Insulinoma in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Insulinomas are rare tumors with an incidence of approximately four cases per million person-years. Nineteen cases of insulinoma during pregnancy have been reported. Hypoglycemic symptoms usually appear during the first trimester. A 28-year-old primigravida was admitted at 6 weeks of gestation after referral for uncontrolled seizures. Her previous seizure work-up included a normal EEG and a normal magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Elevated fasting insulin and C-peptide levels accompanied severe hypoglycemia. The patient was managed with glucose monitoring, frequent small meals, and rare doses of glucagon. Postpartum testing was consistent with insulinoma, and magnetic resonance imaging indicated a mass in the tail of the pancreas. During surgical exploration with intraoperative ultrasound, two insulinomas were removed from the tail of the pancreas. The hypoglycemic episodes resolved and the fasting glucose levels normalized. Insulinomas are rare in pregnancy and can be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may resolve during the second and third trimesters, possibly due to changes in glucose metabolism associated with pregnancy. Misdiagnosis has been fatal. Careful management during pregnancy and aggressive treatment after delivery are essential. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Family Physicians. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to describe the pathophysiology of an insulinoma, to list the potential tests used to make the diagnosis of insulinoma, and to outline potential treatment options for a patient with an insulinoma.     

双侧输卵管同时妊娠1例及文献复习

目的:探讨临床罕见病例——双侧输卵管妊娠的诊断及治疗方法。方法:通过病例报道和相关文献复习,对双侧输卵管妊娠的病因、诊断及治疗作一分析。结果:双侧输卵管妊娠发生率较低,容易漏诊,对患者造成不良影响甚大,早期诊断和治疗尤为重要。结论:辅助生殖技术(ART)为不孕症患者带来福音的同时,在一定程度上增加了异位妊娠(EP)的发生率,尤其是某些特殊类型的EP。对于可疑患者,超声和手术应仔细探查双侧附件的情况,以便早期发现和治疗。     

Immature teratoma in pregnancy: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: The management of a Stage I immature teratoma during pregnancy with a review of the literature is reported. CASE REPORT: A growing adnexal mass was removed at 12 weeks of gestation. Although the frozen section was negative, because of intraoperative clinical suspicion, a right salpingo-oophorectomy and surgical staging were performed. Histological examination revealed a Stage Ia, grade 1 immature ovarian teratoma. Appropriate surgical staging enabled avoidance of chemotherapy despite the unexpected histological diagnosis. The pregnancy was terminated because of fetal distress, with cesarean section at 34 weeks of gestation. At that time the peritoneal cavity was inspected and biopsies were taken as in second-look laparotomy. Two years after the first operation the patient remains disease free. CONCLUSION: For adnexal masses removed during pregnancy frozen section is useful but when there is clinical suspicion surgical staging must be performed.     

Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy: a case report and literature review

The thirty-third instance of pregnancy and Cushing's syndrome is presented and the literature is reviewed. There is a poor fetal prognosis without definitive treatment of Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy. Maternal complications are common with adrenal adenomas, 44% developing pulmonary edema and 100% developing hypertension. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are necessary.     

Myelomeningocele and pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

The improvement of antenatal management and surgical techniques has greatly increased the survival rate of infants with spina bifida. More of these women are reaching adulthood and reproductive age and therefore could become pregnant. Pregnancy complications depend on the kind of spina bifida and subject’s condition.We report a case of woman with a severe kyphoscoliosis, that progressively affects lung capacity until 32 weeks of gestation, when she underwent caesarean section.These patients deserve careful obstetric care, genetic counselling and urological, obstetric, neurological and anaesthetic management.     

Q Fever in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

Endemic occurrence of Q fever among persons in close contact with domestic animals is well known in some rural regions of Germany. The prevalence of antibodies indicating acute Q fever in pregnancy reported in the literature varies between 0.2 % and 4.7 % of the screened population. Q fever in pregnancy initially manifests as placentitis and often leads to premature birth (30 %), growth restriction (46 %), spontaneous abortion (22 %) or fetal death in utero (7 %). Some impairment of pregnancy is observed in over 70 % of cases with seroconversion during pregnancy. Thus Q fever serology should be tested in all pregnant women presenting with atypical pneumonia and/or prolonged fever of unknown etiology. It is of interest that medical staff members in contact with Cociella burnetii infected pregnant women are also at risk of acquiring an acute Q fever infection. We report about a patient presenting with confirmed acute and later chronic Q fever during pregnancy in whom antibiotic treatment with rifampicin and clarithromycin proved to be effective and led to the vaginal delivery of a premature but healthy infant. We believe that maternal serum screening for transmissible infections should also include Q fever serology in certain rural regions.     

Acute adrenal insufficiency during pregnancy and puerperium: case report and literature review.

Acute adrenal dysfunction during pregnancy is rare. Nevertheless, adrenal insufficiency can present as an adrenal crisis, and may be life threatening. There is a wide range of clinical symptoms and signs, and the differential diagnosis is challenging. A full adrenal and pituitary evaluation, both structural and hormonal, must be performed to reach the correct diagnosis, and appropriate treatment must not be delayed. A case is presented of acute adrenal insufficiency that occurred 24 hours after a cesarean delivery. The initial symptoms included hypoglycemic seizures and coma. The workup, both hormonal and structural, revealed isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency. This considers this case and reviews the differential diagnosis, diagnostic workup, and the treatment of adrenal dysfunction in pregnancy and the puerperium, as well as the obstetric outcome in women suffering from this disorder. TARGET AUDIENCE: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to understand the various presentations of hypopituitarism, the various etiologies of this condition, and the appropriate work up and management of a patient with hypopituitarism.     

Hyperlipidemic pancreatitis in pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

A case of pancreatitis associated with type I primary hyperlipoproteinemia in pregnancy is reported, with a review of the literature. There have been 11 cases of hyperlipidemic pancreatitis during pregnancy reported in the English literature since 1956. This case is the first report of adult respiratory distress syndrome complicating hyperlipidemic pancreatitis in pregnancy. Guidelines for prevention and management of this rare disorder are presented.     

Multiple myeloma and pregnancy: a case report and literature review

Purpose  

Multiple myeloma, a hematological malignancy generally affecting elderly people, was diagnosed at the beginning of the pregnancy of a 33-year-old woman. We carried out a literature review in order to evaluate the consequences of this cancer on pregnancy and of pregnancy on multiple myeloma, as to determine the specific follow-up required.     

Appendicitis in pregnancy: a case report and a review of the current literature

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical problem in pregnancy. Antibiotic treatment does not always improve the outcome and emergency intervention is required. We present a case of appendicitis complicated by a plastron formation occurring during pregnancy and the outcome.     

Acute urinary retention in pregnancy: a case presentation and review of the literature

Female acute urinary retention in pregnancy is a relatively uncommon condition. Its relatively low incidence and little published evidence base leads to inconsistent and often suboptimal management. The underlying cause of urinary retention must be diagnosed and treated. There is a lack of prospective trials of investigations and management. The following databases were searched: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE and SCOPUS.     

Polyarteritis nodosa in pregnancy: a case report and brief literature review

Patients who develop polyarteritis nodosa in pregnancy generally have a grim prognosis. A young nulliparous woman developed the disease and attained remission before becoming pregnant. Although she developed a recurrence, both mother and infant did well. It appears that if a patient becomes pregnant while in remission the chance of a successful pregnancy outcome is reasonable.     

Cushing's syndrome and pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

The association between pregnancy and Cushing syndrome is extremely rare. The diagnosis of Cushing syndrome during pregnancy is rendered difficult by hyperoestrogenic state that alters many of the classical tests. An early and precise diagnosis with adequate management will allow us to reduce maternal and fetal risks.     

妊娠晚期合并膈疝一例并文献复习

目的研究妊娠合并膈疝的临床特征及治疗策略。 方法回顾分析广州医学院第三附属医院收治的1例及文献报道的25例妊娠合并膈疝患者的临床表现、诊治方法及妊娠结局。 结果26例妊娠合并膈疝患者中,23例出现膈疝临床症状的时间为晚期妊娠阶段,3例在妊娠中期;25例行影像学检查并确诊,1例根据临床症状诊断。膈肌裂口位于右膈肌2例,位于左膈肌15例,4例位于膈肌中心腱。22例患者因及时诊断、采取有效的处理措施而母子平安,1例因术后毒血症抢救无效导致母亲死亡,1例因孕妇短时间内行2次膈疝修补术而导致胎死宫内,2例因就诊时间较晚或未能及时明确诊断延误治疗而导致母婴死亡。 结论妊娠合并膈疝及时而准确的诊断和治疗需多学科合作,严密观察患者病情变化,可获得良好的妊娠结局。