Sarcomatoid Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder Treated with Adjuvant Radiotherapy: A Case Report

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare tumor of the urinary bladder accounting for less than 0.5% of all primary urinary bladder tumors. Since the patients were presented with large tumor with extended stages, outcome was found to be poor. In order to improve local control, adjuvant local treatment may be practical. We report a rare case with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the urinary bladder diagnosed with immunuhistochemical (IHC) study and treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) post-operatively. A 55-year old female patient complained about painless hematuria for 2 months. Computed tomography of the pelvic region revealed tumor and wall thickening at the left posterolateral side of the bladder. Total cystectomy with lymph node dissection and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy was performed and histopathological and immunohistochemical findings strongly correlate with sarcomatoid carcinoma. The patient was treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) with a total dose of 59.4 Gy with 1.8 Gy fractional daily doses. Patient was alive without any local recurrence and distant metastasis 10 months after surgery.

Methotrexate-Induced Acute Leukemia: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

For many years, methotrexate has been used in the treatment of certain chronic medical disorders e.g. rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis as well as a number of malignant disorders e.g. acute lymphoblastic leukemia, certain types of lymphoma and breast carcinoma. Its use has been associated with various systemic toxicities and complications. The association between methotrexate therapy and the development of lymphoma and pseudolymphoma is well established. In patients treated with methotrexate, the development of leukemia has been attributed to either the primary disorder e.g. rheumatoid arthritis or to other drugs used concomitantly e.g. cyclophosphamide. Reported here are two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and one patient with psoriasis treated with low dose methotrexate for variable periods of time. Two of these patients developed acute myeloid leukemia on myelodysplastic syndrome background, while the third patient developed pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia that expressed few myeloid markers and had a positive philadelphia chromosome. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases of methotrexate-induced acute leukemia.

Asymmetrical Weakness Associated with Central Nervous System Involvement in a Patient with Guillain-Barrè Syndrome

Guillain-Barrè syndrome (GBS) is usually associated with symmetrical weakness, and therefore asymmetrical weakness may confuse diagnosis. We report on a patient with GBS subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis who had asymmetrical weakness with CNS involvement. The patient tested positive for anti-ganglioside antibodies, including anti-GM1 IgM, anti-GD1b IgG, and anti-GT1a IgG. Patients with GBS can manifest asymmetrical signs and symptoms attributable to CNS involvement. Prompt, accurate diagnosis and treatment of post- C. jejuni GBS is especially important because its prognosis is relatively poor.

A Case of Fahr's Disease Presenting as Chorea Successfully Treated by the Use of Quetiapine

We report a case of 30-year-old man presenting chorea in his legs. A brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral symmetric calcifications in the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum and subcortical white matter. Laboratory studies showed no abnormalities of serum calcium, phosphate, PTH, lactic acid, pyruvic acid and cerebrospinal fluid. Under the diagnosis of Fahr's disease (FD), we treated with quetiapine (75 mg/day), which completely abolished his symptoms and he showed no other side effect. Our experience suggests that quetiapine is well tolerated in FD patients and effectively treats chorea without extrapyramidal movement.

Metabolic Complications of Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Postoperative complications resulting from bariatric surgery can lead to severe vitamin-deficiency states. A patient who underwent bariatric bypass surgery and later developed Wernicke's encephalopathy prompted us to present her interesting case history for discussion. Although bariatric surgery is known to be a risk factor for Wernicke's encephalopathy, this diagnosis is only rarely evoked in the postoperative course. We recommend that the occurrence of digestive, psychiatric or neurological symptoms after bariatric surgery should suggest a thiamine deficiency that must be promptly assessed. Without waiting for the results, thiamine supplementation should be initiated.

Endobronchial Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD) are increasingly recognized as a fatal complication of hematological stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Thoracic involvement, that may be isolated or part of a disseminated disease, usually encompasses pulmonary nodules or masses and mediastinal lymph node enlargement. The current case study presents 2 patients who underwent HSCT, one allogenic and the other autologous, who developed an exceptional endobronchial EBV related PTLD. The first patient had a fleshy white endobronchial mass resulting in a right upper lobe atelectasis and the second had an extensive necrotising mucosa from trachea to both basal bronchi without any significant change of lung parenchyma on the CT scan. In both cases, the diagnosis was made by bronchial biopsies. Physicians should be aware of an endobronchial pattern of EBV associated PTLD after HSCT to permit quick diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

Acute Autonomic, Sensory and Motor Neuropathy Associated with Meningoencephalitis

We report the first case of acute autonomic, motor and sensory neuropathy (AASMN) associated with meningoencephalitis. A 62-year-old man presented with fever, neck stiffness, and coma. Respiratory failure developed. Magnetic resonance images showed an abnormality in the medial temporal lobe. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis with a high protein level. Intensive care gradually improved the consciousness level, but paralysis of the four extremities persisted. Nerve conduction studies revealed demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy. Severe orthostatic hypotension, urinary retention, and constipation were also present. Clinical autonomic tests suggested both sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. After intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, motor and sensory symptoms resolved rapidly; dysautonomia resolved gradually over the next 2 months. The response to immunological therapy and the presence of antecedent infection suggest that AASMN is a postinfectious, immune-mediated, autonomic, sensory and motor nervous system dysfunction.

A Case of Protruding Eyeballs and Diminishing Vision

This case report discusses issues related to a 56-year-old man from Bangalore who presented with complaints of a gradual protrusion of his eyeballs along with diminishing vision for the previous month. The approach to diagnosis and management issues around this unusual presentation is dicussed.

A Case of Large Solitary Fibrous Tumor in the Retroperitoneum

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare spindle cell neoplasm mainly originated in the pleural cavity. We report here an unusual case of a large SFT in the retroperitoneum. A 27-year-old female complaining of a palpable mass in the right flank with dull pain was admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of right retroperitoneal tumor. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large retroperitoneal tumor arising from latissimus dorsi muscle. Surgical findings revealed a partly encapsulated tumor and complete resection of tumor concomitantly with right kidney, 11th and 12th ribs, and diaphragm was performed. Pathological examination demonstrated the tumor to be composed of increased mitotic activity and cellularity of spindle cells with a collagenous matrix. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD34, vimentin, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and negative for CD31, cytokeratin, desmin, S-100p, smooth muscle actin, Bc1-2, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) with Ki-67 labeling index of 0.1%. Based on pathological features, diagnosis of SFT in the retroperitoneum was confirmed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an SFT arising from latissimus dorsi muscle and it is important to include SFT in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors that caused considerable diagnostic problems due to its unusual site of origin.

A Case of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis (TINU) Syndrome with High ASLO Titer

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease and the pathogenesis is still unknown. We report a case of TINU syndrome with high ASLO titer. Uveitis improved and urine β2-MG normalized with low dose systemic predonisolone and cyclosporin A. The high ASLO titer in early phase suggested that streptococcal infection might have triggered TINU syndrome. Lymphocyte phenotypes normalized after treatment with low dose systemic predonisolone and cyclosporin A.