Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0032290 (aspiration pneumonia)
 2,291 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 58-year-old African-American man presented with a progressive esophageal stricture of unknown etiology complicated by esophageal candidiasis, broncho-esophageal fistula, four episodes of aspiration pneumonia, and a 40-lb weight loss. He ultimately required an esophagectomy. Pathologic examination showed marked thickening of the esophageal wall by submucosal pseudodiverticula typical of esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIPD) and extensive mucosal and submucosal chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Small, oval cells with ill-defined nuclei were present in lumens of some pseudodiverticula, light microscopically. Their exact nature could not be determined by light microscopy. The diagnosis of trichomoniasis became apparent only after transmission electron microscopic study of these cells demonstrated characteristic features of trichomonad protozoa. These included four anteriorly placed flagella with kinetosomes, a recurrent flagellum associated with an undulating membrane, a costa, a peltar-axostylar complex, and a small Golgi body with parabasal filaments. This case of EIPD is unusual in that the associated broncho-esophageal fistula and trichomoniasis have not been previously reported as complications of EIPD.
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PMID:Trichomoniasis complicating esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis: diagnosis by transmission electron microscopy. 888 56

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for palliating obstructing esophageal cancer. This report reviews our initial experience using PDT to treat malignant dysphagia. Patients with inoperable, obstructing esophageal cancer were considered for PDT. Photofrin was injected 48 hours before endoscopic laser activation. Dysphagia score was assessed. Thirty patients underwent 53 PDT courses. Improvement in dysphagia occurred in 83%. Mean dysphagia score decreased from 2.8 to 1.8 (p < 0.05). Complications included esophageal stricture (9.4%), candida esophagitis (5.7%), symptomatic pleural effusion (5.7%), contained esophageal perforation (1.9%), aspiration pneumonia (1.9%), and sunburn (13.2%). Seventeen patients (57%) required more than one PDT treatment, and in 10 an expandable metal stent was used as an adjunct. The 30-day mortality rate was 7%. PDT is effective in palliating patients with malignant dysphagia. The ideal patient for PDT has an obstructing, primarily endoluminal esophageal tumor with minimal extrinsic compression.
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PMID:Photodynamic therapy for treatment of malignant dysphagia. 1080 93