Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?

Aims. We investigated the histopathological features of solitary pulmonary necrotic nodules (NNs) of undetermined cause. We combined our findings with those obtained using other methods to determine how well the etiological factors were explained. Methods. We screened patients who underwent surgery...

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Main Authors: Halide Nur Urer, Mehmet Zeki Gunluoglu, Nurcan Unver, Sezer Toprak, Mediha Gonenc Ortakoylu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7850750
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author Halide Nur Urer
Mehmet Zeki Gunluoglu
Nurcan Unver
Sezer Toprak
Mediha Gonenc Ortakoylu
author_facet Halide Nur Urer
Mehmet Zeki Gunluoglu
Nurcan Unver
Sezer Toprak
Mediha Gonenc Ortakoylu
author_sort Halide Nur Urer
collection DOAJ
description Aims. We investigated the histopathological features of solitary pulmonary necrotic nodules (NNs) of undetermined cause. We combined our findings with those obtained using other methods to determine how well the etiological factors were explained. Methods. We screened patients who underwent surgery to treat solitary pulmonary granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs of undetermined cause. The NN sizes and features of both the NNs and adjacent parenchyma were evaluated. Histochemical analyses included Ehrlich–Ziehl–Neelsen (EZN), Grocott, and Gram staining. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria, panfungal DNA, Nocardia, Francisella tularensis types A and B, and actinomycetes. Results. The NNs were granulomatous in 78.9% and nongranulomatous in 21% of the 114 patients included. EZN staining or PCR was positive for Mycobacterium in 53.5% of all NNs: 62.2% of granulomatous and 20.8% of nongranulomatous NNs. We found a weak but significant correlation between granulomatous NNs and Bacillus positivity and a significant correlation between granulomas surrounding the NNs and the presence of multiple necroses. The NN etiology was determined via histopathological, histochemical, and PCR analyses in 57% of patients but remained undetermined in 42.9%. Conclusion. The causes of both granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs can be determined by pathological examination. Granulomatous necrosis and granulomas in the adjacent parenchyma are important for differential diagnosis. When both features are present, they strongly support a diagnosis of tuberculosis, even in the absence of bacilli.
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spelling doaj-art-61db3ce272eb46a29c577fda532efff62025-08-20T02:35:22ZengWileyCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22411916-72452020-01-01202010.1155/2020/78507507850750Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?Halide Nur Urer0Mehmet Zeki Gunluoglu1Nurcan Unver2Sezer Toprak3Mediha Gonenc Ortakoylu4University of Health Sciences Turkey, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Istanbul, TurkeyMedipol University School of Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul, TurkeyUniversity of Health Sciences Turkey, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Istanbul, TurkeyUniversity of Health Sciences Turkey, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Istanbul, TurkeyUniversity of Health Sciences Turkey, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Istanbul, TurkeyAims. We investigated the histopathological features of solitary pulmonary necrotic nodules (NNs) of undetermined cause. We combined our findings with those obtained using other methods to determine how well the etiological factors were explained. Methods. We screened patients who underwent surgery to treat solitary pulmonary granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs of undetermined cause. The NN sizes and features of both the NNs and adjacent parenchyma were evaluated. Histochemical analyses included Ehrlich–Ziehl–Neelsen (EZN), Grocott, and Gram staining. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria, panfungal DNA, Nocardia, Francisella tularensis types A and B, and actinomycetes. Results. The NNs were granulomatous in 78.9% and nongranulomatous in 21% of the 114 patients included. EZN staining or PCR was positive for Mycobacterium in 53.5% of all NNs: 62.2% of granulomatous and 20.8% of nongranulomatous NNs. We found a weak but significant correlation between granulomatous NNs and Bacillus positivity and a significant correlation between granulomas surrounding the NNs and the presence of multiple necroses. The NN etiology was determined via histopathological, histochemical, and PCR analyses in 57% of patients but remained undetermined in 42.9%. Conclusion. The causes of both granulomatous and nongranulomatous NNs can be determined by pathological examination. Granulomatous necrosis and granulomas in the adjacent parenchyma are important for differential diagnosis. When both features are present, they strongly support a diagnosis of tuberculosis, even in the absence of bacilli.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7850750
spellingShingle Halide Nur Urer
Mehmet Zeki Gunluoglu
Nurcan Unver
Sezer Toprak
Mediha Gonenc Ortakoylu
Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
Canadian Respiratory Journal
title Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
title_full Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
title_fullStr Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
title_full_unstemmed Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
title_short Benign Solitary Pulmonary Necrotic Nodules: How Effectively Does Pathological Examination Explain the Cause?
title_sort benign solitary pulmonary necrotic nodules how effectively does pathological examination explain the cause
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/7850750
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