Mediastinoscopy is a safe and simple endoscopic procedure for the exploration of the superior mediastinum. It provides useful information as to the possible resectability of bronchogenic carcinoma, or for establishing the diagnosis of primary tumors of the mediastinum, metastatic disease and a variety of chronic granulomata.

A patient under treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia developed lobar pneumonia after 8 months. When antileukaemic therapy was discontinued, features of an ectopic ACTH syndrome developed, secondary to bronchogenic carcinoma. Exogenous steroid therapy for leukaemia seemed to suppress the clinical manifestations of the ectopic ACTH syndrome while subsequent endogenous steroid production co...

A case of peritonitis secondary to the perforation of a bronchogenic small bowel metastasis is reported. To our knowledge this is only the fourth case in which peritonitis was the presenting feature of a squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus. The publications to date are reviewed and the need to biopsy every small bowel perforation found at laparotomy is stressed.

The mode of action of asbestos in producing asbestosis and neoplasia is at present little understood. Pulmonary fibrosis, the main feature of asbestosis, has been ascribed to mechanical or chemical factors, or to a combination of both ; the mechanism of carcinogenic action is almost completely unknown. Two forms of neoplasia in man are associated with exposure to asbestos : bronchogenic carcino...

Primary malignant melanoma of the lung (PMML) is an extremely rare tumour with only sporadic case reports. We report the occurrence of PMML in a 58-year-old female. Although extremely rare, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma and a detailed systemic examination must be done to rule out any primary skin or eye involvement.