[Pulmonary medicine. Four major papers in 2010-2011].

We have selected four papers which brought major, new contributions to pulmonary medicine over the last year. These publications address following issues: The effect of low-dose CT-screening on lung cancer mortality; treatment of lung emphysema by bronchoscopy with endobronchial valves drainage of pleural infections with combined fibrinolytic agent and desoxyribonuclease; and long-term treatment of COPD with azithromycin. Each of these studies has brought novel and relevant information. It is too early to say that current practice has to be changed following these studies. However, they certainly open from now new diagnostic and therapeutic considerations on a case by case basis.