Biomedical subjects

N Milman

Publications and source records attributed to N Milman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

[Mycobacterium marinum. A rare cause of infection of the skin and joints].

Mycobacterium marinum is a rare cause of disseminated infection in man. The case report describes an 80-year-old woman, who had been treated with oral corticosteroids for bronchial asthma for 40 years, and in the same period had been swimming daily in swimming pools. At the first admission, the symptoms and clinical findings were interpreted as seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. After eight years of disease with recurrent infections of the skin, periarticular tissues and joints in the hands and one elbow, a biopsy specimen from an abscess showed granulomatous inflammation and acid fast bacilli. Culture for mycobacteria grew M. marinum. There was a severe, destructive monoarthritis in the right second metacarpophalangeal joint. The patient recovered completely on treatment with clarithromycin and doxycycline.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Cardiopulmonary function at rest and during exercise after resection for bronchial carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Measurements of postoperative spirometric values after pneumonectomy and lobectomy vary considerably, and few researchers have studied the changes in exercise capacity during maximal work after lung resection. The purpose of this study was to describe the postoperative alterations in cardiopulmonary function. METHODS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with lung malignancy were prospectively examined with maximal exercise test, spirometry, and arterial gas tensions. Fifty-seven patients were reinvestigated 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In patients having lobectomy, forced expiratory volume in 1 second decreased 8%, and exercise capacity, expressed by maximal oxygen uptake and maximal work rate, significantly decreased 13%. In patients having pneumonectomy forced expiratory volume in 1 second significantly decreased 23%, but the loss in lung volume was partly compensated as measured by exercise capacity, which decreased only 16%. Generally patients with the smallest preoperative forced vital capacity had the smallest postoperative deterioration expressed in percentages. We found a weak correlation between alterations in maximal oxygen uptake and lung function after resection. CONCLUSIONS: Lobectomy is associated with only minor deterioration of lung function and exercise capacity. Pneumonectomy causes a decrease in pulmonary volumes to about 75% of the preoperative values, partly compensated in better oxygen uptake, which postoperatively was about 85% of the preoperative values. Alteration in forced expiratory volume in 1 second is a poor predictor of change in exercise capacity after pulmonary resection.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Serum erythropoietin during normal pregnancy: relationship to hemoglobin and iron status markers and impact of iron supplementation in a longitudinal, placebo-controlled study on 118 women.

Serum erythropoietin (EPO) and its relationship to hemoglobin (Hb), iron status markers and iron supplementation during normal pregnancy was assessed in a longitudinal, placebo-controlled study on 118 women, 61 took daily tablets containing 66 mg ferrous iron from the second trimester until delivery and 57 took placebo. Blood samples were obtained at 4-week intervals until delivery as well as post-partum. In the placebo-treated women, median serum EPO rose from 22.5 U/l at inclusion to 35.0 U/l at delivery (P = 0.0001). In the iron-treated women, median serum EPO rose from 23.9 to 29.9 U/l (P = 0.0001). Serum EPO showed a steeper increase in the placebo-treated women than in the iron-treated women (P < 0.05). After delivery, serum EPO became normal in both groups (P = 0.0001). Median Hb was lower in placebo-treated (iron depleted) than in iron-treated (iron repleted) women (P < 0.05). In the placebo-treated women there was a negative correlation and in the iron-treated women a positive correlation between serum EPO and Hb. In the placebo-treated women, inverse correlations existed between serum EPO and serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin, reflecting the consequences of iron deficiency, whereas the iron-treated women displayed no correlation. A physiological, nonhypoxia-induced increase in EPO production accounts for the basic expansion of the red cell mass during pregnancy. In placebo-treated women, iron deficient erythropoiesis constitutes an additional hypoxic stimulus, which induces a further increase in serum EPO.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

PubMed1997

Prediction of post-operative cardiopulmonary function using perfusion scintigraphy in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Both ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy are accurate predictors of post-operative ventilatory function. Previous attempts to predict post-operative exercise capacity after lung resection using radioisotope scintigraphy are few and results are conflicting. We studied 32 patients before and 6 months after pulmonary resection for bronchogenic carcinoma to assess the value of lung perfusion scintigraphy for the prediction of post-operative forced lung volumes and parameters on maximum exercise, including maximum ventilation and maximum oxygen uptake. Nine patients were lost to follow-up, and these patients differed from the reinvestigated patients only in the staging of the pulmonary carcinoma and not in preoperative lung function or exercise capacity. We found a clear relationship between the values predicted from a preoperative perfusion scintigraphy, spirometry and a maximum exercise study and the observed values measured 6 months post-operatively. The method underestimated the post-operative values of both spirometric and exercise measurements, especially in the higher range. Only in a few cases were the post-operative observed values less than the predicted values, and in these cases the difference was without clinical significance. Unexpected post-operative respiratory insufficiency was not observed. In conclusion, in patients in whom a pulmonary resection was performed, not only the post-operative spirometric values, but also the more functional related maximum exercise data can be predicted through the knowledge of a preoperative perfusion scintigraphy.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Iron status in young Danes. Evaluation by serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a population survey of 634 individuals aged 14-23 yr.

Iron status was assessed by serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a population survey comprising 634 randomly selected urban Danes (312 males, 322 females) 14-23 yr old. At all ages, males had significantly higher serum ferritin and haemoglobin values than females. Males: median serum ferritin displayed a steady increase with age from 33 to 109 micrograms/l (rs = 0.53, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of absent mobilizable body iron stores (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l) was 3.5% at 16-17 yr of age, gradually declining to 0% at 22-23 yr. None of the males had iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 129 g/l). Females: median ferritin values displayed a slight increase with age from 28 to 39 micrograms/l (rs = 0.19, p < 0.001). The prevalence of absent iron stores was 12.5% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 6.6% at 22-23 yr. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 121 g/l) was 4.7% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 1.3% at 22-23 yr of age. Compared with surveys in other parts of Scandinavia, young Danes had slightly higher serum ferritin levels, and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Exercise testing in the preoperative evaluation of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate which parameters of preoperative spirometry and cardiopulmonary exercise test are the best predictors of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. Ninety seven patients were prospectively and consecutively examined. All patients had preoperative maximal exercise test and dynamic spirometry. Postoperative complications and causes of death were registered. Logistic regression was used and models explaining the relationship between preoperative variables and postoperative complications and deaths were constructed. We found significant differences in preoperative maximal workload and carbon dioxide output between groups, with and without cardiopulmonary-related complications, but not in spirometry variables. Logistic regression showed maximal workload to be the only predictor of cardiopulmonary complications. Maximal oxygen uptake was predictive of cardiopulmonary deaths. Maximal oxygen uptake and forced expiratory volume were predictive of postoperative complications. A maximal oxygen uptake <50% predicted was associated with high risk of death from cardiopulmonary causes. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that maximal oxygen uptake was correlated to long-term survival, while spirometric variables were not. Exercise testing can be used in the preoperative evaluation of patients with nonmetastatic bronchogenic carcinoma. A combination of the results of variables from spirometry and exercise testing is proposed to be used as a preoperative criterion for operability.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗

PubMed1997

Calibration of Abbott AxSYM Ferritin kit using the WHO Human Liver Ferritin International Standard 80/602.

A commercial ferritin kit (Abbott AxSYM Ferritin) was calibrated using the WHO Human Liver Ferritin International Standard 80/602. The reconstituted WHO freeze-dried standard was diluted to obtain six concentration levels ranging from 10-840 micrograms/l. In the analysis of the data, logarithmic transformation of the results was performed in order to stabilize the variance. The AxSYM kit yielded slightly higher values than the WHO Ferritin Standard (p < 0.05). The relation between the AxSYM kit and the WHO Ferritin Standard (untransformed values) was described by a proportionality: FerritinAxSYM = 1.057 x FerritinWHO. WHO Ferritin Standard values of 12 and 15 micrograms/l (used as cut-off values for absent or small body iron reserves) yielded calculated AxSYM values of 12.7 and 15.9 micrograms/l. A WHO Ferritin Standard value of 30 micrograms/l (used threshold value for the presence of stainable bone marrow haemosiderin iron) yielded a calculated AxSYM value of 31.7 micrograms/l.

Calibration↗

PubMed1996

[Sarcoidosis in children. Clinical manifestations, epidemiology, treatment and prognosis].

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology, which may affect various organs. The diagnosis is obtained by the demonstration of epytheloid cell granulomas in an affected organ. The incidence of sarcoidosis in Danish children less than 15 years of age is 0.22-0.27/100.000 children/year, corresponding to approximately three new cases in Denmark each year. The disease often takes an asymptomatic course. During the period 1980-1992, three cases of paediatric sarcoidosis were observed in Copenhagen Country. All three had pulmonary involvement, and one had severe hypercalcaemia. In children less than five years of age, the disease is characterized by involvement of lungs, lymph nodes and eyes. Treatment, which is symptomatic, consists of systemic steroids. Due to the risk of growth retardation, the indication for treatment should be carefully considered and steroids administered at the lowest effective dose. Due to the lack of follow-up studies, the long term prognosis is unclarified.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis].

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent episodes of intrapulmonary bleeding, chronic iron deficiency anaemia and pulmonary fibrosis. IPH is a diagnosis made by exclusion of other causes. It occurs in both adults and children. Other conditions than IPH can cause pulmonary haemosiderosis. The etiology is unknown, but might be an immunological mechanism causing a defect in the basement membrane of the pulmonary capillary. IPH should be suspected in patients with recurrent episodes of coughing, haemoptysis, dyspnoea and anaemia. Chest X-ray shows pulmonary infiltrates during an acute attack. Examination of sputum or lung biopsy discloses large numbers of haemosiderin-laden pulmonary macrophages. The mortality-rate is high, but the prognosis is difficult to evaluate because many patients survive for a long time either with a course of recurrent attacks or with chronic symptoms, such as dyspnoea and persistent anaemia. Steroids may improve the condition of the patient during a bleeding episode.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a 16-year old female].

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. The clinical and paraclinical findings consist of recurrent haemoptysis, pulmonary infiltrates and iron deficiency anaemia. Examination of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained at fiberoptic bronchoscopy discloses large numbers of haemosiderin-laden alveolar macrophages. Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis may develop. As pulmonary haemosiderosis can be observed in association with several diseases, IPH is basically a diagnosis made by exclusion of other causes. The treatment consists of immunosuppression with steroids and cytotoxic drugs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Relationship between serum ferritin, alcohol intake, and social status in 2235 Danish men and women.

The objective was to examine the relationships between serum ferritin, alcohol intake, and socioeconomic factors (school education, occupational education, occupation, income, marital status, cohabitation status, housing, social class) in a population survey performed in Copenhagen County during 1982-1984. The participants were selected at random from the census register and comprised 2235 healthy Danish individuals, non-blood donors (1044 men, 1191 women) in cohorts being 30, 40, 50, and 60 years old. The participants gave a detailed social and medical history and had a clinical examination including blood samples. In all age-groups, men had significantly higher serum ferritin and alcohol intake than women. In men, there was no relationship between serum ferritin and social class. Significant relationships were observed between ferritin and occupation (unemployed and self-employed men had higher ferritin than those with other occupations) and ferritin and income (in younger men, ferritin displayed a steady increase with income). None of the social variables were related to the prevalence of iron deficiency or iron overload. Alcohol intake was related to occupation and income, but not to social class. In women, none of the social variables showed any significant relationship to ferritin levels or iron overload. The prevalence of small iron stores (serum ferritin < or = 30 micrograms/l) was lower and the intake of alcohol was higher in women from high social classes. In both men and women, serum ferritin displayed highly significant positive correlations with alcohol intake. Likewise, the prevalence of iron overload (serum ferritin > 90th percentile) was closely correlated to alcohol intake. In conclusion, socioeconomic factors per se had a minor influence on serum ferritin levels and iron status in Danes. The distinct association between alcohol intake and serum ferritin levels should be considered in future iron status surveys.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Serum ferritin in Danes: studies of iron status from infancy to old age, during blood donation and pregnancy.

Iron status and body iron reserves were examined in a broad spectrum of the Danish population, and sex- and age-related changes determined. Serum ferritin concentration was employed as an indicator of mobilizable body iron stores. The relationship between serum ferritin and histochemical assessment of stainable bone marrow haemosiderin iron was examined in healthy individuals, defining threshold values for serum ferritin indicating exhausted, small, normal, ample, and increased iron stores. The populations examined comprised 7241 randomly selected normal individuals with an age distribution ranging from newborn to 85 years old. The influence of factors having a significant impact on iron balance, e.g., menstruation, pregnancy, parity, and blood donation, was analysed separately. Newborns had high cord serum ferritin levels, which were to a certain extent dependent on the mother's iron status. Newborns of mothers taking iron supplementation during pregnancy had higher cord serum ferritin than newborns of mothers taking a placebo. In children, the serum ferritin level was relatively constant from 3 years of age until adolescence, where the prevalence of exhausted iron stores was 13% in boys and 18% in girls. In postadolescent men, there was a gradual increase in serum ferritin levels until 30 years of age. Subsequently, serum ferritin remained relatively constant until old age. Among 30- to 70-year-old men, 9.4% had ample iron stores. The prevalence of depleted iron stores was 1.4%, and of iron deficiency anaemia 0.24%. In women, serum ferritin levels remained low from adolescence until the menopause. Among 30- to 50-year-old premenopausal women, the prevalence of ample iron stores was 0.49%, whereas 18% had exhausted iron reserves and 2.6% had iron deficiency anaemia. After menopause, serum ferritin gradually rose and approached male levels. Among 60- to 70-year-old postmenopausal women, 3.0% had ample iron stores, 2.3% had depleted stores and none had iron deficiency anaemia. In fertile women, the choice of contraception had a significant influence on the iron loss at menstruation. Hormonal contraception reduced iron loss, whereas the use of intrauterine devices increased iron loss. These effects were reflected in the serum ferritin levels of menstruating women. In a placebo-controlled study of iron supplementation during pregnancy, serum ferritin levels displayed a characteristic fall both in placebo- and iron-treated women. Among placebo-treated pregnant women at term, 19% had depleted iron reserves and 12% had iron deficiency anaemia, and among iron-treated women, 3% had depleted iron stores and none had iron deficiency anaemia. In non-pregnant women, there was a significant inverse relationship between parity and serum ferritin. Blood donation had a marked influence on the serum ferritin level in the adult population. Among Danes, 20-60 years of age, 27% of men, 15% of premenopausal and 10% of postmenopausal women were blood donors. In all three groups, the prevalence of depleted iron depots was higher in donors than in non-donors. Among premenopausal female blood donors, 31.7% had depleted iron reserves and 3.3% iron deficiency anaemia. In general, Danish men and postmenopausal women had a satisfactory iron status. Adolescent Danish girls and premenopausal women had a high prevalence of iron deficiency, which should be taken into consideration when establishing guidelines and recommendations for nutritional iron intake in this section of the population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Cord serum erythropoietin in 90 healthy newborn term infants: relationship to blood gases and iron status markers.

In this study, we examined the cord serum erythropoietin (EPO) level in newborn infants in relation to venous cord blood gases and iron status markers (cord serum ferritin, cord serum transferrin saturation). The subjects were 90 healthy newborn term infants with a normal birth and 90 healthy women with an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. Within 14-18 weeks of gestation, 47 prospective mothers, allocated at random, received tablets containing 66 mg ferrous iron daily, and 43 received a placebo. Serum EPO was measured in women prior to delivery. Serum EPO, serum ferritin and serum transferrin saturation were analyzed in cord blood from the newborn. Blood gases (PO2, PCO2 and standard HCO3, PH) were measured in venous cord blood and Apgar scores were recorded. The cord serum EPO level in the newborn was not significantly affected by the iron supplementation to the mothers. In the entire series, the geometric mean cord serum EPO was 36 U/I, (median 32 U/I, 5-95% 16-150, range 12-380). There was no correlation between cord serum EPO and APgar score, cord blood PO2, PCO2, standard HCO3 and pH. In the newborn of placebo-treated mothers, log cord serum EPO was inversely correlated with log cord serum ferritin (r = -0.54, P < 0.0002) and cord serum transferrin saturation (r = -0.39, P < 0.011), suggesting that iron deficiency may occur in this newborn group.

Apgar Score↗

PubMed1996

Classification of pulmonary lesions into central and peripheral with a template applied on chest X-ray.

To facilitate the understanding of the anatomical localization of pulmonary lesions and to optimize diagnostic evaluation, a template was designed which, on conventional chest X-rays, could be employed to discriminate between central and peripheral pulmonary lesions. The term 'central' implies that the lesion should be visible in the tracheobronchial tree through a fibre-optic bronchoscope, and the term 'peripheral' suggests that the lesion is not visible through a bronchoscope. In 20 patients examined by fibre-optic bronchoscopy, the bronchoscope was wedged into four pre-selected segmental bronchi in each lung. Using fluoroscopy, the tip of the bronchoscope was marked out on the skin with leadshot. On subsequent chest X-rays, with posterior-anterior and right lateral views, the distances and angles of the markings of the bronchi were mapped out in relation to the main carina. These data were used to design the template.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Relationship between dietary iron intake, corrected for diet reporting error, and serum ferritin in Danish women aged 35-65 years.

Several studies have failed to demonstrate an association between Fe status and intake of dietary Fe. However, in the long term, it seems logical to presume that body Fe reserves are, fundamentally, dependent on the intake of bioavailable dietary Fe. This discrepancy may depend on several factors: (1) interindividual variation in biological availability of dietary Fe (differences in intestinal absorption), (2) interactions between dietary Fe and absorption enhancers and inhibitors, (3) variations in physiological (menstruation, childbirth) or unphysiological (blood donation) Fe losses, (4) the failure to adjust dietary intake data for Fe supplements, (5) uncertain food composition data (discrepancies between calculated and chemically measured Fe content in the diet), and (6) diet reporting error (reported intake of dietary Fe may deviate considerably from the true intake). The present study examined associations between dietary intake of Fe (assessed by diet history interview) and Fe status (assessed by ferritin status) among 167 Danish women aged 35-65 years, who were not blood donors, by taking into account diet reporting error (assessed from p-amino benzoic acid-validated urinary N), physiological blood losses (menstruation, childbirth, abortions), and Fe supplementation. Our results indicate that the lack of a general association between Fe status and dietary Fe intake may, in part, be caused by selective diet reporting error.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Distribution of liver haemosiderin iron in 187 patients with various types of hepatic diseases.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of haemosiderin iron in various regions of the liver (central, intermediary and peripheral hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, portal macrophages and bile duct epithelial cells) in 174 patients with different hepatic diseases (alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 49), alcoholic steatosis (n = 60), non-alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 16), acute hepatitis (n = 20), clinically overt untreated hereditary haemochromatosis (n = 3), miscellaneous disorders (n = 26)), and in 13 subjects with a normal liver biopsy. Furthermore, the relationship between liver haemosiderin iron, biochemical iron status markers and biochemical liver tests was investigated. In haemochromatosis iron was consistently present in all examined regions of the liver, and in 43% of patients with alcoholic liver disease haemosiderin was present in at least one region of the liver lobule. In 65% of patients with acute hepatitis, haemosiderin was present in macrophages and Kupffer cells. In other hepatic diseases and in normal livers, haemosiderin was rarely seen. Regression analyses showed a correlation between iron status markers in most patients, except in those with high serum aspartate aminotransferase levels. In conclusion, haemosiderin iron is distributed in a typical pattern in haemochromatosis, alcoholic liver disease and acute hepatitis. Both histochemical liver iron and serum ferritin are of value as indirect markers of liver iron stores in patients with moderate hepatocellular damage.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in patients with primary lung cancer.

In patients with malignancies, thrombocytosis has previously been related to disease stage, histological type, and survival. In the present study, the prevalence of thrombocytosis and the prognostic information provided by platelet counts were analysed in a large cohort of patients with primary lung cancer. At the time of diagnosis, pretreatment platelet counts were retrospectively recorded in 1,115 consecutive patients with histologically proven primary lung cancer. All patients were reviewed regarding histological type, tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) classification stage and survival. The prevalence of thrombocytosis in patients with lung cancer was compared with that in a series of 550 consecutive out-patients with benign lung disorders. In 269 surgically resected patients, postoperative platelet counts were recorded 1-3 months after resection of the tumour. In the follow-up period, thromboembolic episodes diagnosed either clinically or at autopsy were recorded. The overall prevalence of thrombocytosis (> 400 x 10(9) platelets.L-1) in the patients with lung cancer was 32%. The frequency of thrombocytosis was significantly higher compared with the control subjects (32 vs 6%; p < 0.0001). Platelet counts differed significantly among subgroups defined by the TNM classification, with the proportion of patients with > 400 x 10(9) platelets.L-1 greatest in the more advanced TNM stages (stage I and II 23% vs stage III and IV 37%; p < 0.0001). Patients with thrombocytosis had a significantly poorer survival than patients with normal platelet counts (p < 0.0001). In a multivariate survival analysis (Cox model), thrombocytosis continued to correlate strongly with poor survival even when adjusted for histological type, sex, age, and TNM stage (p < 0.001). In surgically resected patients, the frequency of preoperative and postoperative thrombocytosis differed significantly (23.0 vs 8.9%; p < 0.0001). Survival rate was significantly reduced in patients with preoperative thrombocytosis (p = 0.005). Thrombocytosis was not associated with an increased incidence of thromboembolism. In conclusion, thrombocytosis is an independent prognostic factor of survival in patients with primary lung cancer. We suggest that platelet counts should be included in future multivariate analyses of survival in patients with lung cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Endoscopic ultrasonography and real-time guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of solid lesions of the mediastinum suspected of malignancy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study details our preliminary experience with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of mediastinal masses suspected of malignancy. DESIGN: Prospective uncontrolled study. PATIENTS: Nine patients had lesions suspected of malignancy ranging from 1 to 9 cm in diameter in various locations of the mediastinum. INTERVENTIONS: The EUS examination was performed with a gastroscope (Hitachi/Pentax FG-32 UA) equipped with an adjustable 5- or 7.5-MHz curved array ultrasonic transducer. The scanning plane is in the long axis of the endoscope allowing endosonographically guided biopsy to be performed. A 21-gauge (0.8 mm), full-length steel needle housed in a biopsy handle (type: Hancke/Vilmann; GIP-Medizin Technik; Grassau, Germany) was used for the biopsies. RESULTS: Nine patients had biopsy specimens taken from 13 lesions. The total number of needle passes was 18 (range, 1 to 3; median, 1.4). The cytologic diagnosis was conclusive for cancer in ten lesions and consistent with a benign lesion in three lesions. All ten malignant diagnoses and two benign diagnoses were confirmed either by operation or follow-up. In the last patient with lung cancer, a final diagnosis of the EUS-guided biopsy of an enlarged lymph node could not be obtained. No false-positive or negative biopsy diagnoses were recorded. The biopsy procedure was well tolerated by all patients, and there were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided aspiration biopsy is a significant advance in the differentiation between malignant and benign lesions of the mediastinum carrying a high diagnostic potential.

Aged↗