Project description:We report the case of a 15-year-old female patient suffering from progressive anorexia, weight loss and recurrent abdominal pain, initially diagnosed as anorexia nervosa. She eventually presented with severe malnutrition and acute bowel obstruction, revealing a mass of the transverse colon. A well-differentiated Lieberkühn adenocarcinoma was established by histology. The patient underwent transverse and right colectomy and was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is predominantly a disease of older adults and is extremely rare in children and adolescents. Seldom suspected, it is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, with unfavourable tumour histology and poor outcome. Young patients diagnosed with CRC should receive genetic counselling regardless of their family history or tumour type. This reports' take-home message is that recurrent and persistent digestive symptoms in the young should alert physicians and lead to further investigations.
Project description:The diagnosis of dysphagia, defined as swallowing dysfunction or difficulty, is estimated to affect 40-60% of the institutionalized geriatric population, and is the leading cause of aspiration pneumonia, one of the primary contributors of geriatric mortality. In the United States, statistics suggest that at least 50% of these individuals have limited access to treatment due to mobility, distance, and socioeconomic constraints. While "tele-dysphagia intervention" - the delivery of dysphagia therapy services via telecommunications technology - may provide a solution, there is limited research investigating its validity or reliability. The following three case reports of individuals successfully participating in trial tele-dysphagia therapy sessions lend credibility to this service delivery approach, and highlight the need for future research.
Project description:BackgroundRheumatic heart disease has become rare in developed countries and physicians have grown unfamiliar with the disease and its clinical course. The mitral valve is most commonly affected leading to mitral regurgitation and/or stenosis. The chronic volume and/or pressure overload leads to atrial remodelling and enlargement, driving the development of atrial fibrillation and thrombo-embolic events.Case summaryA 87-year-old patient with a history of rheumatic mitral stenosis and mitral valve replacement was admitted to the neurology department for vertigo. A stroke was suspected, and she underwent a transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) which was complicated by dysphagia. Oesophageal manometry and computed tomography revealed oesophagogastric junction outflow obstruction due to extrinsic compression by a giant left atrium (GLA).DiscussionDysphagia due to a GLA is rare. Various diagnostic criteria exist and the prevalence thus depends on which criterium is used. It is mostly encountered in rheumatic mitral disease, although there are reports of non-rheumatic aetiology. When the left atrium assumes giant proportions it can compress adjacent intrathoracic structures. Compression of the oesophagus can lead to dysphagia, as in our case. A TOE in these cases is relatively contraindicated and should only be performed if there is considerable reason to believe that it may change patient management.
Project description:IntroductionThe esophagus and duodenum are rare sites of manifestation for extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Its rarity makes the diagnosis challenging, especially when no other organ is involved, and the endoscopic findings may resemble malignancy.Case presentationWe report a unique case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with dysphagia secondary to esophageal TB with an endoscopic appearance of a submucosal mass resembling malignancy.ConclusionEsophageal TB is a rare cause of dysphagia, especially in a western setting. It should always be considered as a potential etiology in patients with dysphagia.
Project description:Background?Stent thrombosis is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. It often presents dramatically, typically resulting in ST-elevation myocardial infarction which is associated with a high mortality rate. Premature discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy in the initial 30?days after stenting is arguably the most important predictor of stent thrombosis. In some cases, discontinuation of therapy is unintentional, such as in patients with short-bowel length or malabsorption syndromes.Case summary?A 70-year-old man presented to our hospital with stent thrombosis due to non-absorption of antiplatelet agents, 3?days after an elective percutaneous intervention to the right coronary artery. The patient, who had had a laparoscopic high anterior resection due to previous colorectal cancer, had noticed tablets passing whole into his colostomy bag. Repeat balloon angioplasty and stenting were performed and the patient received further antiplatelet therapy in a crushed form.Discussion?Drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is altered when a significant length of the gut has been resected. Reduced intestinal luminal transit time and insufficient contact time with intestinal mucosa leads to reduced bioavailability of drugs and increased risk of stent thrombosis. The aetiology of stent thrombosis can be investigated with intravascular imaging techniques and platelet function testing. Management includes using different drug formulations and doses and monitoring the outcomes of therapy. In some cases, it may also be appropriate to involve a gastroenterology team, preferably in the multidisciplinary environment of an intestinal rehabilitation centre.
Project description:BackgroundMyocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries (MINOCA) syndrome accounts for ∼6-8% of acute coronary syndrome presentations. Historically, MINOCA has been thought of as a benign condition, however, recent evidence suggests that some aetiologies of MINOCA such as cardiomyopathies are associated with significantly higher mortality than other causes such as myocarditis. Therefore, identifying the underlying cause of MINOCA is important in determining patient management and prognosis.Case summaryWe describe the case of a 58-year-old lady with an acute admission with MINOCA syndrome. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination on Day 9 demonstrated hypertrophy of the apical segments of the left ventricle (LV), with diffuse mid-wall hyper-enhancement on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images. T2-weighted imaging was suggestive of active inflammation in the hypertrophied segments. A repeat CMR scan was performed 3 months later showed normalization of LV wall thickness, LGE and T2 values in the apical segments.DiscussionThis case report highlights the benefits of CMR with oedema-weighted imaging in the acute stages of MINOCA syndrome, as well as the importance of serial imaging in this patient cohort. While baseline imaging raised the possibility of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, resolution of apical hypertrophy on follow-up CMR showed that the patient had acute myocarditis, specifically involving the apical segments.
Project description:INTRODUCTION: Within this report, we present a patient with difficulty of swallowing caused by an aberrant right subclavian artery. DISCUSSION: This is a congenital anomaly with the right subclavian artery originating from the dorsal part of the aortic arch and coursing through the mediastinum between the esophagus and the vertebral column. The diagnosis and treatment of this disorder is discussed based on the findings from the literature.