Patient: Female, 51Final Diagnosis: Burkitt’s lymphoma of the rectum and stomachSymptoms: HematocheziaMedication: —Clinical Procedure: EGD and colonoscopySpecialty: Gastroenterology and HepatologyObjective:Rare diseaseBackground:Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) is an uncommon cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults and accounts for only 0.1–0.5% of all malignant tumors of the colon and rectum. Very few cases of rectosigmoid and stomach BL have been reported in adults.Case Report:A 51-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a 1-month history of hematochezia, associated with a foreign-body sensation in the rectum and 7 kg weight loss. Initial laboratory workup showed normocytic anemia and positive fecal occult blood. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed an asymmetric appearance of the stomach and pylorus with nodularity of the mucosa and thickening of the posterior wall, and a 10.8-cm rectal mass. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were performed and biopsies of the stomach and rectum were obtained; histopathology demonstrated involvement by Burkitt’s lymphoma in the gastric body nodule and rectal mass. After 4 cycles of chemotherapy, a follow-up abdominal CT demonstrated complete resolution of the mural thickening of the rectum and no intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy.Conclusions:Our case illustrates the importance of considering BL in the extensive differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, and other lower and upper GI symptoms, since the rapidly growing nature of this rare malignancy requires a prompt diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy.
Domperidone is an effective antiemetic used worldwide, but there have been reports of possible cardiotoxicity. Our goal was to explore the cardiac safety and clinical efficacy of long-term domperidone, titrated as high as 120 mg/day, in patients not responding or unable to tolerate other therapies for gastroparesis (GP).This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single tertiary care academic center. We objectively assessed the safety and efficacy of domperidone through questionnaires, clinical follow-up and frequent ECGs as mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. We excluded patients with a history of dangerous arrhythmias, prolonged QTc, clinically significant electrolyte disturbances, gastrointestinal hemorrhage or obstruction, presence of a prolactinoma, pregnant or breastfeeding females, or allergy to domperidone. A total of 21 patients met the inclusion criteria for eligibility in this study (52.4% white, 42.9% Hispanic; mean age 50.1 years; 90.5% female). The mean duration of domperidone therapy was 52.3 (range 16–97) months with a mean highest dose of 80 mg/day (range 40–120 mg). Two patients (9.5%) taking 120 mg/day experienced asymptomatic meaningful QTc prolongation (>450 ms in males, >470 ms in females). One-third of patients had asymptomatic non-meaningful QTc prolongation. Palpitations or chest pain was reported in 19% of patients without ECG abnormalities or adverse cardiac events. The mean severity of vomiting and nausea was improved by 82% and 55%, respectively.Long-term treatment with high doses of domperidone (40–120 mg/day) improved GP symptoms in patients previously refractory to other medical therapies and with a satisfactory cardiovascular risk profile.
Background. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is a resin used to treat hyperkalemia. Colonic mucosal injury, intestinal ischemia, necrosis, and perforation have been widely reported in the literature, but few cases have reported upper gastrointestinal injury and identify the endoscopic features. Case Presentation. We describe a case of an 83-year-old male, with no prior esophageal symptoms, who developed dysphagia after being treated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate for hyperkalemia. Endoscopic features consistent with severe esophagitis and a mass in the lower esophagus mimicking a malignancy were found, and pathology confirmed resin-induced esophagitis. Discussion. The identification of basophilic crystals in the epithelium with surrounding inflammation is a hallmark of sodium polystyrene sulfonate-induced mucosal injury. Several direct and indirect mechanisms by which SPS may cause mucosal injury have been identified. Prolonged stasis of crystals in the lumen has the potential of developing erosions and ultimately necrosis. The internalization of these crystals to the underlying intestinal mucosa with the combination of the inflammatory response may give an appearance of a luminal mass that can mimic a malignancy. Recognizing the wide-ranging endoscopic findings of resin-induced mucosal injury in the esophagus is fundamental to consider a potential side effect of sodium polystyrene sulfonate. The use of this resin should be avoided in patients with suspected esophageal motility disorder.
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