COVID-19 epidemiology and natural history
Brief descriptive epidemiology Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has spread to all continents and caused multiple epidemic waves. As of May 2024, more than 775 million confirmed cases and over 7 million […]
Pulmonary histopathological findings of COVID-19
Introduction On December 31st, 2019, Chinese health authorities reported 27 cases of acute respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology in Wuhan. A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was subsequently identified as the causative agent. The disease rapidly spread worldwide. In Mexico, the first confirmed case was reported on February 27, 2020, and […]
Paraquat poisoning in pediatrics and its impact on severe lung damage: a case report
Introduction Paraquat intoxication is a public health problem due to its high toxicity. It is a widely used herbicide in agriculture, associated with serious complications such as pulmonary fibrosis1. The pathogenesis includes inflammatory processes and oxidative stress that lead to impairment of lung function2. It causes significant cellular damage through the generation of reactive oxygen […]
Pneumomediastinum in the peripartum period: a case report
Introduction Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema are uncommon complications that may occur during the peripartum period, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 100,000 deliveries. These conditions are frequently associated with prolonged labor and sustained, intense Valsalva maneuvers, which cause a significant increase in intrathoracic pressure1,2. Clinical presentation typically includes chest pain and dyspnea, as well […]
Destruens lung: a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. Case report
Introduction Destroyed lung (destruens lung) is a rare complication of several disease entities, most frequently secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, which accounts for approximately 80% of cases. It typically occurs in patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment. The imaging findings reflect compensatory changes in the remaining pulmonary parenchyma. Despite adequate antituberculous therapy, complications following destruction […]
Bronchial isomerism associated with tumorlet: an unusual case
Introduction Anatomic variants of the tracheobronchial tree are uncommon, occurring in approximately 1% to 12% of the general population1. Bronchial isomerism refers to a disorder of bronchopulmonary laterality. Left bronchial isomerism is characterized by bilateral bilobed lungs, whereas right bronchial isomerism is characterized by bilateral trilobed lungs2. Bronchial isomerism is often asymptomatic; however, it may […]
Antracofibrosis
“Bronchial anthracosis” was the term initially used to describe blackish-blue discoloration of the bronchial mucosa due to carbon deposition. Bronchoscopic observations indicate that biomass exposure is associated with a higher frequency of bronchial anthracofibrosis (30.4%) vs tobacco exposure (3.7%)1. Bronchial anthracofibrosis is characterized by areas of bronchial stenosis in approximately 80% of cases. Multifocal bronchial […]
In memoriam: Dra. Rocío Chapela Mendoza
María del Rocío Chapela Mendoza was born in Mexico City (Mexico) on August 6th, 1946, and passed away on June 6th, 2025. She grew up in a family of nine siblings; it is often recalled that several of the younger children would play and jump around her while she remained undisturbed, immersed in reading. She studied […]
In memoriam. Arnoldo Kraus, MD: a life in bioethics
“When, instead of prolonging life, we prolong death, patients, families, and physicians have the opportunity to gather their strength and say goodbye.” Dr Arnoldo Kraus Dr Kraus recently passed away1, a loss that fills us with sorrow and nostalgia. Fortunately, his work, ideas, and reflections remain for all of us to learn from. Trained in […]
Respiratory function tests: interpretation or classification?
Current strategies for interpreting pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are, in reality, guidelines for classifying them1. The verbs to classify and to interpret are not interchangeable. Interpretation implies assigning meaning to a result. The interpretation of PFT results corresponds to the clinician, who, in light of the medical history, physical examination, and other diagnostic studies, gives […]