Diplopia and skin rash in a patient treated with immunotherapy nivolumab regimen

This is a case report of an 80-year-old caucasian male patient with metastatic urothelial bladder carcinoma and bone/liver metastases, who was being presented with diplopia, raynaud’s syndrome and skin rash on both legs, in response to immunotherapy with anti-PDL-1 Nivolumab regimen.

Sarcoidosis with secondary recurrent right-sided chylothorax and chylous ascites in a Caucasian male patient

ABSTRACT Sarcoidosis is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas in involved organs. We report a novel case of a 61-year-old Caucasian male with sarcoidosis presenting with recurrent chylothorax and chylous ascites. Pleural and ascitic fluid analysis revealed high triglyceride levels, consistent with chylothorax and chylous ascites, respectively. Common etiologies of chylous fluid such as thoracic duct surgical trauma, malignancy and infection were all excluded. Sarcoidosis was confirmed by the presence of non-caseating granulomas on a mediastinal lymph node biopsy. Conservative treatment with low-fat diet, prednisone, octreotide and multiple thoracenteses failed to effectively resolve the chylothorax. Surgical interventions with pleurodesis and thoracic duct ligation were performed, leading to the complete resolution of the chylous effusion and ascites.

Sudden Bilateral Inflammatory and Neovascular Lesions in Multifocal Choroiditis

We report a 40-year-old Caucasian male presenting sudden bilateral Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV) along with Chorioretinal Lesions (CRL). He presented previous ocular history of relapsing idiopathic bilateral anterior uveitis.

Testicular swelling leading to a diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma – co-incidence or causation?

Summary Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with an incidence of 0.7–2.0 cases/million/year. A majority of patients present with steroid hormone excess or abdominal mass effects, and in 15% of patients ACC is discovered incidentally. We present a case of 30-year-old otherwise asymptomatic Caucasian male who presented with a testicular swelling. Subsequent imaging and investigations revealed disseminated sarcoidosis and an 11 cm adrenal lesion. An adrenalectomy was performed. Histological examination of the resected specimen confirmed an ACC and also demonstrated a thin rim of adrenal tissue containing non-caseating granulomas, consistent with adrenal sarcoid. Learning points This case highlights an unusual presentation of two uncommon diseases. This case also highlights how separate and potentially unrelated disease processes may occur concomitantly and the importance, therefore, of keeping an open mind when dealing with unusual diagnostic findings. We also hypothesize a potential link between the ACC and sarcoidosis in our patient.

509 Nasal SCC in a Young Caucasian Male

Introduction Nasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is common in Asian men in their 50s. However, 1 - 2 per million 15–19-year-old Caucasian patients will also develop nasal SCC. This case reports a rare finding of a 19-year-old Caucasian male with nasal SCC. Method Medical records were used to access to all relevant clinical notes for the patient, including blood results, clinical documentation, imaging, and histology. The patient’s clinical journey was reviewed from initial referral to the ENT department to diagnosis with non-keratinising squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC) stage IV b. Progression of disease: The patient was initially referred to ENT with unilateral tinnitus and temporal headache and diagnosed in clinic with glue ear and hypertrophic adenoidal tissue. He was due to have grommets and EUA, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of clinical suspicion of SCC. Patient was later seen in ED for epistaxis, and then for neck swelling after which he was diagnosed with SCC. Conclusions As the patient is a young, caucasian and a non-smoker, the initial diagnosis was lymphoma rather than SCC. This highlights the difficulties of diagnosing this type of cancer in young Caucasian patients.

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis in Young Caucasian Male

Background: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) can be a medical emergency as delay in diagnosis can lead to life-threatening arrhythmia. Periodic paralysis is more prevalent in the Asian population. We report a case of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a young Caucasian male. Case: A 24-year-old male with a past history of Graves’ disease, hypertension, and asthma was brought to the hospital due to leg weakness and fall. He was initially diagnosed with Graves’ disease 2 years ago. The patient could not take methimazole or metoprolol due to the affordability issue for the last 18 months. On presentation, he fell on the floor while attempting to stand up from the couch. He could not stand up or pick his cell phone. He remained on the floor for 2-3 hrs. A review of the system was positive for palpitation and fatigue and negative for diarrhea, weight loss, anxiety, sleep problem, and dry eyes. On arrival, he had a pulse of 100/min, BP of 157/85 mmHg with rest of vitals signs normal. Motor strength on bilateral lower extremities were 2/5. Upper extremity strength was normal. No thyromegaly or thyroid bruit was noted in the exam. The rest of the physical exam was normal. Labs showed Potassium 1.9 with a normal reference range (RR) of 3.5 - 5.1 mmol/l. His TSH was < 0.01 (RR 0.35 - 5.00 MCU/ML), Free T4 was 5.0 (RR 0.6- 1.6 NG/DL), Total T3 was 425 (RR 87 - 180 NG/DL) and CK was 70 (RR 35- 232 U/L). EKG showed sinus rhythm at 90 bpm with no PR, T/ST, or QT abnormalities. He was given IV potassium and was also started on methimazole 10mg TID and metoprolol. His weakness and tachycardia were improved the next day. We discussed with him the options of medical management vs. surgery. He underwent a total thyroidectomy. Biopsy showed nodular hyperplasia consistent with graves’ disease. Discussion: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is characterized by hypokalemia and episode of acute muscle weakness in lower extremities in the setting of hyperthyroidism. The pathophysiology of TPP remains uncertain. Hyperthyroidism is a hyperadrenergic state in which beta-2-adrenergic stimulation in muscle cells directly induces cellular K+ uptake by increasing cAMP, leading to activation of Na/K ATPase. The increase in the influx of intracellular K+ leads to hypokalemia and skeletal muscle weakness. Some studies show pathophysiology can be different in Caucasians compared to the Asian population that there could be abnormalities in Na and K channels other than Na/K ATPase. Potassium replacement should be done with caution as hypokalemia is due to intracellular shift and rebound hyperkalemia is common during the management. Beta-blocker may reverse adrenergic overstimulation of Na/K ATPase. It can help rapidly improve paralytic symptoms.

Glioblastoma Multiforme and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Rare Combination of Primary Malignancies

Introduction: Studies have reported thyroid cancer patients are potentially at 30% increased risk of getting second primary cancer when compared to the general population. We are describing a young Caucasian male patient who was diagnosed with two synchronous cancers, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Case Report: A 52 year old Caucasian male with past medical history of hypertension, partial right thyroidectomy in 1999 for thyroid nodular disease, and postsurgical hypothyroidism on levothyroxine. He underwent FNA of left thyroid nodule found on routine monitoring of thyroid nodules showed to be suspicious for malignancy. He underwent left hemi-thyroidectomy in July 2019, revealing PTC, follicular variant, encapsulated, noninvasive type measuring 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.5 cm, completely excised with negative margins; reminder of the right hemi-thyroidectomy performed in February 2020, revealing cystic adenomatoid nodule and no evidence of malignancy. Postoperative thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin antibodies levels were undetectable. A diagnostic whole body iodine scan didn’t show metastasis hence Iodine-131 treatment was not warranted. A week following the right hemi-thyroidectomy he presents to the ER with apraxia, difficulty with concentration, visual difficulty, headaches. CT scan of the brain revealed left occipital region revealed a 3.7 x 2.3 cm lesion concerning for malignancy. A follow up contrast-enhanced MRI brain showing multiple ring-enhancing lesions identified within the left posterior occipital lobe measuring 1.7 x 1.8 cm, additional occipital lobe lesion measuring 2.7 cm, mid and posterior parietal lobe measuring 3.0 cm extending to collateral sulcus measuring 2 x 3 x 1.9 cm compressing the posterior horn of left lateral ventricle. Patient underwent suboccipital craniotomy, pathology revealing glioblastoma NOS, WHO grade IV; further biomarker analysis was not available. CT of the chest, abdomen, pelvis showed no evidence of metastatic disease. Postoperative MRI of the brain revealed postoperative changes with resection of the left occipital portion of the lesion with additional enhancing regions in the left parietal and temporal lobes and splenium unchanged. Patient underwent concurrent, definitive chemo-radiation with temozolomide, now on maintenance temozolomide and levothyroxine. Conclusion: PTC is the most common thyroid malignancy, affecting young patients less than 45 years old. GBM can occur in people of any age, but they are more frequent in older adults. Physicians should maintain high surveillance for second primary cancers at a variety of sites in patients who have been found or treated for primary cancers, especially at a young age. Further evaluation of genetic and environmental factors between papillary thyroid cancer and glioblastoma multiforme will improve our understanding of the etiology of these malignancies.