No abstract

Pulmonary mycetomata appeared in the previously normal lung of a patient being treated for acute leukemia. The roentgenographic progression from normal lung through poorly defined infiltrates to well developed mycetomata was quite rapid, about two weeks, and coincided with recovery from prolonged leukopenia. The mycetomata were removed soon after their formation and microscopic study revealed that the lesions were autoamputated spheres of lung tissue containing hyphae. This is the first report demonstrating that mycetomata may be primarily "lung balls" rather than "fungus balls." Cleavage of infected from adjacent healthy lung tissue is apparently accomplished through leukocyte enzymatic activity. The appearance of mycetomata in a preexisting pneumonic infiltrate may herald improved host resistance with conversion of a deeply infiltrating process to relatively extrinsic surface colonization and specific treatment may be unwarranted.

Iron absorption studies with oral 59FeSO4 were performed on 13 iron-depleted, 11 iron-loaded, and 10 control rats, and nonheme iron was determined in both isolated epithelial cells and defoliated mucosa obtained from the duodenum. Mean absorption by the control animals was 18.5% of the dose. Both iron-depleted and iron-loaded groups showed significant differences in iron absorption (54.5% and 2.2% respectively). Compared with the normal controls, iron was decreased in the epithelial cells of the iron-deficient group, whereas higher concentrations were observed in the defoliated mucosa of iron-loaded animals. The latter observation was confirmed by the presence of iron-laden macrophages seen in sections of the lamina propria of the iron-loaded rats.