Clinical Medicine Insights. Case Reports最新文献

Background: Most of abortions occur before the 13th week of pregnancy. Nowadays, non-surgical approaches for evacuation of uterine have been replaced with surgical ones due to the reduction in bleeding, fewer complications, ease of management, and cost-effectiveness. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 analog that is used for labor induction. It is known as a safe drug with very few side effects.

Case presentation: A 29-year-old woman with the gestational age of 11 weeks and 6 days with a diagnosis of cystic hygroma introduced herself to the labor ward. At the time of hospitalization, the patient was conscious. The heart sounds were normal. A vaginal exam indicated no pathological findings. Totally, she received 1000 mg of Misoprostol. Approximately, 2 hours after the last placement of Misoprostol, the patient developed bending and mild cyanosis of fingers and showed tachycardia with a pulse rate of 140 beats/min. Her O₂ saturation decreased to 78%. At this time, the patient had a successful miscarriage. Echocardiography showed an ejection fraction of 55% and normal right ventricular size. The electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. Therefore, she was sent to CCU with a possible diagnosis of embolism. The cardiologist administered a heparin drip of 5000-unit IV stat, and 1000 unit/h heparin and asked for a D-Dimer test. However, the laboratory reported that the patient's blood sample was hemolyzed and they could only check her hemoglobin which was 4 g/dl. Immediately, the heparin drip was held and the patient received 3 packed cells. Her Hb was 6.5 g/dl. 12 hours later she showed tachycardia, and her O₂ saturation reduced to 70%. She lost her consciousness. Nearly 40 minutes later, she had cardiorespiratory arrest and CPR wasn't successful and she died.

Conclusions: In Conclusion, even a frequently used drug such as Misoprostol can cause life-threatening side effects, leading to emergent situations.

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces myocardiopathy in 19% of severe cases, with a mortality rate of up to 51%. The mainstay of treatment is supportive care, steroids, and tocilizumab (anti-IL-6). This is a case of a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer with lung metastasis and pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis (PLC). Her baseline cardiac function was within normal limits. She presented to the emergency department with respiratory distress. Chest CT showed multiple bilateral ground-glass opacities consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia and confirmed by COVID-19-PCR nasal swab. Her condition deteriorated, and she was urgently admitted to the intensive care unit with evidence of a cytokine storm. She was started on tocilizumab, dexamethasone, and meropenem. Echocardiogram (echo) showed a severely reduced ejection fraction with severe global hypokinesis. A second dose of tocilizumab was given, and the dexamethasone dose was increased. Fortunately, the patient had significant clinical and biochemical improvement and regained her normal cardiac function. In conclusion, dexamethasone and tocilizumab could be promising aids in treating cardiomyopathy secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Primary hepatic schwannoma is an extremely rare tumor with a good prognosis. Preoperative diagnosis is often challenging due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and its rarity. Here, we report a case of a 56-year-old male patient misdiagnosed with malignant liver tumor, later identified as primary hepatic schwannoma. Furthermore, clinical and histopathological features of 19 cases of primary hepatic schwannoma are also documented. The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 72 years, with a mean age of 56.4 years, and the disease was more common in females. Patients typically presented without clinical symptoms and were not associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. Histopathological features of the tumor were similar to soft tissue schwannoma, characterized by a thick capsule consisting of Antoni A and Antoni B areas. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed strong positivity and diffusely stained with S-100, while being negative for CD34, CD117, and SMA. Complete resection of the tumor was achieved in all patients. The prognosis was favorable, with no signs of recurrence. Follow-up examinations revealed disease-free survival ranging from 6 to 27 months. Differential diagnosis of primary hepatic schwannoma from malignant liver tumors and metastatic liver tumors can be made based on histopathological features and immunohistochemical staining with S-100.

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a disease of multi-organ dysfunction due to excessive immune activation causing widespread inflammation and tissue destruction. It is a severe condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early identification is crucial for prompt treatment. The objective of this case series is to underscore the intricacy of managing HLH in individuals with renal dysfunction.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with HLH in a nephrology department over a period of 30 years. We retrospectively reviewed the medical files by applying the Revised HLH-2004 criteria.

Results: Among the 14 female patients included, the mean age was 45.2 years (range 23-78). Nine patients presented with sudden onset of fever and chills. Physical examination revealed purpura in 3 cases, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in 6 and 5 cases respectively, and peripheral lymphadenopathy in 1 case. Hemorrhagic complications were observed in 5 cases, hypertriglyceridemia in 9 cases, and hyperferritinemia in all cases. Hypothyroidism was observed in all cases, and impaired renal function was detected in 11 of them, with 5 experiencing it as a result of lupus nephritis, and 1 case attributed to pre-eclampsia. Hemophagocytosis was confirmed through sternal puncture in 11 cases. Treatment involved etiological therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants and/or anti-infectives. Intravenous immunoglobulins were administered in 6 cases, while 2 cases required coagulation factor transfusions. Unfortunately, 9 patients did not survive.

Conclusion: The study highlights the need for increased awareness and prompt recognition of HLH, particularly in patients with associated renal complications.

Secretory Breast Carcinoma (SBC) is a rare subtype of breast cancer, predominantly affecting young women, and characterized by hormone receptor-negative and HER2-negative tumors with distinctive histological features, including secretory droplets within tumor cells. This article presents 2 unique cases of SBC, Case 1 involving a 42-year-old woman with triple-negative mammary carcinoma later diagnosed with triple-negative secretory carcinoma, and Case 2 featuring a 48-year-old woman with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma subsequently identified as invasive mammary carcinoma of secretory type. Both cases received diverse treatment regimens, incorporating surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. The importance of accurate diagnosis and the need for further research to optimize the management of this rare breast cancer subtype are emphasized. Raising awareness of SBC and reporting additional cases can enhance understanding and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the integration of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings, alongside specific molecular markers like S-100 and mammaglobin, is crucial for accurate SBC diagnosis. Given the lack of established guidelines for SBC management, collecting additional cases can aid in defining a more effective strategy for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, ultimately contributing to advancements in the field. Herein, we report 2 cases of this rare disease that were diagnosed and treated in our institution.

Introduction: Epithelioid type inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (EIMS) is a subtype of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT). It consists of round or epithelioid cells, and almost all types of EIMS contain rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene.

Case presentation: We describe a 20-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain and a rapidly growing intraabdominal mass who underwent surgical tumor resection. She was diagnosed with EIMS. ALK and ki-67 expressions were detected in immunohistochemistry assessment. She was started with Crizotinib 200 mg twice a day, and chemotherapy was also initiated due to the recurrence of the disease 4 months after the initial treatment. She was unresponsive to all the medical regimens and died in 8 months.

Conclusion: Approach to patients with EIMS is really challenging in terms of both diagnosis and treatment. Patients with combined surgical and non-surgical treatment regimen were seen to have a more favorable outcome in some EIMS cases. Therefore, it is essential to implement a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat patients suspicious of EIMS.

Introduction: Small artery disease caused by neutrophils and immune-mediated is known as leucocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). Clinically, it manifests as palpable, asymptomatic purpuric papules on the limbs. Ocular manifestation is rare. Here, we describe a case of peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) associated with LCV.

Case presentation: A 59-year-old man was referred to the hospital with blurred vision due to corneal perforation in his left eye. He complained of itchy nodules on his hands and lower legs for 15 years and the skin biopsy of the back of his hand revealed LCV 6 years ago, which suggested erythema elevatum diutinum. The patient was under treatment with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs and physical features of LCV seen in him included erythema on his hands and legs. After receiving conjunctival flap covering surgery, the corneal perforation was resolved. Conjunctival flaps covered cornea that limited his vision to hand motion. Six months later, he was referred to our clinic again because of pain, redness, photophobia, and tearing in the right eye, presenting with PUK. Necrotic tissue was removed during surgery, which also included a conjunctival flap covering procedure. Following surgery, the symptoms were reduced, and the postoperative eye condition remained stable.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, it is the first case of PUK secondary to LCV which was diagnosed 6 years ago. This case demonstrates that PUK associated with LCV can be successfully treated by surgical interventions.

Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is a chronic and rare form of leishmaniasis that causes malignant lesions in the mucosa of the nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal regions. We describe a 29-year-old woman who had been suffering from an intranasal polyp for 3 years. The polyp recurred annually after surgical removal, and was diagnosed as nasal leishmaniasis.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital anomaly that increases the risk of heart failure as well as strokes which can lead to cognitive impairment. The risk of stroke is higher when pulmonary hypertension develops and there is reversal of shunt. Stroke in ASD may be due to paradoxical emboli from the right heart or a left ventricular thrombus which develops as a result of atrial fibrillation, a common arrhythmia in ASD. We present a case of a 32-year-old Ghanaian man with history of ASD who presented with progressive memory loss with magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain showing multiple infarcts, microvascular disease, and cerebral atrophy.

Background: Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare disorder, that results in congenital cutaneous hemangiomas of the skin and gastrointestinal tract. Although asymptomatic, the nevi present as soft, non-mobile, dark blue, compressible papules. Clinically it presents as iron deficiency anemia due to occult gastrointestinal bleeding.

Case presentation: A 22-year-old female patient presented with complaints of shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitation for 2 months. On examination, she had a pale effect and widespread hemangiomas on her lips, hands, and feet. Laboratory results revealed iron deficiency anemia with hemoglobin (Hb) of 2.1 gm/dl and histopathology results of the hemangioma specimen showed angiokeratomas. Based on clinical manifestations and laboratory results, the patient was diagnosed with a case of BRBNS. The patient was transfused with red cell concentrate her symptoms improved but on the first follow-up visit her Hb again dropped to 8.6 mg/dl.

Conclusion: A high suspicion of BRBNS diagnosis should be considered if a patient presents with iron deficiency anemia and multiple cutaneous hemangiomas. Further screening should be done to explore internal bleeding and hemangiomas.