Intraoperative diagnosis of retroperitoneal paraganglioma in abdominal mass: case report

Study design: case report; Relevance of the Problem: we herein report the case of a 40-year-old male patient, presented with pain in the left lumbar region for six months, with no palpable masses in the region and no retroperitoneal masses detected upon abdominal ultrasonography. The diagnostic investigation revealed, through Computed Tomography scans of the abdomen, an image of retroperitoneal lesion attached medially to the aorta artery, with the presumed diagnosis of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma and, consequently, indication for surgical treatment. During the intraoperative period, the patient presented adrenergic symptoms, which ceased after complete resection of the lesion and ligation of part of the tumor adhesions to the retroperitoneum. The biopsy revealed a Retroperitoneal Paraganglioma. The aforementioned case study illustrates the importance of including Paraganglioma as a differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumors, given its rarity, difficult diagnosis, and clinical importance. Comments: Paragangliomas, often called extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, are rare, mostly benign, catecholamine-producing tumors originating from Autonomic Nervous System and neural crest cells1. The classic symptoms of these tumors, due to secretory capacity, include palpitations, headaches, and diaphoresis, associated with Arterial Hypertension (AHT).Modelo do estudo: relato de caso; Importância do Problema: O presente relato de caso tem como objetivo relatar o caso de paciente do sexo masculino, 40 anos, com quadro de dor em região lombar esquerda há seis meses, sem massas palpáveis e sem achados de massas retroperitoneais à Ultrassonografia de abdome. A investigação diagnóstica constatou, através de Tomografia Computadorizada de abdome, imagem de lesão retroperitoneal acoplada medialmente à artéria aorta, com suposto diagnóstico de Sarcoma Retroperitoneal e, por conseguinte, indicação de tratamento cirúrgico. Durante o período intraoperatório, o paciente apresentou sintomas adrenérgicos, que cessaram após a ressecção completa da lesão e ligadura de parte das aderências do tumor ao retroperitônio. A biópsia evidenciou se tratar de um Paraganglioma Retroperitoneal. A partir do estudo de caso supracitado, é possível perceber a importância de incluir o Paraganglioma como diagnóstico diferencial de tumores retroperitoneais, em consequência de sua raridade, difícil diagnóstico e importância clínica. Comentários: Os Paragangliomas, frequentemente chamados de feocromocitomas extra-adrenais, são tumores raros, na sua maioria benignos, produtores de catecolaminas, com origem em células provenientes do Sistema Nervoso Autônomo e das células da crista neural.1 A sintomatologia clássica desses tumores, em função da capacidade secretora, inclui palpitações, cefaleias e diaforese, associados a Hipertensão Arterial (HTA)

A cross-sectional study to compare levels of psychiatric morbidity between young people and adults exposed to violence in a large urban center

Background Teenagers and young adults are more exposed to violence and traumatic events than adults, and these factors can be associated with mental disorders. This paper aims at investigating whether young people are more exposed to violence and traumatic events and to compare pattern of mental disorders with adults. Methods Cross-sectional study using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, conducted between 2007 and 2008 with a randomly selected sample of 15 to 75 year-old residents of São Paulo, Brazil. Results Two thousand five hundred thirty-six participants were divided into two groups: 1096 (43.2 %) young people (15 to 24 years), and 1440 (56.8 %) adults (25 to 75 years). 12-month exposure to traumatic events was higher among young people (32.1 % vs. 20.6 %; p < 0.001). Assaultive violence was reported by 13.4 % of young people and 8.6 % of adults (p = 0.012); 20.1 % of young people and 13 % of adults reported suffering other injury or shocking events (p < 0.001); sudden death/life threatening illness of a close person was declared by 6.1 % of young people and 3.2 % of adults (p = 0.017). Prevalence of alcohol related disorders was higher among young people (5.4 % vs. 2.5 %; P = 0.032); depressive disorders were more prevalent among adults (9.0 % vs. 4.7 %; P = 0.004). Alcohol related disorders were associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR = 3.4; 95 % CI = 1.36 to 8.52; p = 0.004) and adults (OR = 2.38; 95 % CI = 1.23 to 4.61; p = 0.002). Phobic/anxiety disorders were associated to other injury or shocking events among young people (OR = 1.28; 95 % CI = 0.67 to 2.44; p = 0.025). Major depressive disorder was associated to assaultive violence among young people (OR = 2.27; 95 % CI = 1.09 to 4.74; p = 0.004) and adults (OR = 1.28; 95 % CI = 0.85 to 1.93; p = 0.009). Conclusion Exposure to violence and traumatic events was higher among young people. Alcohol related disorders, depression and phobic/anxiety disorders were significantly higher among young people exposed to traumatic events. Despite the study design, high exposure to violence and traumatic events in this age group can be considered important factors in triggering mental disorders in this vulnerable age period

ERICA: patterns of alcohol consumption in Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE To describe the patterns of alcohol consumption in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We investigated adolescents who participated in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). This is a cross-sectional, national and school-based study, which surveyed adolescents of 1,247 schools from 124 Brazilian municipalities. Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire with a section on alcoholic beverages consumption. Measures of relative frequency (prevalence), and their 95% confidence intervals, were estimated for the following variables: use of alcohol beverages in the last 30 days, frequency of use, number of glasses or doses consumed in the period, age of the first use of alcohol, and most consumed type of drink. Data were estimated for country and macro-region, sex, and age group. The module survey of the Stata program was used for data analysis of complex sample. RESULTS We evaluated 74,589 adolescents, who accounted for 72.9% of eligible students. About 1/5 of adolescents consumed alcohol at least once in the last 30 days and about 2/3 in one or two occasions during this period. Among the adolescents who consumed alcoholic beverages, 24.1% drank it for the first time before being 12 years old, and the most common type of alcoholic beverages consumed by them were drinks based on vodka, rum or tequila, and beer. CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of alcohol consumption among adolescents, as well as their early onset of alcohol use. We also identified a possible change in the preferred type of alcoholic beverages compared with previous research.OBJETIVO Descrever padrões de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas em adolescentes brasileiros. MÉTODOS Foram investigados adolescentes participantes do Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA). Trata-se de estudo transversal, multicêntrico, nacional e de base escolar, que avaliou adolescentes de 1.247 escolas em 124 municípios brasileiros. Os participantes responderam questionário autoaplicável que incluía seção sobre consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. Foram calculadas medidas de frequência relativa (prevalências) e respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% para as seguintes variáveis: uso de bebidas alcoólicas nos últimos 30 dias, frequência de uso, número de copos ou doses consumidas no período, idade com que bebeu pela primeira vez e tipo de bebida mais consumido. Os dados foram estimados para o País e por macrorregião, sexo e grupo etário. Utilizou-se o módulo surveydo programa Stata para análise de dados de amostra complexa. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 74.589 adolescentes, que representaram 72,9% dos alunos elegíveis. Cerca de 1/5 dos adolescentes consumiram bebidas alcoólicas pelo menos uma vez nos últimos 30 dias e, desses, aproximadamente 2/3 o fizeram em uma ou duas ocasiões no período. Entre os adolescentes que consumiam bebidas alcoólicas, 24,1% beberam pela primeira vez antes de 12 anos de idade, e os tipos de bebidas alcoólicas mais consumidas pelos adolescentes foram os drinques à base de vodca, rum ou tequila e a cerveja. CONCLUSÕES Observou-se prevalência elevada de uso de álcool por adolescentes, assim como um início precoce. Identificou-se ainda uma possível mudança do tipo de bebida de preferência em comparação com investigações anteriores

Current practices in managing acutely disturbed patients at three hospitals in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil: a prevalence study

BACKGROUND: The medical management of aggressive and violent behaviour is a critical situation for which there is little evidence. In order to prepare for a randomised trial, due to start in the psychiatric emergency rooms of Rio de Janeiro in 2001, a survey of current practice was necessary. METHODS: A seven day survey of pharmacological management of aggressive people with psychosis in the emergency rooms of all four public psychiatric hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. RESULTS: In one hospital data were not available. Of the 764 people with psychosis attending these ERs, 74 were given IM medication for rapid tranquillisation (9.7%, 2.1/week/100,000). A haloperidol-promethazine mix (with or without other drugs) was used for the majority of patients (83%). CONCLUSION: The haloperidol-promethazine mix, given intramuscularly for rapid tranquilization, is prevalent in Rio, where it is considered both safe and efficient. However, scientific evaluation of all pharmacological approaches to rapid tranquilization of psychotic people is inadequate or incomplete and a randomized trial of IM haloperidol-promethazine is overdue