Metastatic gallbladder adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells: A case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Signet-ring cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive variant of mucinous adenocarcinoma. Only a few cases of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells have been reported and because of this there is a lack of knowledge about the behavior and biology of this pathology.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 63-year-old Arab man with gallbladder signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma. He had an elective cholecystectomy and refused chemotherapy. Two months later, a small hepatic metastatic nodule was found, and nine months later he presented with multiple metastases in the liver, lymphatic nodes, both pleuras, peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proliferation of signet-ring cells in a gallbladder adenocarcinoma worsens the prognosis of an already adverse neoplasm. New lines of treatment in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, or new biological therapy, such as monoclonal antibody c-myc oncogene, should be encouraged to improve the survival and life quality of these oncologic patients.</p

EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma Mimicking a Pneumonia

PET-CT scan has demonstrated to be very effective in lung cancer diagnosis and staging, but lung cancer has multiple ways of presentation, which can lead to an error in diagnosis imaging and a delay on the beginning of specific treatment. We present a case of a 77-year-old man with an initial PET-CT scan showing high 18F-FDG intake, suggesting a bilateral pneumonia, who was finally diagnosed of an EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR-activating mutation allowed us to start treatment with the oral tyrosin kinase inhibitor Gefitinib, obtaining a rapid and sustained response. Histological confirmation of imaging findings is always necessary to avoid diagnostic errors

Case report on a patient with steinert disease complicated by COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 infection is predominantly a respiratory disease with a diverse clinical spectrum. Pulmonary thromboembolic complications during COVID-19 pneumonia may be associated with a high mortality rate and post-mortem findings confirm the presence of platelet-fibrin thrombi in arterial vessels of patients together with lung tissue alterations. We present a patient transferred to the emergency department due to a syncope with no other associated symptoms, who was diagnosed with an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) concomitant with SARS-CoV-2 infection without lung infiltrates. Presenting with a PE as the only manifestation of this infection, reinforces our conception of COVID-19 as a heterogeneous disease of which we still know very little. We believe that while the virus is still circulating in our environment, we need to consider ruling out COVID-19 in all thrombotic events, even if the patients have no other risk factors

Successfully non-surgical management of flail chest as first manifestation of multiple myeloma: a case report

Background: Multiple myeloma is a malignant neoplasm of the bone marrow characterized by neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells with a high relationship with destructive bone disease. We present a case of a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma and sternal fracture in association with multiple bilateral rib fractures and thoracic kyphosis, who developed a severe acute respiratory failure, thus complicating the initial presentation of multiple myeloma. We discuss the therapeutic implications of this uncommon presentation. Case summary: A 56-year-old man presented to Hematological Department after he had been experiencing worsening back pain over the last five months, with easy fatigability and progressive weight loss. He had no history of previous trauma. The chemical blood tests were compatible with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A radiographic bone survey of all major bones revealed, in addition to multiple bilateral rib fractures, a sternal fracture and compression fracture at T9, T10, T11 and L1 vertebrae. Subcutaneous fat biopsy was positive for amyloid. We started treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone. After 24 h of treatment, he presented dyspnea secondary to flail chest. He required urgent intubation and ventilatory support being transferred to intensive care unit for further management. The patient remained connected to mechanical ventilation (positive pressure) as treatment which stabilized the thorax. A second cycle of bortezomib plus dexamethasone was started and analgesia was optimized. The condition of the patient improved, as evidenced by callus formation on successive computed tomography scans. The patient was taken off the ventilator one month later, and he was extubated successfully, being able to breathe unaided without paradoxical motion. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of combination between bortezomib and dexamethasone to induce remission of multiple myeloma and the initiation of positive airway pressure with mechanical ventilation to stabilize chest wall to solve the respiratory failure. This combined approach allowed to obtain a quick and complete resolution of the clinical situation

Sickle Cell Anemia and Functioning Splenic Tissue: Correlation of Scintigraphic Findings and CT

We report the case of a 16-year-old girl from Central Africa who was hospitalized with an acute vasoclusive crisis and lumbar pain. She had a medical history of malaria at 6 years of age, yellow fever at 14, sickle cell disease at 2, and hepatopathy by hepatitis C virus. Splenic ultrasound revealed splenic enlargement with multiple hypoechogenicity intrasplenic masses of. A standard whole-body CT showed a moderate splenomegaly with splenic nodular masses with high density that suggested splenomas. Technetium-99m heat-damaged red blood cells showed multiple focal rounded masses with radiotracer activity indicating functioning intrasplenic tissue and regenerating nodules, whereas the rest of the parenchyma was nonfunctioning