scholarly journals Paraganglioma

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A596-A597
Author(s):  
Oluwatomisin A Aluko ◽  
Edward Ruby

Abstract Introduction: Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from extra-adrenal medullary neural crest derivatives. The terms pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are often used interchangeably because morphologically and functionally these entities are almost the same. However, paragangliomas that arise in the adrenal medulla are called pheochromocytomas and those outside the adrenal gland are called paragangliomas. Paragangliomas are often discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons. We report a case of a patient who had incidental finding of retroperitoneal paraganglioma on imaging done for evaluation of thigh and gluteal cellulitis. Clinical Case: A 24-year-old female presented with chief complaints of episodic headaches, multiple skin abscesses, fever and malaise. She has a history of Type 1DM and had been non-compliant on insulin. Vitals on presentation was significant for tachycardia with heart rate of 124, blood pressure of 119/81, respiratory rate of 16. Initial labs were consistent with DKA. CT abdomen and pelvis done for further evaluation of gluteal and thigh abscess showed incidental finding of a 3.4 cm retroperitoneal/para-aortic well-circumscribed rim-enhancing mass with central hypoenhancing component, suspicious for neoplasm such as paraganglioma. Biochemical testing was performed. 24-hour urine catecholamine levels obtained showed elevated urine norepinephrine level of 1008μg/day (reference range 15-100μg/day), urine dopamine 410μg/day (reference range 65- 400μg/day), urine epinephrine less than 2μg/day (reference range 0-20μg/day). Total urine catecholamines was elevated 1008μg/day (reference range 15-100μg/day). These results confirmed diagnosis of paraganglioma. Treatment options were discussed with the patient including surgery for removal of paraganglioma which she has currently declined. Conclusion: Diagnosis of a paraganglioma can usually be made using biochemical and radiographic testing. All patients with paraganglioma should be tested for hypersecretion of catecholamines in a 24-hour urine or serum collection, even if they do not present with a clinical picture of catecholamine hypersecretion. Importantly these extra-adrenal tumors do not have the enzymatic capacity to form epinephrine from norepinephrine as was exemplified by our case. For catecholamine-secreting tumors, biochemical diagnosis should be followed by radiological evaluation (typically either CT or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis) to locate the tumor. Treatment options are dependent on location of tumor, size, presence of symptoms and if there is metastatic disease present.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Abba Kaka.H.Y ◽  
Sylla F ◽  
Ali M.H ◽  
Amza A

Aims: To describe the clinical peculiarities of retinoblastoma and to outline the difficulties in their management in our context. Patients and Methods: We carried out a prospective study in all the cases of retinoblastoma from January 2014 to July 2015 in Niamey National Hospital. We studied: age, sex, first sign, age at first symptoms, time taken to seek medical help, anterior treatment , consanguinity, laterality, stage of tumor, extension of tumor, treatment done, survival rate. Results: The study was about 57 kids, among which 38 boys and 19 girls giving a sex ratio of 2.The mean age at diagnosis was 32 months with extremes of 7 months and 6 years. The range 2 to 3 years were most affected with 35 cases (61, 4%). Leucocorie was the onset symptom in 50 cases (87, 7%), strabismus in 7 cases (12, 3%). Traditional treatment was seen in 45 patients (79%). Consanguinity was found in 45 cases (79%), no family history of tumor was found in this study. In 38 cases (66, 66%) diagnosis was after one year of onset, the left eye was affected in 22 patients (38, 59%), the right eye in 21 patients (36, 84%) and it was bilateral in 14 cases (24, 56%). All our patients were at stage V of Reese classification, the tumor was extra-ocular in 54 patients (94, 6%) and intra-ocular in 5, 4% of cases. Enucleation was performed in 46 cases (80, 70%) and 56 patients (94, 73%) underwent chemotherapy cure. The survival rate after 18 months was of 15, 78%. Conclusion: Late presentation, diagnosis at an advance stage, and limited treatment options are the main factors responsible for the low rate of survival in this study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma H. Almaghrebi

Background: The clozapine-derivative quetiapine has been shown in some cases to cause leukopenia and neutropenia. Case Presentation: We reported on a case of a young female diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. After failed trials of three antipsychotic medications and despite a history of quetiapineinduced leukopenia, clozapine treatment was introduced due to the severity of the patient’s symptoms, the limited effective treatment options, and a lack of guidelines on this issue. Result: Over a ten-week period of clozapine treatment at 700 mg per day, the patient developed agranulocytosis. Her white blood cell count sharply dropped to 1.6 &#215; 10<sup>9</sup> L, and her neutrophils decreased to 0.1 &#215; 10<sup>9</sup> L. There had been no similar reaction to her previous medications (carbamazepine, risperidone, and haloperidol). Conclusion: The safety of clozapine in a patient who has previously experienced leukopenia and neutropenia with quetiapine requires further investigation. Increased attention should be paid to such cases. Careful monitoring and slow titration are advisable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charity Wiafe Akenten ◽  
Kennedy Gyau Boahen ◽  
Kwadwo Sarfo Marfo ◽  
Nimako Sarpong ◽  
Denise Dekker ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The increasing incidence of multi-antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, coupled with the risk of co-infections in malaria-endemic regions, complicates accurate diagnosis and prolongs hospitalization, thereby increasing the total cost of illness. Further, there are challenges in making the correct choice of antibiotic treatment and duration, precipitated by a lack of access to microbial culture facilities in many hospitals in Ghana. The aim of this case report is to highlight the need for blood cultures or alternative rapid tests to be performed routinely in malaria patients, to diagnose co-infections with bacteria, especially when symptoms persist after antimalarial treatment. Case presentation A 6-month old black female child presented to the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital with fever, diarrhea, and a 3-day history of cough. A rapid diagnostic test for malaria and Malaria microscopy was positive for P. falciparum with a parasitemia of 224 parasites/μl. The patient was treated with Intravenous Artesunate, parental antibiotics (cefuroxime and gentamicin) and oral dispersible zinc tablets in addition to intravenous fluids. Blood culture yielded Acinetobacter baumanii, which was resistant to all of the third-generation antibiotics included in the susceptibility test conducted, but sensitive to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. After augmenting treatment with intravenous ciprofloxacin, all symptoms resolved. Conclusion Even though this study cannot confirm whether the bacterial infection was nosocomial or otherwise, the case highlights the necessity to test malaria patients for possible co-infections, especially when fever persists after parasites have been cleared from the bloodstream. Bacterial blood cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be routinely performed to guide treatment options for febril illnesses in Ghana in order to reduce inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and limit the development of antimicrobial resistance.


2021 ◽  
pp. ijgc-2021-002753
Author(s):  
J Stuart Ferriss ◽  
Britt K Erickson ◽  
Ie-Ming Shih ◽  
Amanda N Fader

The incidence and mortality rates from endometrial cancer continue to increase worldwide, while rates in most other cancers have either plateaued or declined considerably. Uterine serous carcinoma represents a fraction of all endometrial malignancies each year, yet this histology is responsible for nearly 40% of all endometrial cancer-related deaths. These deaths disproportionately affect black women, who have higher rates of advanced disease at diagnosis. Molecular genetic analyses reveal major alterations including TP53 mutation, PIK3CA mutation/amplification, ERBB2 amplification, CCNE1 amplification, FBXW7 mutation/deletion, PPP2R1A mutation, and somatic mutations involving homologous recombination genes. Clinical risk factors for uterine serous carcinoma include advancing age, a history of breast cancer, tamoxifen usage, and the hereditary breast–ovarian cancer syndrome. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment. Recent advances in our understanding of uterine serous carcinoma molecular drivers have led to development of targeted therapeutics that promise improved outcomes for patients. Overexpression or amplification of HER2 in uterine serous carcinoma carries a poor prognosis; yet this actionable target has led to the incorporation of several anti-HER2 therapies, including trastuzumab which, when added to conventional chemotherapy, is associated with improved survival for women with advanced and recurrent HER2-positive disease. The combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib is also a promising targeted treatment strategy for women with uterine serous carcinoma, with a recent phase II study suggesting a 50% response rate in women with recurrent disease. Several trials examining additional targeted agents are ongoing. Despite years of stalled progress, meaningful, tailored treatment options are emerging for patients with this uncommon and biologically aggressive endometrial cancer subtype.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A Talbot ◽  
E Jeffrey Metter ◽  
Heather King

ABSTRACT During World War I, the 1918 influenza pandemic struck the fatigued combat troops serving on the Western Front. Medical treatment options were limited; thus, skilled military nursing care was the primary therapy and the best indicator of patient outcomes. This article examines the military nursing’s role in the care of the soldiers during the 1918 flu pandemic and compares this to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. e236929
Author(s):  
Sheliza Halani ◽  
Peter E Wu

A 79-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of worsening confusion, falls and hearing impairment. An initial workup for infectious, metabolic and structural causes was unrevealing. However, further history discovered that he had been ingesting one to two bottles of Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) daily for gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms. On his second day of admission, the plasma salicylate concentration was 2.08 mmol/L (reference range 1.10–2.20 mmol/L), despite no sources of salicylate in hospital. He was diagnosed with chronic salicylate toxicity and Pepto-Bismol use was discontinued. The patient was treated supportively with isotonic intravenous fluids only and plasma salicylate concentration fell to less than 0.36 mmol/L. Concurrently, all his symptoms resolved. This case highlights the potential adverse effects of over-the-counter medications. The diagnosis of chronic salicylate toxicity is challenging, specifically in the elderly and in undifferentiated presentations, as it can be missed if not suspected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Oihane Mitxelena-Iribarren ◽  
Sara Lizarbe-Sancha ◽  
Jay Campisi ◽  
Sergio Arana ◽  
Maite Mujika

The use of lipid nanoparticles as biodegradable shells for controlled drug delivery shows promise as a more effective and targeted tumor treatment than traditional treatment methods. Although the combination of target therapy with nanotechnology created new hope for cancer treatment, methodological issues during in vitro validation of nanovehicles slowed their application. In the current work, the effect of methotrexate (MTX) encapsulated in different matrices was evaluated in a dynamic microfluidic platform. Effects on the viability of osteosarcoma cells in the presence of recirculation of cell media, free MTX and two types of blank and drug-containing nanoparticles were successfully assessed in different tumor-mimicking microenvironments. Encapsulated MTX was more effective than the equal dose free drug treatment, as cell death significantly increased under the recirculation of both types of drug-loaded nanoparticles in all concentrations. In fact, MTX-nanoparticles reduced cell population 50 times more than the free drug when 150-µM drug dose was recirculated. Moreover, when compared to the equivalent free drug dose recirculation, cell number was reduced 60 and 100 points more under recirculation of each nanoparticle with a 15-µM drug concentration. Thus, the results obtained with the microfluidic model present MTX-lipid nanoparticles as a promising and more effective therapy for pediatric osteosarcoma treatment than current treatment options.


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.


1994 ◽  
Vol 22 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Kawasaki ◽  
Yutaka Mizushima ◽  
Hitoshi Kunitani ◽  
Masanobu Kitagawa ◽  
Masashi Kobayashi

A 51 year-old male was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of fever, dry cough and dyspnea. Chest X -ray films and his history of taking Chinese medicine for liver dysfunction were suggestive of drug-induced pneumonitis. Lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) to causative Chinese medical drugs of Sho-saiko-to and Dai-saiko-to was negative with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), but was positive with Iymphocytes from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In vivo challenge test for Sho-saiko-to was positive. The LST with BALF-lymphocytes proved to be very useful in making a diagnosis of drug-induced pneumonitis.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S27-S29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Graves

Two pharmacoeconomic studies on the treatment of acute seizures have been conducted. In 1991, Kriel and colleagues surveyed parents of children with a history of cluster seizures, prolonged seizures, or status epilepticus who had been instructed in the use of rectal diazepam. A comparison of data before instruction with data after instruction showed a reduced need for emergency department visits with rectal diazepam. Instruction thus provided a pharmacoeconomic benefit, despite the cost of the product. In 1996, Marchetti and coworkers found that intravenous fosphenytoin was associated with fewer adverse events than intravenous phenytoin. Fosphenytoin thus reduced the need for adverse event management and provided a substantial pharmacoeconomic benefit, despite its higher cost, compared with phenytoin. This study had a number of limitations, however, and hospital pharmacists remain resistant to the use of fosphenytoin. Additional studies may provide more pharmacoeconomic data to support the greater use of fosphenytoin in the treatment of acute pediatric seizures. (J Child Neurol 1998;13(Suppl 1):S27-S29).


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