No abstract

Bronchopulmonary carcinoids are rare pulmonary neoplasms although they account for most cases of ectopic ACTH syndromes. When feasible, the mainstay treatment is surgical resection of the tumor. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with signs and symptoms suggestive of hypercortisolism for 12 months, admitted to our department because of community acquired pneumonia. Blood hormone analysis showed increased levels of ACTH and urinary free cortisol and nonsuppressibility to high- and low-dose dexamethasone tests. Pituitary MRI showed no lesion and no central-to-peripheral ACTH gradient was present in bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling. CRH stimulation test suggested an ectopic ACTH source. Thoracic CT scan revealed a nodular region measuring 12 mm located in the inferior lingular lobule of the left superior lung with negative uptake by 18-FDG-PET scan and negative SRS. The patient was successfully treated with an atypical lung resection and histology revealed an atypical bronchial carcinoid tumor with positive ACTH immunoreactivity. This was an interesting case because the patient was admitted due to pneumonia that may have been associated with her untreated and chronic hypercortisolism and a challenging case of ectopic ACTH syndrome due to conflicting results on the diagnostic exams.

This case presents a patient with congenital cyanotic heart disease in whom secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy was diagnosed. The symptoms of severe bilateral leg pain started 2 months before hospital admission. The presence of clubbing, painful swelling of the lower limbs and his comorbid condition roused the suspicion of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and a skeleton radiograph of the lower limbs was performed. The last showed changes consistent with periosteal new bone formation, so a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug was started with complete resolution of the debilitating pain. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is an uncommon disease that may be genetically acquired or secondary to other conditions affecting lungs, heart, liver or bowel. Considering it elusive pathogenesis, treatment options are scarce and symptomatic relief is still the main objective.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are usually diagnosed in childhood. The clinical presentation in adult life is heralded by complications which are sometimes misdiagnosed. In Bochdalek hernia incarceration of stomach, pancreas, omentum, colon and spleen can occur with ischemic necrosis if time elapses. Treatment demands surgical repair of the diaphragmatic defect and sometimes total or partial resection of abdominal organs, so an abdominal approach is preferable.