Abstract INTRODUCTION: Patients with acute respiratory failure due to influenza require ventilatory support. However, mechanical ventilation itself can exacerbate lung damage and increase mortality. METHODS: The aim of this study was to describe a feasible and protective ventilation protocol, with limitation of the tidal volume to ≤6 mL/kg of the predicted weight and a driving pressure ≤15 cmH2O after application of the alveolar recruitment maneuver and PEEP titration. RESULTS: Initial improvement in oxygenation and respiratory mechanics were observed in the four cases submitted to the proposed protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the mechanical ventilation strategy applied could be optimized.

ABSTRACT The hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome is considered an emerging disease in the Americas. Since 1993, thousands of cases have been reported from different countries, but mainly from Brazil. This study aims to describe some epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of patients with hantavirus who presented poor outcome and were autopsied in a teaching hospital in Brazil, from 2000 to 2014. Of the 10 patients included, nine were male (mean age 43.5 years) and seven reported previous contact with rodents. Fever was present in eight of ten patients, dyspnea in nine of ten and myalgia in seven of ten patients; hemoconcentration, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and renal involvement were evidenced in all the 10 cases. At autopsy, the main alterations were seen in the lungs: pleural effusion (8/10 cases), increased weight 2.5 to 3 times, congestion/edema (10/10), interstitial mononuclear inflammation (10/10), alveolar hemorrhage (7/10), pulmonary collapse (7/10), hyaline membranes (7/10) and alveolar neutrophilic infiltrate (2/10). Pericardial effusion (2/10), mild myocardium inflammation (4/10), right ventricle dilation (1/10), polyploidy nuclei (3/10) and pericardial diffuse petechial (1/10) were also observed. The other organs exhibited discrete and non-specific alterations. Currently, this syndrome continues to be associated with high mortality directly linked to a late diagnosis and/or a misdiagnosis in the medical centers where these patients were seen for the first time. The anatomopathological findings at autopsy revealed the final phase of the process with pulmonary alterations, allowing a direct correlation with the severity of respiratory distress observed in these patients at admission.

ABSTRACT Bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brushing and transbronchial biopsy are of fundamental importance in the diagnosis of pathologies affecting the lungs of immunosuppressed patients, especially those infected with HIV. This was a descriptive and retrospective study, in which the results of bronchoalveolar lavages, bronchial brushings and transbronchial biopsies of HIV-positive patients attended at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro from 1999 to 2015 were reviewed to determine the most frequent findings in these patients, to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these procedures and to correlate bronchoscopy results with clinical and radiological findings. Serological tests for HIV were confirmed and cases with negative or unverified serology were excluded. Medical records were reviewed for correlation with clinical and radiological findings. A total of 1,423 patients with a mean age of 50 years were initially selected; 727 cases had no serology for HIV; 696 had serology for HIV and 64 were positive. Of these, 47 were men, aged 24 to 84 years, and 17 women, aged 31 to 69 years. Biopsies and cytological tests were positive in 20 (31.25%) of the 64 patients and the most frequent diagnosis was pneumocystosis, found in 8 cases (12.5%). Of the 20 bronchofibroscopy-positive patients, only 2 did not show agreement between histopathological and clinical-radiological diagnoses. The analysis of the cytological tests and biopsy specimens obtained by bronchofibroscopy seems to be valuable for the etiological diagnosis of pulmonary infections in HIV- positive patients; however, negative results do not always exclude the diagnosis. In these cases, clinical symptoms and imaging findings may help to guide the best therapy.

RESUMO Os tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são neoplasias raras que foram descritas pela primeira vez em 2000. Inicialmente considerada uma lesão lipomatosa benigna dos tecidos moles, atualmente é considerado um tumor localmente agressivo. Essas lesões ocorrem principalmente no pé e no tornozelo das mulheres na quinta e sexta décadas de vida, embora possam ser encontrados em qualquer lugar nos membros inferiores e, mais raramente, em outras partes do corpo. Histologicamente, tumores lipomatosos fibro-histiocíticos hemossideróticos são formados por uma combinação de tecido adiposo maduro, fascículos de células fusiformes, macrófagos que contêm frequentemente hemossiderina citoplasmática, infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear e estroma, que pode ser focalmente mixoide. Há recidiva local em quase um terço dos casos. Não existe consenso na literatura se esse tumor faz parte de um espectro que envolve os tumores angiectásicos hialinizantes pleomórficos e os tumores fibroblásticos mixoinflamatórios malignos ou se configura uma entidade independente. Relatamos um caso de uma neoplasia com diagnóstico inicial de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico em uma mulher de 38 anos, com duas recorrências e posterior transformação sarcomatosa. O estudo imuno-histoquímico indicou diferenciação miofibroblástica da neoplasia maligna. Encontramos apenas poucos casos relatados de transformação maligna de tumor lipomatoso fibro-histiocítico hemossiderótico.

ABSTRACT Hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors are rare neoplasms that were first described in 2000. Initially considered a benign lipotamous lesion of the soft tissues, nowadays they are considered to be a locally aggressive tumor. They occur mainly in the foot and ankle of women in their fifth and sixth decades, although they may be found in any place in the lower limbs and, more rarely, in other parts of the body. Histologically, hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors consist of a mixture of mature adipose tissue, fusiform cell fascicles, macrophages that often contain cytoplasmic hemosiderin, mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, and stroma that may be focally myxoid. Local recurrence is observed in nearly one-third of all cases. There is no consensus in the literature whether this tumor is a part of a spectrum that comprises pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumors and myxoinflammatory fibroblastic malignant tumors, or if it is an independent entity. The authors report a case of a neoplasia after a diagnosis of a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumor in a 38-year-old woman, with two recurrences and later sarcomatous transformation. An immunohistochemical study indicated myofibroblastic differentiation of a malignant neoplasm. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are only few reported cases of malignant transformation in hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous tumors.

ABSTRACT Involvement of the digestive system in AIDS pathologies or injuries is frequent. Aiming at comparing the frequency, the importance that these lesions have for death and the survival time in patients using or not using HAART, we studied 322 necropsies classified as follows: Group A - without antiretroviral drugs (185 cases); B - one or two antiretroviral drugs or HAART for less than six months (83 cases); C - HAART for six months or longer (54 cases). In the overall analysis of the digestive system, changes were present in 73.6% of cases. The most frequent was Candida infection (22.7%), followed by cytomegalovirus (19.2%), Histoplasma capsulatum (6.5%), mycobacteria (5.6%), and Toxoplasma gondii (4.3%). T. gondii infection was more frequent in group A compared with group C, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) was more frequent in group A compared with groups B and C (p < 0.05); 2.2% of the deaths were due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Regarding the segments, only in the large intestine, and only cytomegalovirus, were more frequent in group A compared with group C. We conclude that digestive system infections are still frequent, even with the use of HAART. However, the average survival time in group C was more than three times greater than the one in group A and nearly double that of group B, demonstrating the clear benefit of this therapy.

Envolvimento do sistema digestório em pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) é frequente e muitas alterações nesses pacientes são diagnosticadas apenas à autopsia. Há escassos estudos de autopsia com análise detalhada desse sistema e apenas um deles foi realizado no Brasil. Neste estudo avaliamos cada segmento do sistema digestório em 93 autopsias consecutivas de indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e a importância dessas lesões para o óbito. Desses, 90 (96,8%) pacientes apresentavam AIDS. Revisamos prontuários médicos, relatórios de autopsias e cortes histológicos da língua ao reto corados pela técnica de hematoxilina-eosina. Quando necessário, analisamos colorações especiais e imuno-histoquímica para pesquisar infecções. Havia lesões no sistema digestório em 73 (78,5%) casos. As alterações mais comuns foram infecciosas: candidíase (42%), citomegalovirose (29%), histoplasmose (11,8%), toxoplasmose (9,7%) e infecção por micobactérias (9,7%). Neoplasias malignas foram raras, presentes em quatro (4,3%) casos (dois sarcomas de Kaposi, um adenocarcinoma gástrico e um carcinoma embrionário metastático). Todos os segmentos apresentaram lesões: língua (48,6%), esôfago (44,8%), estômago (44,7%), intestino grosso (43,2%) e intestino delgado (28,9%). As lesões encontradas foram causa imediata do óbito em cinco (5,4%) casos. Em outros 36 (38,7%) casos a doença básica era sistêmica comprometendo, também, o sistema digestório.

Involvement of the digestive system in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is frequent and many changes in these patients are diagnosed only at autopsy. There are few studies of autopsy with detailed analysis of this system and only one was conducted in Brazil. We evaluated each segment of the digestive system in 93 consecutive autopsies of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the importance of these lesions to death. Of these, 90 (96.8%) patients had AIDS. We reviewed medical records, autopsy reports and histological sections from tongue to rectum stained with hematoxylin-eosin. When necessary, we analyzed special stains and immunohistochemistry to investigate infections. There was damage to the digestive system in 73 (78.5%) cases. The most common infections were candidiasis (42%), cytomegalovirus (29%), histoplasmosis (11.8%), toxoplasmosis (9.7%) and mycobacterial infection (9.7%). Malignancies were rare, present in four (4.3%) cases (two Kaposi's sarcoma, one adenocarcinoma and one metastatic embryonal carcinoma). All segments showed lesions: tongue (48.6%), esophagus (44.8%), stomach (44.7%), colon (43.2%) and small intestine (28.9%). The lesions found were immediate cause of death in five (5.4%) cases. In another 36 (38.7%) cases the basic disease was systemic and also compromised the digestive system.

Relata-se caso raro de adenocarcinoma primário multicêntrico sincrônico em intestino delgado, apêndice cecal e intestino grosso, em homem de 82 anos, com quadro de abdome agudo inflamatório. Foi submetido à laparotomia exploradora, observando-se lesão intestinal estenosante e infiltrativa no ângulo hepático e múltiplas aderências entre as alças do intestino delgado. Foi realizada hemicolectomia direita. O estudo anatomopatológico mostrou 12 focos de adenocarcinomas primários comprometendo intestino delgado (oito focos), válvula ileocecal, apêndice cecal e intestino grosso (cólon ascendente e transverso).

A rare case of synchronous multicenter primary adenocarcinoma in the small intestine, cecal appendix and large intestine, in an 82-year-old man with a condition of acute abdominal inflammation, is reported. He underwent exploratory laparotomy, and a stenosing and infiltrative intestinal lesion was seen in the hepatic angle, along with multiple adherences between the loops of the small intestine. Right hemicolectomy was performed. The anatomopathological evaluation showed 12 foci of primary adenocarcinomas affecting the small intestine (eight foci), ileocecal valve, cecal appendix and large intestine (ascending and transverse colon).

CONTEXTO: Lesões de tecido adiposo são as mais comuns de partes moles em adultos. RELATO DE CASO: Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 33 anos, com lesão em partes moles do joelho esquerdo diagnosticada como lesão lipomatosa fibrohistiocítica hemossiderótica. Essa lesão foi descrita pela primeira vez em 2000, acometendo preferencialmente a região do tornozelo de mulheres de meia-idade com história de trauma prévio local. Recidiva da lesão é comum devido à ressecção incompleta e não há até o momento relato de metástase. Após revisão da literatura, descrevemos as características clínicas, radiológicas, morfológicas, imunoistoquímicas assim como seus principais diagnósticos diferenciais.

CONTEXT: Lesions of the adipose tissue are the most common type of soft-tissue lesion among adults. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 33-year-old female patient with a soft-tissue lesion in her left knee that was diagnosed as a hemosiderotic fibrohistiocytic lipomatous lesion. This type of lesion, which was described for the first time in 2000, preferentially affects the ankle region of middle-aged women with a history of previous local trauma. Lesion recurrence is common, caused by incomplete resection, although there have not yet been any reports of metastases. After a review of the literature, we describe the clinical, radiological, morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics, along with their main differential diagnoses.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is an extremely rare tumor, and it is reported to have a poor prognosis. The clinical findings are nonspecific and may precede the diagnosis by several years. Symptoms depend on the location and extension of the tumor. A complete surgical resection is the only proven therapeutic modality that prolongs the survival in patients with this lesion. We report a case of a 50 year-old patient with inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma, who was submitted to a surgical treatment.

Relata-se caso de megacólon adquirido, associado ao uso de medicamentos psiquiátricos, em homem de 62 anos, com abdome agudo por volvo de sigmóide, com o objetivo de destacar o diagnóstico diferencial de megacólon chagásico. O exame anátomo-patológico não evidenciou denervação, ganglionite e/ou miosite e a sorologia para doença de Chagas foi negativa.

A case of acquired megacolon in a 62-year-old man with acute abdomen due to sigmoid volvulus is reported. The case was associated with the use of psychiatric medications. The aim in this report was to emphasize the differential diagnosis with Chagas megacolon. Anatomopathological examination did not show any evidence of denervation, ganglionitis and/or myositis, and the serological test for Chagas disease was negative.

CONTEXTO: O angiofibroma celular da vulva é um tumor raro que foi inicialmente descrito em 1997. Ocorre em mulheres de meia-idade (média de idade: 47 anos), apresentar pequeno tamanho (< 3 cm) e margem bem circunscrita. RELATO DE CASO: Descrevemos um caso em mulher de 51 anos de idade cujo diagnóstico pré-operatório foi confundido com cisto de glândula de Bartholin. A neoplasia era bem delimitada e constituída por três componentes característicos: células fusiformes formando pequenos fascículos, numerosos vasos sangüíneos e tecido adiposo entremeado às células fusiformes. As células do estroma eram positivas para vimentina e negativas para CD34, proteína S-100, actina e desmina. O diagnóstico diferencial deste distinto tumor inclui angiomixoma agressivo, angiomiofibroblastoma, lipoma, tumor fibroso solitário, perineurioma, e leiomioma.

CONTEXT: Cellular angiofibroma of the vulva is a rare tumor that was first described in 1997. It occurs in middle-aged women (average age: 47 years), has small size (< 3 cm) and well-circumscribed margins. CASE REPORT: We describe a case in a 51-year-old woman whose preoperative diagnosis was confounded with Bartholin's glandular cyst. The neoplasia was well delimited and made up of three characteristic components: fusiform cells forming small fascicles, numerous blood vessels and adipose tissue interspersed between the fusiform cells. The stroma cells were positive for vimentin and negative for CD34, protein S-100, actin and desmin. The differential diagnoses for this tumor include aggressive angiomyxoma, angiomyofibroblastoma, lipoma of fusiform cells, solitary fibrous tumor, perineurioma and leiomyoma.