Background: Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death. Aim: To describe the clinical, staging and survival characteristics of lung cancer in a public Chilean regional hospital. Material and Methods: Analysis of a prospective database of a thoracic surgery service, retrieving histologically confirmed lung cancer cases from January 2010 to December 2019 and reviewing their medical records. Cases were re-staged by the TNM-8 system and variables were compared between periods 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Results: We retrieved 551 lung cancer cases, 333 (60 %) men, with a mean age of 65 years. Distant metastases were found in 72% of cases (excluding lymphatic metastases). Of the non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), 50 (10%) cases were in stage I, 18 (4%) in stage II, 81 (16%) in stage III and 347 (70%) in stage IV. Global five-year survival was 18%, 20% for NSCLC, 71% for excised NSCLC, 8% for non-excised NSCLC, 88% for stage I and 92% for subgroup IA. Resective surgery was performed in 81 (14%) cases. When comparing 2010-2014 and 2015-2019 periods, the frequency of resective surgery increased from 7% to 20%. Conclusions: The diagnosis of lung cancer was frequently made in advanced stages. There was a significant increase in early diagnosis and frequency of surgeries with curative intent in the second observation period.

Background: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a congenital malformation characterized by lung tissue with vascularization from anomalous systemic arteries. Aim: To analyze characteristics and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with pulmonary sequestration. Materials and Method: Transversal descriptive study. Period: January-1988 to December-2018. Information was obtained from clinical files and pathological anatomy records. Age, sex, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, surgical treatment and pathological findings are described. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS25® and the Mann-Whitney and Chi square test were used, considering p < 0.05 to be significant. Results: Total 33 patients, 25 (75.8%) women. Average age 30.2 years, range: 0-68. Adults 23 (69.7%) patients and pediatric (< 15 years) 10 (30.3%) patients. The clinical presentation was pulmonary symptoms in 23 (69.7%) cases and 9 (27.3%) were asymptomatic. Three (9.1%) presented another congenital malformation. Preoperative diagnosis in 15 (48.4%) patients. The most frequent location was the left lower lobe. The intralobar type was the most frequent: 23 (69.7%) cases. The most frequent surgery was lobectomy with identification and ligation of the systemic vessel. The systemic vessel originated in the thoracic aorta in 27 (81.8%) cases and infradiaphragmatic (not specified) in 3 (9.1%) cases. Single vessel in 26 (78.8%) and double in 5 (15.2%) cases. There was no mortality. Differences were found in characteristics between adult and pediatric patients. Conclusion: SP are infrequent, they mostly appear in young adults as recurrent lung diseases, differences in characteristics are distinguished between adult and pediatric patients and they have an excellent postoperative prognosis.

Resumen Introducción: El secuestro pulmonar (SP) es una malformación congénita caracterizada por tejido pulmonar con vascularización de una arteria sistémica anómala. Objetivo: Analizar las características y tratamiento de pacientes adultos y pediátricos con secuestro pulmonar. Materiales y Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Periodo: enero de 1988 a diciembre de 2018. La información se obtuvo de fichas clínicas y registros de anatomía patológica. Se describen edad, sexo, características clínicas, diagnóstico, tratamiento quirúrgico y hallazgos anatomopatológicos. Se realizó análisis estadístico mediante SPSS25® y se usó la prueba Mann-Whitney y X2, considerándose significativo p < 0,05. Resultados: Total 33 pacientes, 25 (75,8%) mujeres. Edad promedio 30,2 años, rango: 0-68. Adultos 23 (69,7%) pacientes y pediátricos (< 15 años) 10 (30,3%) pacientes. La presentación clínica fue sintomatología pulmonar en 23 (69,7%) casos y 9 (27,3%) eran asintomáticos. Tres (9,1%) presentaron malformación congénita asociada. Diagnóstico preoperatorio en 15 (45,5%) pacientes. La ubicación más frecuente fue lóbulo inferior izquierdo. El tipo intralobar fue el más frecuente en 23 (69,7%) casos. La cirugía más frecuente fue la lobectomía con identificación y ligadura del vaso sistémico. El vaso aberrante se originó en aorta torácica en 27 (81,8%) casos e infradiafragmático (no precisado) en 3 (9,1%) casos. Vaso único en 26 (78,8%) y doble en 5 (15,2%) casos. No hubo mortalidad. Existen diferencias en las características entre los secuestros en pacientes adultos y pediátricos. Discusión y Conclusión: Los SP son infrecuentes, se presentan principalmente en adultos jóvenes como neumopatías a repetición, se distinguen diferencias en las características entre los pacientes adultos y pediátricos, y tienen excelente pronóstico posoperatorio.

Background: Human hydatidosis is a prevalent zoonosis in our environment, caused mainly by the Echinococcus granulosus parasite. The most common complications in the lung are cyst rupture and infection. Aim: To describe and compare clinical characteristics, treatment, morbidity and mortality of patients hospitalized for complicated versus uncomplicated hydatid pulmonary cyst (HPC). Materials and Method: Longitudinal analytical study. Period January 1973 - December 2017 at the Regional Clinical Hospital of Concepción “Dr. Guillermo Grant Benavente”, Chile. Database, prospective protocols and medical records were reviewed. Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet and SPSS24® program with chi square and Student's t-test were used. It was considered significant p < 0.05. Results: Total 364 episodes of HPC, complicated 179 (49.2%) versus uncomplicated 185 (50.8%). Average age 36.4 ± 18.9 versus 32.4 ± 19.1 years, male 114 (63.7%) versus 107 (57.8%), respectively. A statistically significant difference was found in: symptomatology cough 147 (82.1%) versus 120 (64.9%), hemoptysis 93 (52.0%) versus 45 (24.3%), respectively; HPC right 115 (64.2%) versus 99 (53.5%), respectively; resective cyst surgery 139 (77.7%) versus 167 (90.3%), reoperation 22 (12.3%) versus 8 (4.3%), respectively; morbidity 47 (26.3%) versus 30 (16.2%), mortality 6 (3.4%) versus 0 (0%), average postoperative hospital stay 16.1 ± 14.3 versus 10.7 ± 7.7 days, recurrence 15 (8.4%) versus 13 (7.0%), respectively. Conclusions: Approximately half of the HPCs are complicated. Complicated HPCs present statistically significant differences in their clinical, treatment, morbidity, mortality and postoperative hospital stay.

Resumen Introducción: La hidatidosis humana es una zoonosis prevalente en nuestro medio, causada principalmente por el parásito Echinococcus granulosus. Las complicaciones más frecuentes en el pulmón son la rotura y la infección del quiste. Objetivos: Describir y comparar características clínicas, tratamiento, morbilidad y mortalidad de los pacientes hospitalizados por quiste hidatídico pulmonar (QHP) complicado versus no complicado. Materiales y Método: Estudio analítico longitudinal. Período enero de 1973 - diciembre de 2017 en Hospital Clínico Regional de Concepción “Dr. Guillermo Grant Benavente”, Chile. Revisión de base de datos, protocolos de QHP y fichas clínicas. Se utilizó planilla Microsoft Excel® y programa SPSS24®, con función chi cuadrado y t de Student. Se consideró significativo p < 0,05. Resultados: Total 364 episodios de QHP, complicados 179 (49,2%) versus no complicados 185 (50,8%). Edad promedio 36,4 ± 18,9 versus 32,4 ± 19,1 años, hombres 114 (63,7%) versus 107 (57,8%), respectivamente. Se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa en: sintomatología tos 147 (82,1%) versus 120 (64,9%), hemoptisis 93 (52,0%) versus 45 (24,3%), respectivamente; QHP derecho 115 (64,2%) versus 99 (53,5%), respectivamente; cirugía conservadora 139 (77,7%) versus 167 (90,3%), reoperaciones 22 (12,3%) versus 8 (4,3%), respectivamente; morbilidad 47 (26,3%) versus 30 (16,2%), mortalidad 6 (3,4%) versus 0 (0%), estadía hospitalaria postoperatoria promedio 16,1 ± 14,3 versus 10,7 ± 7,7 días, recidivas 15 (8,4%) versus 13 (7,0%), respectivamente. Discusión: Aproximadamente la mitad de los QHP son complicados. Los QHP complicados presentan diferencias estadísticamente significativas en su clínica, tratamiento, morbilidad, mortalidad y estadía hospitalaria postoperatoria.

Background: Lungs are the second location in frequency of hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis. Aim: To characterize the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, findings and treatment of patients hospitalized for a pulmonary hydatid cyst (PHC). Materials and Methods: Review of databases, medical records, operation notes and death certificates of patients admitted to a Chilean regional hospital with a PHC. Results: Four hundred twenty-nine cases were identified and complete data was obtained from 368 patients aged 34 ± 19 years, 224 (60,9%)men. The most common clinical manifestations were cough in 269 (73%) and chest pain in 217 (59%). The most frequent locations were the right lung in 210 (57%) and lower lobes in 218 (59%). One hundred eighty-seven cysts (51%) were complicated. Conservative surgery (cystectomy) was performed in 308 (84%). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 77 (21%) and mortality in 6 (2%) patients. Recurrence was observed in 28 (8%) patients. There was a significant reduction in morbidity, mortality, reoperations, and postoperative days over time. Conclusions: In these patients, pulmonary hydatidosis was diagnosed mainly during working ages and half of patients had a complicated cyst.

Background: Primary cardiac tumors have a low incidence, and their presentation form and clinical course are not well known. Aim: To describe the characteristics, treatment, follow up and survival of patients with primary cardiac tumors (PCT). Material and Methods: Review of all surgical procedures for PCT performed between 1984 and 2019 in a regional general hospital. The information was obtained from surgical protocols, surgical and pathology databases, medical records and registries of the Chilean National Identification Service. The clinical features of patients, immediate and long term outcomes are described. Results: Seventy-two surgical procedures for PCT were reviewed. Patients’ age was 55 ± 15 years and 60% were women. The most common histological types were myxoma in 49 patients (68%), papillary fibroelastoma in 13 (18%) and sarcoma in 6 (8.3%). Forty-nine (68.1%) were symptomatic and all tumors were found on echocardiography. Fifty-one (71%) were in the left atrium, 10 (14%) in the aortic valve and eight (11%) in the right atrium. The surgical procedures were tumor resection in 48 patients (67%) and resection and repair with patch in 23 (32%). Mean postoperative stay was 6.6 ± 4.4 days, eight patients (11%) had complications and no patient died in the immediate postoperative period. Long term survival was higher in patients with benign PCT as compared with those with malignant tumors. Conclusions: Most PCTs in this group of patients were benign neoplasms and the most common tumors were myxomas. The main diagnostic method is echocardiography and the prognosis of surgical treatment is excellent when the tumors are benign. (Rev Med Chile 2020; 148: 327-335)

Cystic lesions in the midline of the anterior skull base are rare and mostly congenital malformations. Usually asymptomatic, symptoms can be determined by their growth and/or mechanical compromise on adjacent structures. The diagnosis is usually the result of imaging or endoscopic findings, MRI is the best alternative for the initial diagnostic approach. These cystic lesions are benign xx and not all require a surgical management. Some of them require a watchfull follow up. If they need surgery the expanded endoscopic approach is the method of choice in our hands. We present a case series, correspondent to five patients with cystic lesions in the midline of the skull base. All these were successfully managed by an extended endoscopic approach. Finally, we presented a proposal for initial diagnosis approach, based on the MRI findings of these lesions.

Las lesiones quísticas en línea media del segmento posterior de la base de cráneo anterior corresponden mayoritariamente a malformaciones congénitas, cuya ubicación puede ser selar, supraselar o intraesfenoidal. Generalmente asintomáticas, pueden presentar síntomas determinados por su crecimiento y/o el compromiso mecánico sobre las estructuras adyacentes. Su diagnóstico suele realizarse producto de un hallazgo imagenológico o endoscópico, constituyendo la resonancia magnética la mejor alternativa ante una aproximación diagnóstica inicial. Estas lesiones quísticas presentan un comportamiento benigno y no todas requieren un manejo quirúrgico, siendo suficiente en la gran mayoría de ellas, un seguimiento clínico. La necesidad de cirugía deberá decidirse en cada caso y depende principalmente de la sintomatología producida por la compresión de estructuras vecinas e hipertensión endocraneana. El abordaje quirúrgico endoscópico extendido es el método resectivo de elección. Presentamos una serie de casos clínicos, correspondiente a cinco pacientes con lesiones quísticas en línea media de base de cráneo anterior. Tanto la sintomatología como el diagnóstico etiológico tuvieron una presentación diversa en la serie expuesta; independiente de lo cual, todos fueron manejados exitosamente por cirugía endoscópica. Presentamos finalmente, una propuesta de diagnóstico inicial, basado en el estudio imagenológico con resonancia magnética de estas lesiones.

A case report of a patient, female, 52 years old, clinical examination showed a volume increase at the right mandibular angle. Imaging studies showed a large cervical paravertebral mass, encapsulated, net limits without evidence of calcification in the body of the lesion nor involvement of neighboring bone tissue, extending from the base of the skull to the region of the inner right mandibular angle. Surgery was determined as treatment, presenting, impaired swallowing and Horner syndrome as post-operative complications. Finally, the postoperative biopsy showed, ganglioneuroma and lymph nodes without histological lesions.

Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente, sexo femenino, 52 años de edad, que al examen clínico presentaba un aumento de volumen a nivel del ángulo mandibular derecho. Los estudios imagenológicos mostraron una extensa masa cervical paravertebral, encapsulada, de límites netos, sin evidencias de calcificaciones en el cuerpo de la lesión como tampoco compromiso del tejido óseo vecino, que se extiende desde la base de cráneo hasta la región de la cara interna del ángulo mandibular derecho. Se determinó la cirugía, como tratamiento, la cual presentó como complicaciones post operatorias, trastornos en la deglución y síndrome de Horner. Por último la biopsia post operatoria arrojó, ganglioneuroma y linfonodos sin lesiones histológicas.

As células-tronco apresentam uma alta capacidade de autorregeneração, assim como, um potencial de diferenciação em uma variedade de tipos celulares. Estas células podem ser classificadas como embrionárias e adultas. Apesar de apresentar propriedades de células-tronco, as mesenquimais apresentam um certo grau de dificuldade no estabelecimento das culturas, podendo induzir a perda da expressão da enzima responsável pela imortalização ou enzima telomerase. A enzima telomerase é considerada um relógio biológico, um indicador que a senescência celular irá se instalar inevitavelmente. A questão mais atual e intrigante dos pesquisadores é se o suposto potencial de divisão, por um determinado período de tempo, das células-tronco cultivadas poderia levar ao acúmulo de alterações genéticas e epigenéticas, resultando em um processo neoplásico. Daí a importância do papel da citogenética humana no controle e monitoramento das células-tronco cultivadas que serão utilizadas na terapia em seres humanos. Alterações cromossômicas estruturais, tais como deleções, translocações e inversões, representam um mecanismo importante pelo qual as células cancerígenas desenvolvem-se gradualmente, uma vez que estas alterações cromossômicas podem levar a uma expressão anormal de muitos genes, podendo desencadear assim o processo neoplásico.

Stem cells have a high capacity of self-regeneration, as well as a potential to differentiate into several cell types. These cells can be classified as embryonic or adult. In spite of having inherent properties of stem cells, mesenchymal cells show a certain degree of difficulty to establish cultures. This might induce a loss of the expression of the telomerase enzyme which is considered to be a biological clock or an indicator of the senescence of the cells. The most current and intriguing question for researchers is whether the presumed division potential of cultivated stem cells, over a period of time could result in an accumulation of genetic alterations and consequently, in a neoplastic process. For this reason, cytogenetic techniques are very important to guarantee the control and safety of cultivated stem cells to be used in human therapy. Structural chromosomal alterations, such as for example, deletions, translocations and inversions represent an important mechanism by which cells might gradually transform in a neoplastic process. Thus, these chromosomal alterations could result in an abnormal expression of the genes and lead to cancer.

Schistosomiasis control seems to be different in countries were low parasitic burden and asymptomatic clinical patients are the features of majority of cases. Immunological methods must substitute the traditional coprologic techniques used for some decades in the Control Program. Circumoval Precipitin Test (COPT), intradermal test and ELISA with soluble egg antigen (SEA) are evaluated for using as tools for seroepidemiologic studies. COPT and ELISA were performed after treatment to known their utility when impact of chemotherapy must be assessed. One hundred sixty five persons were followed up 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. The mean sensitivity of CPT studied by age groups was 95.6% which is very important considering that 88.4% of the studied population excreted less than 100 egg/gr of feces, while sensitivity of intradermal test was 58.2%. Children showed the highest ractivity to COPT. When treatment is effective, COPT reactivity progressively disminish until become negative one year later. In the non cure group, the COPT reactivity disminished but never below 20%. ELISA-SEA did not modify one year after treatment. Effort should be made to isolate fractions of eggs Schistosoma mansoni whose antibodies disappear after treatment.