Introduction Print Section Listen Thoracic fungal infections have a complex and variable presentation, ranging from benign self-limited processes, which spontaneously resolve, to severe life-threatening infections associated with disabling morbidity and…

Introduction Print Section Listen Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents over 200 diagnostic entities. Some are distinct clinicopathologic disorders, whereas others belong to a broader class of clinical syndromes, such as…

Introduction Print Section Listen Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is one of the most interesting and controversial areas in thoracic surgery. The purpose of the operation is to palliate dyspnea…

Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Normal Host Defense Mechanisms Print Section Listen The respiratory tract (Fig. 102-1) is in constant contact with the environment and exposed to direct inoculation by infectious…

Introduction Print Section Listen The pulmonary bleb is a small subpleural collection of air located within the layers of the visceral pleura. Such lesions usually present symptomatically, heralded by a…

Introduction Print Section Listen The specialty of thoracic surgery was born in the convergence of two worldwide plagues. These were tuberculosis, as old as humankind, and avian influenza, which struck…

Introduction Print Section Listen Treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) traditionally has been the task of the internal medicine physician. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease…

Introduction Print Section Listen Giant bullae are space-occupying lesions that cause compression of the surrounding lung parenchyma with impairment of lung function. The bullae arise from emphysematous projections of destroyed…

Introduction Print Section Listen The ability to select patients appropriately, perform a competent pulmonary lobectomy, and manage patients safely in the postoperative interval epitomizes the skills of a good general…

Introduction Print Section Listen When treating patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it is important to assign an accurate clinical or pathologic stage to the disease at the time of…