Colon Cancer: An Unusual Presentation with a Paraneoplastic Syndrome

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rheumatological disorder characterized by proximal myositis and distinctive dermatological manifestations. It can be an isolated clinical syndrome or, in rarer cases, can be the initial presentation for an underlying malignancy as a part of a paraneoplastic syndrome. In this case report, we describe a case of a 51-year-old lady who presented with proximal myopathy, typical DM skin rash, dysphagia, and markedly elevated creatine kinase. She was diagnosed with a seronegative DM and her malignancy screening revealed a mass in the ascending colon. During her hospital course, she also developed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, another paraneoplastic disorder typically associated with late stages of malignancy, manifested as hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and low fibrinogen. The patient received intravenous corticosteroids and underwent tumor resection with following resolution of her both rheumatological and hematological manifestation. Unfortunately, due to her general poor health, she developed sepsis and died in the hospital.

Refractory hypokalaemia and hypertension with metabolic alkalosis: an acute presentation of Cushing’s disease secondary to a pituitary macroadenoma

A 68-year-old woman presented with right arm cellulitis, not responsive to oral antibiotics. Intravenous antibiotics were commenced, and an ultrasound scan confirmed a collection that was surgically drained. She developed refractory hypokalaemia with normal magnesium, no gastrointestinal losses and no iatrogenic cause. She was hypertensive, hyperglycaemic, alkalotic, clinically obese with proximal myopathy and skin bruising. These clinical findings and refractory hypokalaemic hypertension with metabolic alkalosis raised a suspicion of Cushing’s syndrome (CS). 24-hour urinary free cortisol (24 hours) was grossly raised on two occasions. The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was significantly raised at 154 ng/L, confirming ACTH-dependant CS. A CT scan of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis excluded an ectopic source of hypercortisolaemia. MRI pituitary revealed an invasive macroadenoma. Treatment with endoscopic debulking resulted in the resolution of hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis with significant improvement in hyperglycaemia and hypertension.

Denosumab-Induced Proximal Myopathy in a Child

Denosumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody, has been used for the treatment of osteoporosis, in complications resulting from bone metastatic disease and in giant cell tumor in both adults and skeletally mature adolescents. Denosumab is an inhibitor of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand and belongs to a new class of antiresorptive medications. We report a unique case of myopathy in a 13-year-old boy prescribed denosumab for enchondromatosis. The boy presented with hypovitaminosis D, elevated parathyroid hormone, suppressed alkaline phosphatase, hypocalcemia, and hypophosphatemia after a single dose of denosumab. Our case points to altered calcium–vitamin D homeostasis induced by denosumab. Myopathy associated with denosumab has not been described previously in children. Early recognition of myopathy and adequate supplementation with calcium–vitamin D may ensure a more favorable clinical outcome.

A Young Man Suspicious for Cushing's Syndrome With Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19): A Case Report

The 2019 global Coronavirus syndrome pandemic (COVID-19) has entered more than two hundred countries around the world, involving <82 million persons and >1,800,000 deaths (until January, 1st 2021). We report on COVID-19 infection in the context of a Cushing's syndrome (CS) from Iran. A 36-year-old man with proximal myopathy, plethora, and striae with central obesity was evaluated for Cushing's syndrome. During the high dose dexamethasone test, the patient developed symptoms of cough, low-grade fever, and weakness then was admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Despite treatment according to national protocols for COVID-19, the patient unfortunately died. In this report, we intend to discuss the various aspects of Cushing's syndrome and severe COVID-19 infection.

Diagnostic Approach to Proximal Myopathy

Patients with muscle disorders are a diagnostic challenge to physicians, because of the various ways of presentation. A comprehensive approach should be followed systematically in order to reach the correct diagnosis. Weakness is a common symptom among patients including those with central or peripheral nervous systems diseases and those with muscular and/or neuromuscular diseases. Muscle weakness is not only a regular finding in rheumatologic diseases, but in inflammatory myopathies as well. This chapter focuses on skills needed to approach any patient that presents with weakness, specifically proximal myopathy.

HYPERTHYROIDISM: LOOKING BEYOND PHYSICIAN'S PERSPECTIVE

Hyperthyroidism with its excess circulatory thyroid hormones commonly presents with systemic features like palpitation, weight loss and heat intolerance. This hyperadrenergic, hypermetabolic state with its peripheral and central nervous system affection produces protean neurological manifestations which are generally overlooked by internist. Features of neuropsychiatric nature, cognitive impairment, and dementia movement disorder like tremors or chorea may be presentation of undetected hyperthyroidism. Affliction for muscles presents with proximal myopathy with or without myalgia in 50-70% of long standing hyperthyroid state. Similarly thyrotoxic periodic paralysis due to low serum potassium in adult male is often misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome, however replacement of potassium drastically reverse the condition. There is a strong association between autoimmune thyroiditis and ocular myesthenia which post difficulties in clinical diagnosis. Despite of so much variability in clinical presentation attainment of euthyroid state coupled with beta blocker in many situations is helpful to resolve most of the issues. Keywords: Hyperthyroidism, Grave's, Tremors, Myopathy, Periodic paralysis.