Chondroblastoma of the vertebra is a very rare condition. To our knowledge fewer than 20 cases have been reported in the world literature. We report a 54-year-old man with chondroblastoma of the fifth lumbar vertebra. The clinical and radiological aspects of the tumor are discussed, emphasizing the presence of an extraosseous mass suggestive of locally aggressive behavior.
A spontaneous rupture of the spleen is a rare but critical diagnosis of an acute abdomen, which may accompany unspecific symptoms mimicking acute pancreatitis, rupture of aortic aneurism, or acute coronary syndrome, delaying diagnosis and treatment. In patients that have experienced a severe spleen rupture, hypovolemic shock may cause catastrophic clinical outcomes. Therefore, early diagnosis is very important in order for physicians to declare the etiology for prevention and timely correction of the shock status. Several causes of spontaneous splenic rupture have been reported, including infection, vasculitis, pancreatitis, or hematological malignancies. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains a rare but important cause of non-traumatic splenic rupture that physicians are required to assess for. Here, we describe a case presenting an acute abdomen due to spontaneous spleen rupture as the first manifestation. The purpose of this case report was to highlight the importance of considering spontaneous ruptures of the spleen as a rare but critical differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen, especially in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Background: A port-A catheter implantation for cancer patients is popular as a route for chemotherapy. Potential complications exist, such as perforation during chemotherapeutic agent infusion, especially when the port-A tip is incorrectly positioned or when it is in long-term use. Case Report: We report on a patient who presented with hoarseness as a result of port-A catheter perforation-related mediastinitis subsequent to chemotherapeutic agent infusion through the catheter. Conclusions: Hoarseness is a rare complication of port-A perforation and extravasation. To avoid perforation, the tip of the catheter should be located in a high-flow vessel, such as the distal superior vena cava rather than higher in the caval vein, to prevent a locally increased concentration of drugs. We also recommend that a venogram be arranged if extravasation is suspected.
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