A rare disappearing right atrial mass

Cardiac tuberculosis is rare and usually involves the pericardium. Myocardial tuberculoma is a very rare occurrence and only a few cases have been reported. We describe a rare case of cardiac tuberculoma involving the whole of the lateral right atrial wall, extending from the superior vena cava/right atrial junction up to a tricuspid valve. The initial diagnosis of right atrial myxoma was made based on the echocardiography report and surgical excision was planned. Intraoperatively, the excision of the mass was deferred due to the extensive nature of the disease and a high suspicion of malignancy. Cardiac tuberculoma was confirmed by histopathological examination. The patient made a remarkable recovery with the complete disappearance of the mass after anti-tuberculous treatment, as viewed by a postoperative echocardiography during the follow-up.     

Efficacy of biliary scintigraphy in suspected sphincter of oddi dysfunction

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) can pose diagnostic challenges for the physician. SOD is classified into types I, II, and III, but clinical outcome after sphincterotomy for suspected types II and III SOD has been unpredictable. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of types II and III SOD is important because of the increased risk of sphincterotomy in patients with SOD. Endoscopic sphincter of Oddi manometry (ESOM) is the gold standard for diagnosis of SOD; however, it is associated with significant morbidity and is not an appropriate screening test. Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) has demonstrated good sensitivity as a screening test for SOD in patients following cholecystectomy; however, studies using this methodology are criticized for poor design and patient selection. Recent publications address these criticisms and provide evidence that QHBS and ESOM are comparable diagnostic tools after exclusion of organic biliary obstruction. QHBS can effectively replace invasive ESOM in the diagnostic algorithm of SOD.     

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis following autologous stem cell transplantation

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare angio-destructive lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) of uncertain etiology, with prominent pulmonary involvement. Recent studies indicate that LYG is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell LPD with large numbers of background reactive T lymphocytes (T cell-rich B cell lymphoma). Although the disease frequently, but not exclusively, occurs in various immunodeficiency states, it has not been reported in association with the transient immunosuppression following autologous bone marrow/peripheral stem cell transplantation (ABM/PSCT). We describe a patient who developed lymphomatoid granulomatosis of the lung approximately 2 weeks after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. Although molecular studies showed no evidence of EBV genome in the biopsy material, the serologic profile with high IgM titers was suggestive of primary EBV infection. Complete radiologic remission occurred following reconstitution of the patient's immune response after a 2-week course of ganciclovir treatment. Despite the apparently low frequency of LPD (both LYG and EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoma) in the ABMT setting, we believe that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients whose clinical course following ABMT is complicated by fevers, in the absence of an identifiable infectious process.     

Transferring AAC intervention to the home

Purpose: To evaluate the acquisition of AAC skills during an initial clinical trial and assess subsequent transfer of the training to the home setting. Method: A 12-year-old male with autism was first seen in a clinical setting to establish the use of a voice-output communication device. After learning to use the device to request access to preferred objects in the clinical trial, the intervention was transferred to the home. Follow-up with the parent was conducted via e-mail and telephone. Videotapes were made of initial home-based sessions to enable evaluation of the participant's progress. Results: The programme was successful in teaching the participant to use a portable AAC device to make requests during the clinical trial and then in two home-based activities. Conclusion: An initial clinical trial with follow-up support for parents may be an efficient method for beginning AAC intervention and transferring the training procedures to the home setting.     

Hemopericardium resulting from attempted internal jugular vein catheterization: A case report and review of complications of central venous catheterization

An unusual case of hemopericardium and presumed fatal cardiac tamponade complicating attempted right internal jugular vein catheterization by the posterior approach is reported. Reports of complications in a series of internal jugular vein catheterizations using various approaches (posterior, central, anterior, supraclavicular) and subclavian vein catheterizations are reviewed. Internal jugular vein catheterization is not necessarily safer than subclavian vein catheterization: numerous factors determine success rate and complication rate in central venous catheterizations.     

Intensive combination chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation leads to the reappearance of Philadelphia chromosome-negative cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Fifteen patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who were ineligible for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or alpha-interferon therapy were included in this study. Eight patients were in the first late chronic phase, five were in the second chronic phase, one was in the accelerated phase, and one was in the blastic phase. Autologous bone marrow cells (median, 2.5 x 10(8) nucleated cells/kg) were stored at a median of 30 months after diagnosis. Patients were treated with cyclophosphamide (1.5 g/m2 daily for 4 days), carmustine (BCNU) (300 mg/m2), and etoposide (VP-16) (250 mg/m2 daily for 3 days) (CBV), followed by reinfusion of autologous bone marrow. Hematopoietic recovery was rapid, and toxicity was mild to moderate in 14 patients. One patient died of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis. Eight of 15 patients showed Ph suppression to less than 90% Ph-positive metaphases after autologous BMT. Major cytogenetic responses (Ph suppression to less than 35% Ph-positive metaphases) developed in four patients. Cytogenetic responses were observed in 4 of 11 patients infused with 100% Ph-positive marrows, and in all 4 patients infused with Ph-mosaic marrows (mixture of diploid and Ph-positive cells). Better results were observed when autologous BMT was performed in the chronic phase compared with the advanced phases. The major cytogenetic responses have lasted for 3, 4, 12, and 15+ months, whereas minor cytogenetic responses lasted for only a short time (less than 2 months). Three of seven patients (43%) in the chronic phase with previous resistance to alpha-interferon therapy became sensitive to alpha-interferon therapy after autologous BMT. The authors concluded that intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous BMT produced cytogenetic remissions in patients with Ph-positive CML and reinduced disease sensitivity to alpha-interferon therapy in patients previously resistant to it. This is particularly useful when treatment is given during the chronic phase and stem cells are collected at a time of previous cytogenetic remission.     

Immune hemolytic anemia associated with tolmetin and suprofen

This article reports the first case of immune hemolytic anemia possibly associated with the ingestion of suprofen. The patient suffered from massive hemoglobinuria and acute renal failure. Serologic studies of the patient's serum revealed suprofen-dependent red cell antibodies. However, tolmetin-dependent antibodies were also found in the serum, showing the same properties as the suprofen antibodies and an even higher titer. The patient not only had drug-dependent antibodies in the serum, but also had developed autoantibodies, a phenomenon that has been described for several other drugs. The working mechanism by which suprofen and tolmetin caused immune hemolysis had properties of both the immune complex model and the induction of autoimmunity. Although it was unclear whether the immune hemolytic anemia was the result of suprofen, tolmetin, or cross-reacting antibodies, we feel that suprofen should be added to the list of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs associated with a positive direct antiglobulin test.