Pulmonary function tests (10 parameters) were carried out in 50 patients of idiopathic ulcerative colitis. Out of a total of 498 parameters estimated, 56 (11.2%) were below 80% of the predicted. The abnormalities were mild in 66.1%, moderate in 25% and severe in 8.9% of cases. Four showed restrictive defect and four had obstructive defect. The most common abnormality was that of maximum mid expiratory flow rate (MMEF) which was found to be less than 80% predicted in 22% of patients. Different patterns of pulmonary function changes were seen according to the duration, severity and extent of ulcerative colitis.

Forty five patients of various pulmonary masses were subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology. The procedure was done both unguided and under guidance with CT Scan or ultrasound. The diagnostic yield was 93.3%. There were three (6.6%) false negative and two (4.4%) false positive results. The sensitivity for malignancy was 100% and for tubercular lesion it was 67%.

The association of interstitial pneumonitis and fibrosis has been infrequently reported in polymyositis and dermatomyositis. We report a case of young female with proven polymyositis and dermatomyositis with interstitial pneumonia.

Two cases of carcinoma oesophagus who had pulmonary infection as the presenting features are described. Both patients had dysphagia, but this symptom was over looked due to the dominant symptoms of pulmonary infection.