Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma with associated spinal cord compression

Metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare occurrence in the United States. The prognosis is poor, with a survival time of months from the time of diagnosis. This article reports a case of myelopathy that developed from metastases in a patient with no significant medical history. The patient was treated with decompressive laminectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. A review of the literature demonstrated that most cases from hepatocellular carcinoma metastasizing to the spinal cord involve either the thoracic or lumbar levels and arise from the right liver lobe or both lobes. Major risk factors included positive hepatitis B virus serologies. This article also discusses current trends in management of epidural spinal cord compression. Although treatment with chemotherapy has not shown any benefit, surgical management has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in some patients.     

A20 (TNFAIP3) genetic alterations in EBV-associated AIDS-related lymphoma

A20, a negative regulator of NF-κB, has been implicated as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple types of B-cell lymphoma. AIDS-related lymphomas (ARLs) are high-grade B-cell lymphomas that are frequently associated with EBV infection. We examined a panel of ARLs for A20 alterations. FISH showed A20 deletion in 6 of 33 cases (18%). A20 mutations were found in 3 of 19 cases (16%), including 2 cases with deletions of the comple-mentary allele. Immunohistochemistry showed the absence of A20 protein in 7 of 55 samples (13%). In contrast to reports in Hodgkin lymphoma in which EBV infection and A20 alteration are mutually exclusive, A20 inactivation was observed in both EBV(+) and EBV(-) cases. The EBV latent membrane protein 1, which activates NF-κB, was not expressed in 12 of 13 cases with A20 loss. In ARLs loss of A20 may be an alternative mechanism of NF-κB activation in the absence of latent membrane protein 1 expression.     

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in a fatal case of Salmonella typhi-associated encephalopathy: a case report and literature review

We describe MRI findings in a fatal case of culture proven Salmonella typhi-associated encephalopathy. MRI findings included symmetrical diffuse abnormal signal in centrum semiovale, periventricular and deep white matter, splenium of corpus callosum and cerebellar deep white matter with central area of restricted diffusion. There was no contrast enhancement, significant edema or mass effect. Previous literature is also reviewed for imaging findings in Salmonella associated encephalopathy.     

Covered coronary stent grafts as a treatment option for carotid-cavernous fistulas: our initial experience

Treatment of Type 1 carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) is complex and endovascular stent grafting is proving to be an excellent technique not only in successful treatment of fistula but also preserving patency of parent artery. We describe our initial experience in the use of covered coronary stent grafts in the treatment of three patients with Type 1 post-traumatic CCF. All patients were successfully treated with placement of stent grafts. Immediate closure of fistula was achieved in all the three patients. One patient developed partial in-stent thrombosis. In this patient antiplatelet therapy had to be stopped as he developed a small intracerebral hematoma post procedure. Subsequently, he was restarted on antiplatelets and recovered completely. Except for this no other complication was observed. Covered stent grafts may be the procedure of choice for treatment of post-traumatic Type 1 CCF especially in young patients with favorable anatomy.     

When non-epileptic seizures fool the experts

Even when non-epileptic seizures are correctly diagnosed, appropriate treatment recommendations may not be fully or correctly implemented. We present a case of a 17-year-old girl with frequent non-epileptic seizures who presented for frequent trips to the emergency room (ER) and was admitted to an inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Facility. Despite being informed that episodes were non-epileptic seizures, various staff and healthcare providers at the psychiatric hospital continued to send the patient to the ER to treat suspected epileptic seizures. We discuss possible reasons why this may have occurred, including psychosocial and emotional reactions of staff members to the episodes. This discussion may also help to explain the persistence of the patient's episodes. We also present options for minimizing the potential for future mismanagement of non-epileptic seizures.