Follow‐up of two cases of suspected interstitial lung disease following severe COVID‐19 infection shows persistent changes in imaging and lung function

Physicians are observing persisting symptoms and unexpected organ dysfunction after severe COVID‐19. In this report, we present the follow‐up of two cases of suspected interstitial lung disease following the viral infection. Up to the last month of follow‐up, both patients presented with persistent changes in imaging and pulmonary function tests.     

Gallstone Ileus with COVID‐19 Infection: An Unintended Sequela of Non‐Operative Management of Acute Cholecystitis During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Appropriate risk stratification and careful follow‐up are mandated in elderly patients with comorbidities. Herein, we report a case presenting 5 months after the nonoperative management of acute cholecystitis during the height of the COVID‐19 pandemic.     

Case report of a spontaneous pneumothorax after the recovery from COVID‐19 pneumonia: A delayed complication

This case demonstrates pneumothorax as a consequence of COVID‐19 and emphasizes the significance of follow‐up of the COVID‐19 patients.     

Rosette‐forming glioneuronal tumor of the fourth ventricle; A case report and review of the literature

Despite mostly indolent course and favorable postoperative outcome long‐term follow‐up studies are needed to identify the most appropriate therapeutic strategies to minimize surgical morbidity and neurologic injury in patients with RGNT.     

Stercoral ulcer after Hirschsprung's disease surgery

Constipation and stercoral ulcer are risk factors associated with Hirschsprung''s disease (HD); long‐term follow‐up is, thus, essential. In postoperative HD associated with Down syndrome (DS) with intellectual disability, vigilant follow‐up is required to avoid severe constipation because DS predisposes the patients to constipation and caregivers cannot easily understand the symptoms.     

Clinical application of low erythrocyte sedimentation rate/high C‐reactive protein to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis

BackgroundThis study investigated whether the discordance between erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein at diagnosis could estimate the simultaneous clinical and laboratory variables and predict the poor outcomes during follow‐up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV).MethodsThe medical records of 254 AAV patients were reviewed. Clinical and laboratory and AAV‐specific indices at diagnosis and all‐cause mortality, relapse and end‐stage renal disease during follow‐up were obtained. ESR and CRP levels were categorised as high and low based on the median values. Accordingly, the patients were divided into the following four groups: high ESR/low CRP; low ESR/high CRP; low ESR/low CRP; and high ESR/high CRP.ResultsOf the 254 AAV patients, 51 patients exhibited discordance between ESR and CRP. Among the 51 AAV patients, the median age was 59.0 years, and 20 patients were men (29 MPA, 13 GPA and 9 EGPA). Cardiovascular and nervous systemic manifestations were observed more frequently in AAV patients with low ESR/high CRP than in those with high ESR/low CRP. Six patients from the low ESR/high CRP group died. AAV patients with low ESR/high CRP exhibited significantly lower cumulative patients'' survival rates than both those with high ESR/low CRP and those with low ESR/low CRP. Also, AAV patients with low ESR/high CRP exhibited significantly higher simultaneous BVAS than those with low ESR/low CRP.ConclusionsLow ESR/high CRP at diagnosis could not only estimate the simultaneous high BVAS but also predict all‐cause mortality during follow‐up in AAV patients.     

Validation of the hepatocellular carcinoma early detection screening algorithm Doylestown and aMAP in a cohort of Chinese with cirrhosis

BackgroundPrevious studies have developed some blood‐based biomarker algorithms such as the Doylestown algorithm and aMAP score to improve the detection of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no one has studied the application of the Doylestown algorithm in the Chinese. Meanwhile, which of these two screening models is more suitable for people with liver cirrhosis remains to be investigated.MethodsIn this study, HCC surveillance was performed by radiographic imaging and testing for tumor markers every 6 months from August 21, 2018, to January 12, 2021. We conducted a retrospective study of 742 liver cirrhosis patients, and among them, 20 developed HCC during follow‐up. Samples from these patients at three follow‐up time points were tested to evaluate alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), the Doylestown algorithm, and aMAP score.ResultsOverall, 521 liver cirrhosis patients underwent semiannual longitudinal follow‐up three times. Five patients were diagnosed with HCC within 0–6 months of the third follow‐up. We found that for these liver cirrhosis patients, the Doylestown algorithm had the highest accuracy for HCC detection, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.763, 0.801, and 0.867 for follow‐ups 1–3, respectively. Compared with AFP at 20 ng/ml, the Doylestown algorithm increased biomarker performance by 7.4%, 21%, and 13% for follow‐ups 1–3, respectively.ConclusionsOur findings show that the Doylestown algorithm performance appeared to be optimal for HCC early screening in the Chinese cirrhotic population when compared with the aMAP score and AFP at 20 ng/ml.     

Scoliosis with peculiar radiological features in a patient with McCune‐Albright syndrome

Patients with McCune‐Albright Syndrome (MAS) should always attend regular follow‐up. Beside the endocrinological aspects, the screening must take into account osteoarticular complications such as scoliosis, even in patients without fibrous dysplasia.     

Covered stent grafts for relining of chronically occluded femoro‐popliteal bypasses in frail patients

In four high‐risk patients with chronically occluded femoro‐popliteal bypass suffering from Rutherford 4‐5 chronic limb threatening ischemia we performed, as an alternative for redo surgery, endovasculair relining with covered stent grafts. During follow‐up (3, 8, 14 and 20 months) one patient had redo percutaneous intervention and eventually below‐the‐knee amputation.     

Five‐year follow‐up report: Box lesion radiofrequency ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation under video‐assisted thoracoscope

We report the initial 5‐year follow‐up of a novel mini‐invasive procedure for epicardial ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The initial 5‐year survival rate is acceptable and comparable with that of hybrid ablation. And this shared procedure has the advantages of shorter operation time and less surgical trauma.     

A case of diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor in a 10‐year‐old boy: First report from Iran

A 10‐year‐old boy who was referred due to acute hydrocephalus symptoms was diagnosed as the first case of pediatric DLGNT in Iran. The results suggested that using shunting for hydrocephaly and anti‐seizure medicines, as well as chemotherapeutic agents, can be an effective treatment strategy for DLGNT. Although the patient was stable without a tumor recurrence for a limited follow‐up period of 22 months, further studies are expected.     

Atrio‐ventricular block and takotsubo syndrome: A review illustrated with two case reports

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) can be complicated by life‐threatening arrhythmias. Data on the association of AV‐block, pacemaker implantation, and TS are scarce. We describe two cases of AV‐block associated with TS. AV‐block persisted despite the recovery of left ventricular dysfunction during follow‐up. A review of AV‐block and TS association is provided.     

Radiation response of soft‐tissue extramedullary plasmacytoma in multiple myeloma—A case report

We report the case of a 79‐year‐old female patient previously treated for multiple myeloma that was referred to our hospital due to a growing painless right arm tumor. Imaging and pathology results confirmed the diagnosis of extramedullary plasmacytoma. The patient underwent external beam radiotherapy with complete clinical response at follow‐up.     

Disc‐like lesions in the intestinal tract after renal transplantation

We report a case of intestinal lesions in a patient with a history of lupus nephritis and renal transplantation. Biopsy revealed an EBV‐driven post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). An EBV‐driven PTLD is a major complication after renal transplantation and is an important differential diagnostic consideration in the follow‐up of renal transplant recipients.     

Cerebellar infarction as the initial presentation of IgG4‐related disease

Although IgG4‐RD has CNS manifestations, cerebellar involvement has only been reported in three cases. Our patient presented with cerebellar symptoms, several cerebellar infarcts were evident on the brain MRI, and CT abdomen revealed retroperitoneal tumor. Endoscopic biopsy confirmed IgG4‐RD. Steroids are the first‐line therapy for IgG4‐RD, but our patient was lost to follow‐up before treatment.     

Barraquer‐Simons syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report

Barraquer‐Simons syndrome is a rare entity characterized by progressive loss of subcutaneous tissue in the face and/or upper half of the body and can be associated with autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Close long‐term follow‐up is required to identify metabolic disturbances, potentially life‐threatening renal problems, and other associated diseases.     

Intra‐amniotic levothyroxine infusions in a case of fetal goiter due to novel Thyroglobulin gene variants

Indications and administration of intra‐amniotic infusions of L‐thyroxine in the context of non‐immune fetal hypothyroidism with goiter lack of standardization. Systematic follow‐up of clinical features related to thyroid hormonal homeostasis may be useful to evaluate their efficiency and develop standardized management guidelines.     

The “bud” of an aortic aneurysm

An overlooked “bud” of an aortic aneurysm on a chest radiography resulted in a saccular aortic aneurysm 9 years later. This eye‐catching image showed us the importance of not only documenting abnormalities in regular radiography but also further imaging evaluation for definitive diagnosis and continuous image follow‐up.     

Thrombus aspiration without stenting in a patient with anterior STEMI: Regression and healing of an unstable plaque assessed by OCT at 24 months of follow‐up

In selected cases, when STEMI caused by mild or moderate degree lesion with a large concomitant thrombus, additional OCT‐guided PCI strategy after thrombus removal allows us to defer stenting with the follow‐up natural healing of the vessel wall.