July 2013 Arizona Thoracic Society Notes

The first Arizona Thoracic Society meeting in Tucson was held on Wednesday, 7/24/2013 at Kiewit Auditorium on the University of Arizona Medical Center campus beginning at 6:30 PM. There were 36 in attendance representing the pulmonary, critical care, sleep, pathology and radiology communities. Dinner was sponsored by Accredo Health Group.

A brief discussion was held of plans to have the December 2013 meeting in Tucson on a weekend as part of the University of Arizona winter pulmonary meeting.

There were 4 cases presented:

1. Mohammad Dalabih presented a case of a 48 yo woman with respiratory failure cared for by Gordon Carr, Linda Snyder, and himself. Radiology findings were discussed by Isabel Oliva. Lung biopsy showed acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia rather than ARDS and was presented by Richard Sobonya.
2. Franz Rischard presented a case of a 61 year old with progressive dyspnea and moderate COPD with evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Radiologic work up was presented by Dr. Oliva. It was determined the patient had primary hypertension and Dr. Rischard discussed how to separate pulmonary hypertension from COPD from primary pulmonary hypertension.
3. Nathaniel Reyes presented a 50 year old woman with a history of granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA, formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis) who was pANCA+ but cANCA-. She developed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Dr. Soboyna reviewed pathology of GPA. Dr. Reyes discussed the ANCA+ vasculities. Some rheumatologists no longer consider GPA and microscopic polyangitis separate diseases but part of the same spectrum.
4. Gordon Carr presented a case of a 65 year old man who died of an exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Dr. Sobonya reviewed the autopsy and pathology findings of IPF.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at about 8:15 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28, 6:30 PM in Phoenix at Scottsdale Shea Hospital.  

Richard A. Robbins, M.D.

Reference as: Robbins RA. July 2013 Arizona thoracic society notes. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;7(1):50. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc095-13. PDF 

March 2011 Arizona Thoracic Society Notes

A dinner meeting was held at Scottsdale Shea Medical Center on March 15, 2011 from 6:30-8:00 PM. Fifteen were in attendance including representatives from the pulmonary and chest radiology communities. A brief presentation was made by Rick Robbins of current ATS activities. Five cases were presented and discussed: 1. Gerald Swartzberg presented a case of a 73 year old with dyspnea and severe restrictive physiology but without evidence of pulmonary fibrosis. Discussion centered on sniff testing and the possibility of bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. 2. Henry Luedy presented a case of a thoracic duct-cutaneous fistula draining lymph percutaneously. The patient was not considered a surgical candidate and radiologic evaluation and nonsurgical interventions were discussed. 3. George Parides presented a case of a 47 year old with shrinking lung nodules and microscopic hematuria. Discussion centered on microscopic polyangitis and the most expeditious diagnostic tests. 4. George Parides presented a second case of a 79 year old who is asymptomatic but with an incidental finding of scattered lung nodules. Discussion centered on atypical mycobacterium and the necessity of diagnosis versus observation.  5. John Roehrs presented a case of a 53 year old woman with dyspnea and mild pulmonary hypertension discovered to have a patent foramen ovale. Discussion centered on management including correction and anticoagulation.

Richard A. Robbins, MD