Isolated and bilateral simultaneous facial palsy disclosing early human immunodeficiency virus infection

Bilateral lower motor neuron type facial palsy is an unusual neurological disorder. There are few reports that associate it with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on initial presentation. A 51-year-old married woman, who was previously healthy and had no risk of HIV infection, presented solely with bilateral simultaneous facial palsy. A positive HIV serology test was confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Following a short course of oral prednisolone, the patient recovered completely from facial palsy in three months, even though an antiretroviral treatment was suspended. Exclusion of HIV infection in patients with bilateral facial palsy is essential for early diagnosis and management of HIV.     

盐酸氟桂利嗪添加治疗月经期癫痫的临床观察

目的研究盐酸氟桂利嗪小剂量添加治疗女性月经期癫痫的疗效。方法对18例月经期癫痫在原有抗癫痫药物基础上,添加盐酸氟桂利嗪5-10mg／d。观察添加治疗前后癫痫发作次数,及不良反应,判定疗效。结果添加盐酸氟桂利嗪6个月后,显效13例,有效5例;对各种发作类型都有效。结论盐酸氟桂利嗪小剂量添加治疗女性月经期癫痫,是一个可供选择的方法。     

Treatment of plasmablastic lymphoma with multiple organ involvement

We herein report the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with persistent fever and a large mass in her right breast. Haematology, liver function, and other blood test results were abnormal. Computed tomography and positron emission tomography indicated that the lesion had spread to multiple organs. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that the patient had plasmablastic lymphoma, an invasive and rare form of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and an underlying infection by the Epstein-Barr virus. After three rounds of CHOPE chemotherapy, followed by hyperCVAD and ESHAP, the patient achieved rapid and complete remission. This case is unusual in that the patient presented with a large breast mass and her recovery was extremely rapid.     

Recurrent extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli urinary tract infection due to an infected intrauterine device

The use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been widespread since the 1960s. In 2002, the World Health Organization estimated that approximately 160 million women worldwide use IUDs. However, IUDs are associated with short-term complications such as vaginal bleeding, pelvic discomfort, dyspareunia and pelvic infection. Herein, we report the case of a woman who had recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) due to the use of an IUD, even after treatment. The patient developed four episodes of UTI within a seven-month period after IUD insertion. During each episode of UTI, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) was cultured from the patient''s midstream urine. The IUD was finally removed, and culture of the removed IUD was positive for ESBL-producing E. coli. An infected IUD as a source of recurrent UTI should be considered in women with IUD in situ who develop recurrent UTI even after treatment.     

Isolated metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma masquerading as parapharyngeal space paraganglioma

Isolated metastatic deposits of papillary thyroid carcinoma to the parapharyngeal space are rare. Herein, we describe the case of a young woman who presented with a right-sided oropharyngeal mass that was initially diagnosed as a parapharyngeal space paraganglioma. The patient opted for conservative treatment as she was asymptomatic and wished to avoid the risk of neurovascular morbidity associated with surgery. After 20 years, the patient sought treatment again for the oropharyngeal mass, which had progressively increased in size and was causing difficulty in swallowing. Repeat imaging of the affected area revealed that the mass had increased significantly in size; it also revealed the presence of a previously absent small lesion in the right lobe of the thyroid. Excision of the parapharyngeal space tumour and near-total thyroidectomy were performed; the excised specimens showed features of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. As papillary thyroid carcinoma that metastasises to the parapharyngeal space can masquerade as a paraganglioma, clinicians should bear in mind that an isolated metastatic deposit in the parapharyngeal space could be the first sign of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma.     

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (166)

A 68-year-old woman with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department with choreoathetoid movements affecting the upper and lower left limbs. Computed tomography of the brain did not show any intracranial abnormalities. However, subsequent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain revealed an increased T1 signal in the right basal ganglia, raising the suspicion of nonketotic hyperglycaemic chorea-hemiballismus. Management consisted of adjusting her insulin dose to achieve good glycaemic control. The patient subsequently recovered and was discharged after eight days. There are many causes of basal ganglia T1 hyperintensity, including hyperglycaemia in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. This case emphasises the importance of MR imaging in the early diagnosis of hyperglycaemia as a cause of chorea-hemiballismus, to enable early treatment and a better clinical outcome.     

Orbital pseudotumour as a presentation of paediatric ulcerative colitis

A 2-year-old girl presented with a one-day history of acute-onset bilateral painful, swollen eyes and a two-month history of loose stools. Physical examination revealed a right eyelid swelling with proptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right orbital pseudotumour. The patient responded well to treatment with intravenous antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, three weeks later, she was readmitted with a vasculitic lesion over her left upper chest, with mucous-bloody diarrhoea. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. The patient was treated with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and sulphasalazine. Two weeks after discharge, she was readmitted for cutaneous vasculitis and worsening diarrhoea. The patient’s bowel and extraintestinal diseases resolved upon addition of infliximab to her treatment regimen. Her inflammatory markers also normalised. Azathioprine was subsequently added. Infliximab was discontinued after four doses and prednisolone was tapered off. The patient remained well without any flare-up after 24 months of follow-up.     

Recurrent myocardial infarction secondary to Prinzmetal’s variant angina

Prinzmetal’s variant angina describes chest pain secondary to reversible coronary artery vasospasm in the context of both diseased and non-diseased coronary arteries. Symptoms typically occur when the patient is at rest and are associated with transient ST-segment elevation. Acute episodes respond to glyceryl trinitrate, but myocardial infarction and other potentially fatal complications can occur, and long-term management can be challenging. Although it is not well understood, the underlying mechanism appears to involve a combination of endothelial damage and vasoactive mediators. In this case, a 35-year-old woman with myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery vasospasm experienced recurrent chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed severe focal stenosis in the mid left anterior descending artery, which completely resolved after administration of intracoronary glyceryl trinitrate. The patient was discharged on nitrates and calcium channel blockers. The patient re-presented with another myocardial infarction, requiring up-titration of medical therapy.     

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (153). Severe hypoxic ischaemic brain injury.

A 58-year-old Indian woman presented with asystole after an episode of haemetemesis, with a patient downtime of 20 mins. After initial resuscitation efforts, computed tomography of the brain, obtained to evaluate neurological injury, demonstrated evidence of severe hypoxic ischaemic brain injury. The imaging features of hypoxic ischaemic brain injury and the potential pitfalls with regard to image interpretation are herein discussed.     

Acute myocardial infarction and subclavian artery occlusion in a 41-year-old woman with Beh?et’s disease: coronary and large vessel arteritis

We report the case of a 41-year-old Chinese woman with Behçet’s disease (BD) complicated by acute myocardial infarction, requiring inotropic and ventilatory support. Angiography showed critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, a blocked left subclavian artery and left carotid artery stenosis. The patient was successfully treated with a high dose of immunosuppressants, standard anti-ischaemic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. Although life-threatening, coronary arteritis is a treatable manifestation of BD. We suggest that the diagnosis of coronary arteritis be considered in patients with BD who present with chest pain. Involvement of other arteries should also be looked out for in these patients.     

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (155). Incidental PDA with secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension.

We report the case of a 70-year-old man with an asymptomatic large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) incidentally detected on triple-rule-out computed tomography (CT). CT clearly demonstrated a vascular structure connecting the descending thoracic aorta to the roof of the proximal left pulmonary artery, consistent with a PDA. Secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension was also evident on CT. The patient was eventually diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and was successfully treated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and concomitant patch closure of the PDA. This article aims to outline the imaging features of PDA and highlight the information provided by CT, which is crucial to treatment planning. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and closure options of PDA are also briefly discussed.     

Delayed presentation of port-site metastasis from an unknown gastrointestinal malignancy following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Port-site metastasis (PSM) is often encountered during laparoscopic surgery in patients with malignancy. We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with a single PSM from papillary adenocarcinoma after undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for calculus cholecystitis. Post cholecystectomy, a diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis was confirmed on histopathology. The patient presented with a mass at the site of epigastric port 28 months after surgery. PSM was suspected on clinical examination, which was supported by findings on computed tomography and further confirmed by fine-needle aspiration cytology of the lump. The patient underwent surgical clearance of the mass, and histopathological examination proved the lesion to be papillary adenocarcinoma. The site of the primary tumour was not detected even after thorough examination. Based on the histopathology report following local surgical clearance, the patient was started on chemotherapy. This case is unusualbecause of the long delay prior to the presentation of PSM and the unknown primary malignancy.     

Ostraceous and inverse psoriasis with psoriatic arthritis as the presenting features of advanced HIV infection

Knowledge of both the common and atypical presentations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated dermatoses may be helpful in arousing suspicion of HIV, especially in patients with no reported risk factors. Herein, we report the case of an otherwise healthy, nonpromiscuous 29-year-old man who presented to our institution with an eight-week history of plaques with oyster shell-like scales on the trunk, extremities and genital area. The plaques were associated with fever, and intermittent knee pain and swelling. Initial diagnostic tests were suggestive of drug hypersensitivity syndrome, and the patient’s condition improved with treatment using oral prednisone. However, the lesions recurred when the dose of prednisone was tapered, even after the culprit drug had long been discontinued. Repeat skin punch biopsy and arthrocentesis revealed a diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris with psoriatic arthritis. Due to the atypical presentation of psoriasis, the patient was counselled to undergo HIV testing, which came back positive. Clinicians should be attuned to the skin signs heralding HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, in order to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.     

Dural metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: rare,but worth considering

Metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to the dura, an extremely rare condition, can be symptomatically silent and mistaken for a benign entity radiographically. Missed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences or prove immediately fatal. We report a woman with dural metastasis of NPC that mimicked a meningioma on radiography. Craniectomy with tumour resection was performed due to rapid progression from the onset of symptoms to disability. The patient was still alive two years after surgery. This case emphasises the need to keep in mind the possibility of dural metastasis of NPC in patients with abnormal imaging features. This would not only avoid wrong and optimistic diagnosis, but also allow for appropriate treatment in a timely manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report of metastasis of NPC to the dura. We provide detailed information on the neoplastic lesion, which masqueraded as a benign entity and caused potentially fatal consequences.     

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (165)

Oesophageal rupture is a life-threatening complication of balloon tamponade for bleeding oesophageal varices. We herein describe the clinical course and imaging findings in a 33-year-old Indian man who had a Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube inserted for uncontrolled haematemesis, which was unfortunately complicated by malposition of the gastric balloon with resultant oesophageal rupture. The inflated SB tube gastric balloon was visualised within the right hemithorax on chest radiography after the SB tube insertion. Further evaluation of the thorax on computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of oesophageal rupture associated with right-sided haemopneumothorax. It is crucial for both the referring clinician and reporting radiologist to recognise early the imaging features of an incorrectly positioned SB tube gastric balloon, so as to ensure prompt intervention and a reduction in patient morbidity and mortality.     

Herb-induced cardiotoxicity from accidental aconitine overdose

Patients who overdose on aconite can present with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. Aconite must be prepared and used with caution to avoid cardiotoxic effects that can be fatal. We herein describe a case of a patient who had an accidental aconite overdose but survived with no lasting effects. The patient had prepared Chinese herbal medication to treat his pain, which resulted in an accidental overdose of aconite with cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. The patient had ventricular tachycardia, bidirectional ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Following treatment with anti-arrhythmic medications, defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, he made an uneventful recovery, with no further cardiac arrhythmias reported.     

Massive mediastinal teratoma mimicking a pleural effusion on computed tomography

Mediastinal teratomas have been reported to mimic pleural effusions on chest radiography. Further evaluation of such tumours using computed tomography usually yields diagnostic characteristics that distinguish them from pleural collections. We report a patient with a mediastinal teratoma that mimicked a massive left pleural effusion on chest radiography and computed tomography.     

Recurrent and persistent pityriasis rosea: an atypical case presentation

We report a case of atypical pityriasis rosea in a 24-year-old Malay man. He presented with an 11-month history of three recurrent and persistent episodes of pityriasis rosea associated with oral ulcers. The first episode lasted for one month and recurred within 14 days. The second episode lasted for three months and recurred within nine days. The third episode lasted for seven months. Although all three episodes were not preceded by any prodromal symptoms, a herald patch was noted on three different sites (the left iliac fossa, abdomen and chest) on each successive episode. Recurrent pityriasis rosea and its association with oral ulcers, although quite uncommon, have been reported in the literature. However, reports of multiple recurrences, with prolonged duration of each episode and very short remissions in between, have not been made. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such unique presentation.     

Large bowel obstruction complicating a posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia

Posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a rare cause of large bowel obstruction, and can present weeks or years after the initial trauma. Herein, we report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented with signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction nine months after he had a stab wound to his left chest. Chest radiography showed multiple air-fluid levels in the right upper quadrant, an air-fluid level in the left thoracic cavity and significant free air under the diaphragm. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a contaminated abdomen with perforations in the caecum and proximal transverse colon, and a 4 cm × 4 cm defect in the left posterolateral (septal) aspect of the diaphragm, which was closed with a nonabsorbable suture. Posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernias should be part of the differential diagnosis for patients with bowel obstruction, especially if there is a history of trauma. Radiography is useful in facilitating a quick diagnosis.     

Organoaxial partial rotation of duodenum with midgut malrotation in an adult

Midgut malrotation includes a range of developmental abnormalities that occur during fetal intestinal rotation. Manifestations of intestinal malrotation are generally seen in the paediatric population and are uncommon in adults. Symptomatic patients may present with either acute abdominal pain due to midgut volvulus, or chronic abdominal pain due to proximal midgut partial obstruction in the presence of congenital bands. A limited number of paediatric cases of duodenal occlusion due to duodenal malrotation has been previously reported in the medical literature. We herein report the case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with duodenal obstruction due to organoaxial partial rotation of the distal duodenum associated with midgut malrotation. This is probably the first of such a case diagnosed in adulthood reported in the medical literature. Our patient underwent Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy and had symptomatic relief following the successful surgery.