy, procalcitonin level appears to increase. However, the role of procalcitonin to diagnose malignancy is not certain yet, and the causes have not been known.AIM:This study aimed to investigate procalcitonin levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients.METHODS:This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. All lung cancer patients did not diagnose based on cytology/histopathology results with no evidence nor were signs and symptoms of infection recruited through consecutive sampling. The subtypes of lung cancer include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, staged III and IV. The procalcitonin levels were analysed from blood using immunofluorescent assay. Data were then analysed with the Chi-Square test by Epi Info™ 7 programs in which p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS:A total of 68 lung cancer patients fulfilled the criteria of this study, 55 men (80.9%) and 13 women (19.1%). The highest percentage of cytology/histopathology type found was adenocarcinoma (80.9%), and 60.3% of those were diagnosed in stage IV. An increased procalcitonin level (greater than 0.01 ng/mL) occurred in 80.9% of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. It appears that the higher the stage of lung cancer, the lower procalcitonin levels would be, although it was not statistically significant. There was no association between lung cancer subtype with procalcitonin levels.CONCLUSION:An increased level of procalcitonin may be an indication not only for infection but also for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND:Metastatic malignant neoplasms are the most commonly known as secondary lung tumour. Any cancer could have the ability to spread to the lung. The secondary tumour most typically appears on radiologic findings are multiple nodules pleural effusion, etc.AIM:To observe the characteristic of secondary lung tumours patients in Haji Adam Malik General Hospital.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Research design is a cross-sectional with consecutive sampling to 53 patients that are diagnosed with secondary lung tumours. The data was taken from the medical record of secondary lung tumours diagnoses in Haji Adam Malik General Hospital medical record department.RESULTS:From the study, most cases are found in < 40-year-old age group with a percentage of 34%. The highest secondary lung tumour was ovarian carcinoma (13.2%) and multiple nodules (52.8%) from radiology images. Adenocarcinoma is the most found cytology/histopathology type which is around 69.8%.CONCLUSION:Female ages < 40 years are the group with the most cases of secondary lung tumours. Primary tumour from the ovarian is the main cause of secondary lung tumour.

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Background: Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. Several studies reported cases of histoplasmosis that resembled malignancy [3]. . It is a fact that the clinical syndrome of neoplastic disease is not limited to malignancy, so that infectious diseases should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Method: This is descriptive research with consecutive samples. The sample was the patients with lung cancer aged 25-75 years old. The researcher assessed histoplasmic skin test on interdemal administered with fungal protein [5]. After being observed for allergic reaction in 48-72 hours, induration > 5mm shows positive reaction. The Result: this research included 25 samples consisting of 21 men and 4 women. The Result showed 1 person (4%) with positive histoplasmic skin test result containing squamous cell carcinoma and radiological features of solitary pulmonary nodule. There is an insignificant relationship between cancer cell types and the histoplasmic skin test results (p = 0.24). There is an insignificant relationship between histoplamic skin test result and radiological features (p = 0.48).  The Conclusion: There is one person with positive histoplasmic skin test result with squamous cell carcinoma and radiological features of solitary pulmonary nodule.