IntroductionNon-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is mostly restricted to gastroenteritis; however, we report a case of Salmonella pericarditis complicated by tamponade and spontaneous ventricular wall rupture.Case presentationA 67-year-old male presents to the Emergency Department with complaints of fevers, chills and body aches. A chest radiograph displayed an infiltrate and an electrocardiogram suggested acute pericarditis. An echocardiogram revealed a small pericardial effusion without tamponade. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated until Salmonella was discovered in blood cultures. The hospital course was complicated by sudden decompensation, and a repeat echocardiogram displayed a large effusion with constrictive physiology. During a pericardial window, the tissue was noted to have a thickened appearance with a complex effusion. The following day, the patient developed increased chest tube drainage, hypotension and acidosis, requiring an emergent sternotomy. The right ventricle was friable and had spontaneously ruptured. After ventricular repair and pericardiectomy, the tissue was sent for cultures and pathology. The specimen revealed Salmonella enteriditis. Treatment with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin was initiated. On postoperative day four, the patient was successfully extubated. Repeat blood cultures were negative.DiscussionIn our review of literature, only 19 cases of NTS pericarditis have been reported. Prior to our case, salmonellosis resulting in ventricular rupture has been reported once. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial in minimizing morbidity and mortality. Clinical suspicion based on electrocardiogram and hemodynamic assessment is critical in suspecting pericardial effusion in a patient with nonspecific symptoms and Salmonella bacteremia. The key to recovery involves aggressive treatment, including pericardiectomy and antibiotic treatment.
Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies (subsp.) gallolyticus (formerly bovis biotype I) bacteremia has been associated with colonic adenocarcinoma. The bovis species underwent reclassification in 2003. Subtypes of gallolyticus are associated with colonic malignancy but are less frequent, resulting in less awareness. A 71-year-old male admitted with worsening lower back pain and fevers. Initial vital signs and laboratory data were within normal limits. MRI revealed lumbosacral osteomyelitis and antibiotics were initiated. Blood cultures showed Streptococcus species, prompting a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealing vegetations on the mitral and aortic valves. The etiology for his endocarditis was unclear. A colonoscopy was suggested, but his clinical instability made such a procedure intolerable. Final cultures revealed Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus (previously bovis biotype II). After antibiotic completion he underwent aortic grafting with valve replacements. Later, he was readmitted for Streptococcus bacteremia. After a negative TEE, colonoscopy revealed a 2.5 × 3 cm cecal tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia suspicious for his origin of infection. Clinicians understand the link between Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (bovis type I) and malignancy, but the new speciation may be unfamiliar. There are no guidelines for managing S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus bacteremia; therefore a colonoscopy should be considered when no source is identified.
INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine carcinomas heterogeneous group of tumors with variable clinical presentation and prognosis. Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinomas are further divided into two types; small cell or large cell based on mitotic rate and or Ki-67 labeling by WHO or European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society guidelines. Large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (LNEC) of primary colorectal origin are extremely rare and represent 0.25% of all colorectal cancers. LNEC are malignant and aggressive tumors which present in an advanced stage and median overall survival time is 4–16 months. LNEC can occur within the entire gastrointestinal tract and or biliary tract but are typically found within the colon, stomach and or rectum. Here, we report LNEC to highlight its clinical course and to expand clinician knowledge regarding this rare cancer. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: 82-year-old male who initially presented to his primary care doctors office with 4-month history of 20-pound unintentional weight loss with associated vague left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Computed Tomography of the abdomen/pelvis revealed mass-like mucosal thickening measuring approximately 5.9 cm × 6.5 cm involving the distal transverse/proximal descending colon and with innumerable hypodense lesions throughout the liver consistent with diffuse metastatic disease. Colonoscopy revealed circumferential fungating partially obstructing large mass in the within the mid-transverse colon. Histopathologic report from the endoscopic biopsy showed positive staining for pancytokeratin and synaptophysin, which was consistent with a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Patient was evaluated by oncology and has started receiving carboplatin and etoposide chemotherapy for palliative purposes. DISCUSSION: LNEC rare subtype of neuroendocrine carcinomas, which are aggressive and often present in an advanced stage. Early detection and identification is essential as this malignancy has different treatment implications when compared to adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, extrapulmonary neuroendocrine tumors resemble small cell lung cancer where carboplatin and etoposide have established utility due to high mitotic rate. This is the treatment option chosen for our patient. Further studies will need to be done to determine optimal treatment regimens for this rare disease.
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