Project description:A patient with a previous lung transplant and aortic valve replacement had progressive dyspnea. He presented with subacute tamponade secondary to a loculated pericardial effusion that caused impaired left ventricular filling and outflow tract obstruction secondary to distortion of the mitral valve apparatus. We demonstrate the imaging features of this presentation. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Project description:Paraduodenal pancreatitis (PP) is an under-recognized form of focal chronic or recurrent pancreatitis. Since PP presents with non-specific symptoms and shares radiological and histopathological features with other entities, it can be challenging to diagnose.Herein, a case of a 64 year-old Caucasian male with PP presenting with recurrent gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is detailed. Over the course of two years, he underwent multiple balloon dilatations for symptom management. His diagnostic course was complicated by inconclusive and misleading biopsies.PP can rarely present as GOO in otherwise asymptomatic patients. A preoperative pathologic diagnosis can be difficult to obtain, and in this case delayed definitive surgical management. The case is discussed in detail, and a concise review the current literature was undertaken.
Project description:Transposition of great arteries (TGA) can be associated with left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. In the presence of ventricular septal defect (VSD), septal leaflet of tricuspid valve may prolapse through perimembranous VSD or rarely tricuspid valve tissue may override to produce LVOT obstruction. Occasionally, this may be mistaken for vegetation due to associated pulmonary valve endocarditis. We report a case of d-TGA with presumptive pulmonary valve endocarditis and LVOT obstruction that was found to be due to tricuspid valve straddling on transesophageal echocardiography, resulting in change in the surgical plan and thus avoiding catastrophe.
Project description:Painless bleeding in a patient presenting from the community with elevated coagulation studies rarely makes the physicians suspect superwarfarin or rodenticide poisoning. Although a significant number of superwarfarin exposure cases are diagnosed every year, we believe there appears to be delay in diagnosis and confusion in determining what is the ideal way to treat and monitor these patients during the management. This is the first thorough literature review of all the reported cases of superwarfarin poisoning which also studied the clinical presentation, management and follow-up patterns. We present a 70-year-old man who presented to the emergency room with epistaxis, melena, cola-colored urine with elevated prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and international normalized ratio (INR). Mixing studies showed complete correction of coagulopathy indicative of factor deficiency. Additional history revealed that the patient had arguments with family member at home and made us suspect superwarfarin exposure. Qualitative brodifacoum testing was positive and was managed with fresh frozen plasma and high doses of vitamin K1 (phytomenadione) with serial monitoring of INR and clinical symptoms. Superwarfarin poisoning should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient who presents with above clinical and laboratory profile especially in the absence of any history of coagulopathy or anticoagulant use. We want to raise public and especially physician awareness that history taking, early diagnosis and managing in right clinical setting play a significant role in survival of these patients.
Project description:Introduction Chronic cough may represent a diagnostic challenge. Chronic parasitism of upper airways is an unusual cause. Objective To describe a case of human syngamosis as an uncommon cause of dry cough. Case Report An endoscopic exam performed in a woman suffering of chronic cough revealed a Y-shaped worm in the larynx identified as Syngamus laryngeus. Discussion This nematode parasitizes the upper respiratory tract of many animals including humans. The diagnosis is performed by the examination of the worm expelled by cough or by endoscopy. Endoscopic exam is easy to perform and is essential in the diagnosis of causes of chronic cough, even uncommon entities. Removal is the only efficient treatment.
Project description:RationaleSulfur mustard (SM) is a frequently used chemical warfare agent, even in modern history. SM inhalation causes significant respiratory tract injury, with early complications due to airway obstructive bronchial casts, akin to those seen after smoke inhalation and in single-ventricle physiology. This process with SM is poorly understood because animal models are unavailable.ObjectivesTo develop a rat inhalation model for airway obstruction with the SM analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), and to investigate the pathogenesis of bronchial cast formation.MethodsAdult rats were exposed to 0, 5, or 7.5% CEES in ethanol via nose-only aerosol inhalation (15 min). Airway microdissection and confocal microscopy were used to assess cast formation (4 and 18 h after exposure). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) retrieval and intravascular dye injection were done to evaluate vascular permeability.Measurements and main resultsBronchial casts, composed of abundant fibrin and lacking mucus, occluded dependent lobar bronchi within 18 hours of CEES exposure. BALF contained elevated concentrations of IgM, protein, and fibrin. Accumulation of fibrin-rich fluid in peribronchovascular regions (4 h) preceded cast formation. Monastral blue dye leakage identified bronchial vessels as the site of leakage.ConclusionsAfter CEES inhalation, increased permeability from damaged bronchial vessels underlying damaged airway epithelium leads to the appearance of plasma proteins in both peribronchovascular regions and BALF. The subsequent formation of fibrin-rich casts within the airways then leads to airways obstruction, causing significant morbidity and mortality acutely after exposure.
Project description:Pericardial lipomas are very uncommon benign primary cardiac tumors. We describe the case of a patient with symptomatic large pericardial mass who presented with heart failure. Multimodality cardiac imaging helped us in the diagnosis of this unusual entity. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Project description:Alström syndrome (AS) is a ciliopathy and an uncommon cause of syndromic retinal dystrophy. This case reports findings in a 5-year-old boy with severe early onset retinal dystrophy, and how the recognition of extraocular features with genetic analysis led to the correct diagnosis of AS after 4 years of investigation.