Rare case of metastatic adenocarcinoma to the maxillary sinus

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. e244485
Author(s):  
Apurwa Prasad ◽  
Taha Alrifai ◽  
Sumathi Vijaya Rangan ◽  
Jessica Garcia

Colorectal carcinoma metastases to the head and neck are exceedingly rare. Patients may present with vague symptoms that may lead to a delay in diagnosis. We report the case of a 51-year-old man with a known history of stage IIIB colorectal adenocarcinoma who presented with right-sided molar tooth bleeding and right-sided palate swelling that led to difficulty speaking, eating and weight-loss of 15 pounds. Imaging studies revealed a 3.1×4.8×3 cm mass that was centred around the posterior aspect of the maxilla. Pathology revealed moderately differentiated intestinal type adenocarcinoma of colonic subtype, immune histochemistry was positive for CDX2, CK20 and MUC2, thus confirming metastatic disease to the maxilla. The patient is undergoing chemoradiation therapy for palliation of his symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this potentional site of metastatic disease and suspect the diagnosis in a timely manner to avoid delays in making a diagnosis.

Author(s):  
Iqra Patoli ◽  
Mehrunissa Kazim ◽  
Saad Bin Jamil ◽  
Syed Hassan Abbas

Introduction: Hypercalcaemia is commonly associated with malignancy or endocrinological disorders. However, sometimes it can occur due to increased oral intake of calcium. We present an interesting case of hypercalcaemia due to ingestion of sunflower seeds and calcium carbonate supplements. Case Description: We present the case of a 53-year-old man with history of T-cell lymphoma and gastroesophageal reflux disease who was brought to the emergency room due to altered mental status, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. His calcium level was 3.30 mmol/l (normal value 2.23–2.58 mmol/l). Imaging studies were unremarkable. The patient was hydrated with normal saline and calcium levels improved. Once he was more coherent, he disclosed that he had consumed significant amounts of sunflower seeds and calcium carbonate supplements, which were considered to be the cause of his hypercalcaemia. Conclusion: Hypercalcaemia is common and can lead to critical illness. Although hypercalcaemia is frequently associated with endocrinological disorders, sometimes the presentation is secondary to increased intake. The consumption of sunflower seeds and antacids containing calcium carbonate can cause symptomatic hypercalcaemia. It is important to recognize rare causes of hypercalcaemia in order to treat it in a timely manner and prevent recurrence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3 And 4) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
Mohsen Aghapoor ◽  
◽  
Babak Alijani Alijani ◽  
Mahsa Pakseresht-Mogharab ◽  
◽  
...  

Background and Importance: Spondylodiscitis is an inflammatory disease of the body of one or more vertebrae and intervertebral disc. The fungal etiology of this disease is rare, particularly in patients without immunodeficiency. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of this disease can lead to complications and even death. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old diabetic female patient, who had a history of spinal surgery and complaining radicular lumbar pain in both lower limbs with a probable diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, underwent partial L2 and complete L3 and L4 corpectomy and fusion. As a result of pathology from tissue biopsy specimen, Aspergillus fungi were observed. There was no evidence of immunodeficiency in the patient. The patient was treated with Itraconazole 100 mg twice a day for two months. Pain, neurological symptom, and laboratory tests improved. Conclusion: The debridement surgery coupled with antifungal drugs can lead to the best therapeutic results.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110254
Author(s):  
Eric J. Formeister ◽  
Ricky Chae ◽  
Emily Wong ◽  
Whitney Chiao ◽  
Lauren Pasquesi ◽  
...  

Objectives: To elucidate differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between patients with episodic and chronic dizziness. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study of 217 adults referred for dizziness at 1 tertiary center was undertaken. Subjects were split into a chronic dizziness group (>15 dizzy days per month) and an episodic dizziness group (<15 dizzy days per month). Results: 217 adults (average age, 53.7 years; 56.7% female) participated. One-third (n = 74) met criteria for chronic dizziness. Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores were significantly higher in those with chronic dizziness compared to those with episodic dizziness (53.9 vs 40.7; P < .001). Comorbid depression and anxiety were more prevalent in those with chronic dizziness (44.6% and 47.3% vs 37.8% and 35.7%, respectively; P > .05). Abnormal vestibular testing and abnormal imaging studies did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Ménière’s disease and BPPV were significantly more common among those with episodic dizziness, while the prevalence of vestibular migraine did not differ according to chronicity of symptoms. A multivariate regression that included age, sex, DHI, history of anxiety and/or depression, associated symptoms, and dizziness triggers was able to account for 15% of the variance in the chronicity of dizziness (pseudo- R2 = 0.15; P < .001). Conclusions: Those who suffer from chronic dizziness have significantly higher DHI and high comorbid rates of depression and anxiety than those with episodic dizziness. Our findings show that factors other than diagnosis alone are important in the chronification of dizziness, an observation that could help improve on multimodal treatment options for this group of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e238813
Author(s):  
Pamela Oshinyemi ◽  
Charlotte Lee ◽  
Antony Gough-Palmer ◽  
Iain McKay-Davies

A 43-year-old woman was referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Department with a 3-day history of left-sided neck pain and swelling associated with fevers and night sweats. She also reported a cough, oral thrush and a dental extraction more than a month previously. A CT scan of the neck with contrast revealed left internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombophlebitis and the patient was initially managed for suspected Lemierre’s syndrome. Subsequent investigations revealed a locally advanced metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma as the cause of her thrombosis, which was deemed inoperable. The patient was referred to oncology and commenced on palliative chemotherapy.The incidence of thrombophlebitis in patients with cancer is high. Although the IJV is a relatively uncommon site of thrombus formation, IJV thrombophlebitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As it may be the first manifestation of an occult malignancy, a neoplastic cause should always be considered.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredric Willmott ◽  
Kader Abdel Allouni ◽  
Andrea Rockall

MRI is an effective tool for detection of ovarian neoplastic lesions. However, there are no highly specific radiological features that differentiate primary from metastatic ovarian masses. Histological diagnosis preoperatively is not always possible as there is a risk of disseminating an otherwise early stage primary ovarian cancer. The preoperative diagnosis of an ovarian lesion is therefore heavily dependent on the radiological features. The radiologist must rely on a combination of knowing the natural history of any known primary cancer, together with the radiological features such as bilaterality, mucinous appearance, pseudomyxoma as well as the clinical progress of the primary tumour in order to evaluate and predict the likelihood of metastatic disease. Even if a non-ovarian primary cancer is known, an ovarian mass cannot always be assumed to be a secondary lesion. Some tumours, such as BRAC-positive breast cancer, are known to have a high rate of concomitant primary ovarian cancer. Conversely, other tumours, such as gastric and appendiceal cancer, are known to have a high rate of ovarian metastatic disease. However, histology remains the only true way to determine an ovarian metastasis from a primary lesion.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110528
Author(s):  
Lan Zhou ◽  
Juanjuan Wang ◽  
Guihua Xu ◽  
Dingding Wang ◽  
Xiaoyi Wang ◽  
...  

Purpose To describe an atypical nodular episcleritis mimicking a solitary giant episcleral mass, which is not attributed to any systemic diseases and identified only after immunohistochemical examination. Case report A sixty-year-old Chinese woman with systemic hypertension presented with 6-month history of giant, solitary and redness epibulbar mass arising from the superior aspect of her left eye. The lesion gradually enlarged, even with 6-month history of irregular topical steroid eye drops treatment. Imaging studies and laboratory test revealed a 10 mm × 8 mm episcleral mass absence of any infection indicator and autoimmune antibody changes. The mass was completely removed before its extension through the deep scleral, histopathologic examination revealed a nodular episcleritis composed of various chronic inflammatory cells infiltration. Topical steroid eye drops treatment combined with oral steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was then administrated regularly for 1 month, and no recurrence occurred after 1-year follow-up. Conclusion Nodular anterior episcleritis is characterized by underlying chronic inflammation of the anterior episclera and can be presented as asymptomatic episcleral mass. Besides a thorough investigation systemically, tissue biopsy is required for definite diagnosis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 127 (7) ◽  
pp. e298-e300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly Y. Wang ◽  
Jesse Eisler ◽  
Dempsey Springfield ◽  
Michael J. Klein

Abstract Epidermoid inclusion cysts are benign lesions that occasionally occur in the distal phalanges of the fingers but are less frequently identified and underreported in the toes. We describe a 55-year-old man with a history of work-related trauma followed by painful expansion of his right great toe, resulting in great anxiety. Imaging studies revealed a radiolucent lesion in the distal phalanx of his right hallux. Clinical differential diagnoses included the possibility of an intramedullary inclusion cyst and other various radiolucent lesions. During surgery, a cystic lesion that contained creamy material was discovered. Frozen section diagnosis of the lesion was an intraosseous epidermoid inclusion cyst. The lesion was removed and the patient recovered uneventfully. Although it has been reported that an unduly large number of phalangeal cysts have been treated by amputation, the judicious use of intraoperative frozen sections can prevent this scenario.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Raoul Verzijl ◽  
Pim J. Bongers ◽  
Geetha Mukerji ◽  
Ozgur Mete ◽  
Karen M. Devon ◽  
...  

A 71-year-old man with known history of atrial fibrillation (treated with routine rivaroxaban therapy) was found to have incidental biochemical elevated calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. His physical examination demonstrated the presence of a palpable right neck mass. Subsequent imaging studies revealed a large parathyroid mass as well as multiple bone lesions, raising the suspicion of parathyroid carcinoma. The anticoagulant therapy was stopped 5 days prior to his elective surgery. The night before his elective surgery, he presented to the emergency room with profound hypocalcemia. The surgery was postponed and rescheduled after calcium correction. Intraoperative findings and detailed histopathological examination revealed an infarcted 4.0 cm parathyroid adenoma with cystic change. His bony changes were related to brown tumors associated with long-standing hyperparathyroidism. Autoinfarction of a large parathyroid adenoma causing severe hypocalcemia is a rare phenomenon and may be considered in patients with large parathyroid adenomas after withdrawal of anticoagulants.


2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sand ◽  
I. Nordback

The number of small and often asymptomatic cystic lesions detected in pancreas has increased during the last decade. Historically the vast majority of the pancreatic cystic lesions were considered pseudocysts, but in recent series the incidence of various neoplastic cysts, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, serous cystadenomas and cystic endocrine tumours, has increased. The possible malignant potential in these cystic neoplasms warrants careful diagnostic workup to choose the optimal treatment for each patient. Patient's age, symptoms and a possible history of acute or chronic pancreatitis with known aetiology together with high quality imaging studies are important in the differential diagnosis between pseudocysts and neoplastic cysts. Endoscopic ultrasound, cyst fluid analysis and positron emission tomography may be used in selected patients, but the accuracy of these methods needs further investigation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Joana Hankollari ◽  
Marsida Duli ◽  
Qamil Dika ◽  
Xhenila Duli ◽  
Indrit Bimi ◽  
...  

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It can affect any blood vessel in the body by manifesting a variety of systemic, non-specific symptoms that make difficult the diagnosis of this pathology and especially its specific form. In front of any patient suspected of being affected by vasculitis, some questions are asked: Is the vasculitis or other pathology that camouflages, whether it is primary or secondary vasculitis, in which vessels this pathology extends, how can the diagnosis be confirmed and how can it be determined the type of vasculitis?The purpose of this study is to inform about the protocols to be followed to perform differential diagnosis of vasculitis types.This study is a review based on the research of world studies and literature regarding the recommendations for performing differential diagnosis among the variety of vasculitis forms.Primary patient assessment involves taking the history of the medications it uses, risk factors for infectious pathology, history of cardiac valve pathologies, and autoimmune pathologies. Then laboratory and imaging studies are carried out, aiming at setting the diagnosis, determining the affected organ and the degree of disease activity. And recently we refer to algorithms to make differential diagnosis between the varieties of vasculitis forms.Despite the diagnostic difficulties of vasculitis, the variety of its forms, the separation of responsibilities among many specialities, there are protocols that need to be followed rigorously to arrive at a safe diagnosis as well as auxiliary algorithms to distinguish the type of vasculitis.


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