Case report: inferior vena cava agenesia in a young male patient presenting with bilateral iliac veins thrombosis

IntroductionAnomalies in inferior vena cava represent an uncommon finding with a prevalence of 0. 3 to 0.5% among healthy patients. Specifically, the condition characterized by the agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC; AIVC) has been observed among the 0.0005 to 1% of the general population. AIVC is strongly related to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb and pelvic district, especially in young patients. The rarity of the presented condition could relate to an underestimation of its impact on a particular clinical setting leading to a delayed diagnosis and inaccurate early- and long-term management. ReportWe presented a case of this anomaly regarding a 31-year-old man presenting with bilateral symptomatic proximal DVT. Duplex vascular ultrasound and subsequent CT-angiography revealed the complete occlusion of the right external and common iliac vein, as well as partial occlusion of the contralateral external iliac vein, in the patient. The exam also revealed the interruption of IVC in its infrarenal part. At the level of renal veins coalescence, IVC appeared again in its usual position. A dilatated portal system, hepatic veins, and azygos and hemiazygos systems were also highlighted. Anticoagulation was promptly started with the administration of Fondaparinux (7.5 mg/die). In addition, compression stocking was initiated within 24 h from diagnosis. After 3 weeks, the anticoagulation regimen was shifted toward the administration of a direct oral anticoagulant (Apixaban; 5 mg two times a day). At 1-month follow-up, a vascular duplex ultrasound revealed a complete resolution of the iliac veins' thrombosis. ConclusionIt is important to consider the eventuality of IVC anomalies in a young adult presenting with unexplained, extensive, or bilateral DVT. Accurate diagnostic evaluation is necessary to fully identify this condition that could represent a real challenge

Comparison and combination of a hemodynamics/biomarkers-based model with simplified PESI score for prognostic stratification of acute pulmonary embolism: findings from a real world study

Background: Prognostic stratification is of utmost importance for management of acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in clinical practice. Many prognostic models have been proposed, but which is the best prognosticator in real life remains unclear. The aim of our study was to compare and combine the predictive values of the hemodynamics/biomarkers based prognostic model proposed by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in 2008 and simplified PESI score (sPESI).Methods: Data records of 452 patients discharged for acute PE from Internal Medicine wards of Tuscany (Italy) were analysed. The ESC model and sPESI were retrospectively calculated and compared by using Areas under Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Curves (AUCs) and finally the combination of the two models was tested in hemodinamically stable patients. All cause and PE-related in-hospital mortality and fatal or major bleedings were the analyzed endpointsResults: All cause in-hospital mortality was 25% (16.6% PE related) in high risk, 8.7% (4.7%) in intermediate risk and 3.8% (1.2%) in low risk patients according to ESC model. All cause in-hospital mortality was 10.95% (5.75% PE related) in patients with sPESI score ≥1 and 0% (0%) in sPESI score 0. Predictive performance of sPESI was not significantly different compared with 2008 ESC model both for all cause (AUC sPESI 0.711, 95% CI: 0.661-0.758 versus ESC 0.619, 95% CI: 0.567-0.670, difference between AUCs 0.0916, p=0.084) and for PE-related mortality (AUC sPESI 0.764, 95% CI: 0.717-0.808 versus ESC 0.650, 95% CI: 0.598-0.700, difference between AUCs 0.114, p=0.11). Fatal or major bleedings occurred in 4.30% of high risk, 1.60% of intermediate risk and 2.50% of low risk patients according to 2008 ESC model, whereas these occurred in 1.80% of high risk and 1.45% of low risk patients according to sPESI, respectively. Predictive performance for fatal or major bleeding between two models was not significantly different (AUC sPESI 0.658, 95% CI: 0.606-0.707 versus ESC 0.512, 95% CI: 0.459-0.565, difference between AUCs 0.145, p=0.34). In hemodynamically stable patients, the combined endpoint in-hospital PE-related mortality and/or fatal or major bleeding (adverse events) occurred in 0% of patients with low risk ESC model and sPESI score 0, whilst it occurred in 5.5% of patients with low-risk ESC model but sPESI ≥1. In intermediate risk patients according to ESC model, adverse events occurred in 3.6% of patients with sPESI score 0 and 6.65% of patients with sPESI score ≥1.Conclusions: In real world, predictive performance of sPESI and the hemodynamic/biomarkers-based ESC model as prognosticator of in-hospital mortality and bleedings is similar. Combination of sPESI 0 with low risk ESC model may identify patients with very low risk of adverse events and candidate for early hospital discharge or home treatment.

Pesquisa do linfonodo sentinela em pacientes com melanoma: experiência com fitato marcado com Tecnécio-99m e revisão da literatura The role of sentinel node mapping in malignant melanoma: experience with 99mTc-phytate and a review of the literature

FUNDAMENTOS: A progressão linfática do melanoma maligno habitualmente se inicia pelo linfonodo sentinela (LNS), cuja análise histopatológica permite predizer o acometimento de toda a cadeia. OBJETIVO: O trabalho tem por objetivo descrever a utilização do 99mTc-Fitato na detecção do LNS em pacientes com melanoma maligno, revisando as indicações e informações fornecidas por sua biópsia. MÉTODO: A pesquisa de LNS foi realizada por meio da linfocintilografia com 99mTc-Fitato em 92 pacientes com melanoma (54,0±14,3 anos). Após 18-24 horas, 88 pacientes foram submetidos à localização intra-operatória com detector portátil, seguida da ressecção e análise histopatológica do LNS. RESULTADOS: A linfocintilografia permitiu a identificação do LNS em todos os estudos, havendo detecção intra-operatória em 98,8% dos casos. O LNS estava acometido em 23 pacientes (26%). O valor preditivo negativo foi de 100% e não se observaram reações adversas pelo uso do 99mTc-Fitato. CONCLUSÃO: A detecção do LNS pode ser realizada com diferentes radiofármacos, incluindo o 99mTc-Fitato, que apresenta vantagens de custo e disponibilidade no Brasil. A pesquisa de LNS resulta em maior acurácia e menor morbidade no estadiamento de pacientes com melanoma maligno<br>BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN), corresponding to the first lymph node draining the tumor, is usually the first one to receive its metastasis, and its biopsy is used to define the status of the whole lymphatic basin. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to describe the use 99mTc-Fitato in SLN localization in malignant melanoma patients, and to review the main indications and information provided by SLN biopsy. METHOD: A total of 92 patients with malignant melanoma was studied. Lymph node scintigraphy was carried out after the subdermal injection of 99mTc-Phytate. After 18-24 hours, intra-operative SLN localization was carried out using the gamma-probe and lymph node dissection was then performed. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy identified the sentinel node in all studies and intra-operative detection using gamma-probe was reached in 98.8% of the cases. The SLN was involved in 23 patients (26%). The method's negative predictive value was 100%, and there were no side effects related to 99mTc-Phytate. CONCLUSION: Scintigraphic and intra-operative sentinel node detection was satisfactorily performed using 99mTc-Phytate, an easily available and low cost radiopharmaceutical. SLN mapping allows the use of more accurate tumor staging techniques and reduces surgical morbidity

Comparison and combination of a hemodynamics/biomarkers-based model with simplified PESI score for prognostic stratification of acute pulmonary embolism: findings from a real world study

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Clinicopathologic Features of Incident and Subsequent Tumors in Patients with Multiple Primary Cutaneous Melanomas

BACKGROUND: 0.6–12.7% of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma will develop additional melanomas. Pathologic features of tumors in patients with multiple primary cutaneous melanomas have not been well described. In this large international multi-center case-control study, we compared the clinicopathologic features of a subsequent melanoma with the preceding (usually the first) melanoma in patients with multiple primary cutaneous melanomas, and with those of melanomas in patients with single primary cutaneous melanomas. METHODS: Multiple primary melanoma (cases) and single primary invasive melanoma (controls) patients from the Genes, Environment and Melanoma (GEM) study were included if their tumors were available for pathologic review and confirmed as melanoma. Clinicopathologic characteristics of invasive subsequent and first melanomas in cases and invasive single melanomas in controls were compared. RESULTS: 473 pairs comprising a subsequent and a first melanoma and 1989 single melanomas were reviewed. Forward stepwise regression modeling in 395 pairs with complete data showed that, compared to first melanomas, subsequent melanomas were: more commonly contiguous with a dysplastic nevus; more prevalent on the head/neck and legs than other sites; and thinner. Compared with single primary melanomas, subsequent melanomas were also more likely to be: associated with a contiguous dysplastic nevus; more prevalent on the head/neck and legs; and thinner. The same differences were observed when subsequent melanomas were compared with single melanomas. First melanomas were more likely than single melanomas to have associated solar elastosis and no observed mitoses. CONCLUSIONS: Thinner subsequent than first melanomas suggest earlier diagnosis, perhaps due to closer clinical scrutiny. The association of subsequent melanomas with dysplastic nevi is consistent with the latter being risk factors or risk markers for melanoma