Diagnosis and current treatment of neurological paraneoplastic syndromes

Neurological paraneoplastic syndromes (NPS) affect only 0.01% of cancer patients, chiefly those affected by lung, breast, ovarian and stomach cancer: They frequently cause major disability and produce limitations in patients' daily activities; the character of the disease is irreversible. Clinical suspicion is fundamental for an early diagnosis and it must be backed up by the specification of certain antibodies both present in blood and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Conventional treatments are very inefficient at the time of treating these disorders; at present, the administration of immunoglobulins, immunosuppressors, chemotherapy agents and corticoids are under study, but so far results are not promising. The aim of this review is to analyze the variety of NPS and describe the findings concerning autoimmunity and treatments used at present. 0303 02     

Vagal chemodectoma with atypical cells. Case report

We report a clinical case of vagal chemodectoma with cell atypies, which was presented as slowly growing neck mass without any other symptoms. At the beginning and due to the histologic report of the needle biopsy, which morphologic study based on cellular atypia was misinterpreted as a malignant tumor and with the images obtained by computed tomography (CT) suggesting a malignant neoplasia, we proceeded to approach the case as a metastatic tumor of unknown origin. We made a revision of the epidemiologic factors, and diagnostic and therapeutic management of this type of growths.     

Microcytic carcinoma of the nose cavity. A case report

Tumors of the nasal cavity and sinuses are rather infrequent, being squamous carcinoma the predominant type, which accounts for the 80 percent of the totality of them. Maxillary sinus is the most affected, followed by nose cavity. Half of cases are originated on turbinates. We present the clinical case of a woman patient diagnosed of microcytic carcinoma of the right nasal cavity originated at the level of middle turbinate. The mass filled the width of the fossa getting in touch with the nasal septum, without encroaching it. According its extent the tumor was classified as T2, N0, M0 and treated with radiotherapy only. Microcytic carcinoma is an exceptional histological type in nasal cavity and next to its numeric meagerness in this location makes this case a very peculiar one.     

Relationship between clinical and biologic variables and chloramphenicol pharmacokinetic parameters in pediatric patients with sepsis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of several clinical and biologic factors on the disposition kinetics of oral chloramphenicol in pediatric patients and to determine the usefulness of this information to predict chloramphenicol serum concentrations. STUDY DESIGN: The clinical, biologic, and pharmacokinetic data of 30 consecutive pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis and admitted to a tertiary care center were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were randomly assigned to a study group and a validation group. The model was developed by a three-step approach involving Bayesian estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters, selection of covariates by principal component analysis, and final selection by stepwise multiple linear regression. The model was tested in the study group and compared with a general population model using a prediction error analysis. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that weight, albumin, and white blood cell (WBC) count were the most important determinants for chloramphenicol distribution volume, whereas age, WBC count, and serum creatinine were the most important determinants for chloramphenicol clearance. The performance of the constructed population model improved significantly in terms of both bias and precision compared with the general model when tested in the validation group. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and biologic factors may significantly influence chloramphenicol's disposition in pediatric patients with sepsis and therefore should be considered in programming dosage regimens.     

Multiple bone lesions resembling a metastatic origin. An unexpected diagnosis

Lytic and blastic lesions have been associated to malignant tumours, such as solid cancer (breast cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer, malignant melanoma or thyroid tumours). Although a mixed pattern with lytic and blastic lesions is due to metastatic tumour, this is not the only possible origin. The following case shows a systematic. This case report shows the number of tests that were made in order to discover the origin of osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions and it is notable that there is not an occult neoplasia on every occasion.     

Hydrocephalus and Chiari type 1 malformation in macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: a case-based update

Background  

Macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (M-CMTC) is a newly described condition characterized by macrocephaly (megalencephaly), cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita, macrosomia and/or asymmetric growth, central nervous system abnormalities and neurological manifestations.