Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading infectious causes of death throughout the world. Extrapulmonary forms, namely adrenalitis and prostatitis, are rare presentations of TB and pose a difficult diagnostic challenge, given their non-specific manifestations. The authors present a case of a 42-year-old man with long-standing symptoms of fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, nightly fever and sudoresis. He also suffered from sporadic vomiting and episodic hypotension, and had skin hyperpigmentation, as well as frequent urination, perineal discomfort and pain at ejaculation. Laboratory investigation confirmed primary adrenal failure. On CT scan there were two hypodense right adrenal nodules and bilateral lung condensations with a tree-in-bud pattern. Another hypodense nodule was seen in the prostate. TB was diagnosed by isolatingMycobacterium tuberculosisfollowing cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial secretions, urine and ejaculate. Antibacillary treatment resolved the infectious lesions but the patient remained on corticosteroid replacement therapy for ongoing adrenal failure.

Periodic fever with pharyngitis, aphthous stomatitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA syndrome) is a common cause of periodic fever in children and usually manifests as episodes of fever recurring with a clockwork periodicity. Although rare after adolescence, adult patients with PFAPA syndrome may present with a wider range of symptoms and may lack the clockwork periodicity of fever. A 24-year-old patient presented with a 4-year history of periodic fever with pharyngitis and cervical adenitis. She also complained of vomiting, fatigue and sporadically presented with aphthous stomatitis. During crises, laboratory evaluation showed a moderate elevation of inflammatory markers. Blood cultures and ANA titres were negative. Immunoglobulins and serum ferritin levels were normal. After other causes of periodic fever had been excluded, a diagnosis of PFAPA syndrome was made. LEARNING POINTS PFAPA syndrome is characterized by periodic fever accompanied by pharyngitis, aphthous stomatitis and cervical adenitis. It is a common cause of periodic fever in children but can also present in adults with a wider range of clinical manifestations. Establishing a firm diagnosis of PFAPA syndrome may avoid excessive work-up and potentially harmful treatment.

Senile systemic amyloidosis is caused by a non-mutated form of transthyretin with the heart being the major organ involved. This infiltrative cardiomyopathy usually presents as slowly progressive heart failure. An 82-year-old female patient was admitted for newly diagnosed heart failure. A year later she presented with decompensated heart failure and syncope. Inpatient work-up showed persistently elevated troponin and N-terminal-pro BNP levels, rapid progression to severe left ventricular concentric hypertrophy, and sinus pauses on the Holter. Cardiac MRI revealed diffuse late gadolinium enhancement in the left ventricle. The demonstration of amyloid protein with the clinical findings and complementary investigations allowed for the diagnosis of senile systemic amyloidosis.

Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is an aggressive but benign entity which evolves into skull base osteomyelitis. An 81-year-old female patient was admitted for left hemiparesis and homonymous hemianopia. She complained of headache radiating to the right cervical area. A recent history of recurrent otitis media was present. Head and neck imaging showed an ischemic infarction (right temporo-occipital) and a parapharyngeal soft tissue mass originating in an external and medial ear infection. Culture samples revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection leading to the diagnosis of Malignant otitis externa (MOE). Parenteral antibacterial therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy resulted in improvement.

Vulvar leiomyomas are extremely rare smooth muscle tumors that are easily mistaken for other lesions, as the differential diagnosis must consider a wide spectrum of benign and malignant lesions. We present the case of a 52-year-old woman with a three-year history of progressive abdominal distension and pain and an enlarging vulvar mass distorting the labia majora and causing gait disturbance. Imaging confirmed an enormous pelvic mass originating in the uterus, compatible with a leiomyoma/sarcoma, and large perineal and vulvar masses with similar characteristics. Histopathology after surgical removal revealed benign abdominal, vulvar, and perineal leiomyomas. This case highlights the rarity and diagnostic challenges of extra-uterine leiomyomas, particularly those in the vulvar region.