Paraneoplastic syndromes occur in the presence of a tumor and are known to cause a myriad of systemic manifestations by mechanisms other than direct metastasis. Although considered to be rare, tumors can cause paraneoplastic rheumatological manifestations such as paraneoplastic arthritis. Differentiating between paraneoplastic arthritis and primary rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents a diagnostic challenge to physicians. Here we describe a case of an 83-year-old male with complaints of painful joint swelling of his hands, elbows, and feet. Subsequent tests ultimately led to the diagnosis of gastric cancer with associated paraneoplastic arthritis. We highlight the physical, laboratory, and imaging findings associated with the diagnosis of paraneoplastic arthritis with emphasis on the differences between this diagnosis and that of RA. Despite the uncommon nature of paraneoplastic arthritis, it remains of paramount importance to be aware of its association with malignancies, aiding in possible earlier diagnosis.
Myxedema coma is a life-threatening, critical condition in which many organ systems can be severely affected. It is considered the most severe presentation of hypothyroidism and should be treated immediately. Here, we discuss the case of a 58-year-old patient who presented with altered mental status, bradycardia, and hypothermia, the critical characteristics considered in this disorder after inhalation injury. In order to avoid a fatal outcome, aggressive therapy should be initiated upon presentation. This case will depict the typical presentation, the specific cause pertinent to this patient’s condition, and the management of the acute condition of myxedema coma.
Diagnosing myocardial infarction is not always straightforward; there are many insidious presentations that can be overlooked resulting in deadly consequences. We present a 76-year-old male who came to the ED complaining of right ankle pain. A routine electrocardiogram (ECG) done was noted to have biphasic T waves in leads V2 and V3 which was characteristic of Wellens' syndrome. Subsequent workup showed an increase in troponin T levels in a chest pain-free setting. The patient underwent urgent cardiac catheterization which showed significant triple vessel coronary artery disease, with 90% proximal occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, eventually requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Timely diagnosis and management prevented serious consequences of his underlying severe coronary artery disease.
Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disease of unknown etiology, once known to be rare in the United States as compared to East-Asian countries, it is now an increasingly recognized cause of strokes in the United States, as the prevalence of the disease appears to be increasing. We describe a case of a 41-year-old Hispanic female patient presenting to our hospital with a stroke. She had two episodes of right arm weakness and clumsiness prior to presentation to the hospital that had resolved upon arrival. Despite a CT head negative for stroke, further imaging work-up was performed including MRI of the brain with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and conventional angiogram, which showed characteristic imaging findings leading to the diagnosis of Moyamoya disease. The patient subsequently underwent elective surgical intervention with Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) procedure to prevent further complications.
Ascariasis, which is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, is the most common gastrointestinal parasitic infection worldwide, with occasional invasion of the biliary tract leading to a variety of complications. In rare cases, pathogens carried on the surface of A. lumbricoides can complicate the course of the disease and lead to superimposed bacterial infections. In this article, we present a case of ascariasis-induced cholangitis complicated with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia and multiple hepatic microabscesses. This article, which shows an association that was not reported in the literature before, aims to increase the awareness of clinicians for the possibility of the association between ascariasis and superimposed bacterial infection, specifically with K. pneumoniae .
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.