This low-risk treatment is easily implemented, non-invasive and non-pharmacological. Within the limits of this small pilot study, benefits are shown, and we believe further research is warranted.
Remitting seronegative symmetric synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) is an uncommon syndrome characterised by acute onset severe synovitis of the radiocarpal and small joints of the hands, with associated pitting edema. Discussed here is the case of a 69-year-old man who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital with acute bilateral hand swelling. This was on a background of a recent diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the caecum and subsequent hemicolectomy. There was a history of general malaise, fever and lethargy for 5 days prior to the swelling of the hands. On examination, the upper limbs were swollen to the elbow bilaterally. Painful erythematous nodules were noted on the dorsal and palmar aspects of the hands and violaceous periungual discolouration was observed on the right fourth and fifth fingers. Prednisolone was commenced resulting in a dramatic resolution of the articular and cutaneous manifestations within 3 weeks.
Dermatomyositis is a multisystem disease manifesting as an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, characterised predominantly by cutaneous and muscular abnormalities. Patients with dermatomyositis display characteristic skin changes in addition to muscle weakness. Many consider dermatomyositis a paraneoplastic syndrome, as up to 32% of patients with dermatomyositis will develop cancer. Discussed here is the case of a 69-year-old man with a new diagnosis of dermatomyositis who was referred to a tertiary institution with an 8-month history of rash, proximal muscle weakness, fatigue and weight loss. In the absence of clinical symptoms, negative cancer markers and a negative CT chest, abdomen and pelvis, positron emission tomography–CT prompted a gastroscopy, which led to the discovery of a stage T1b oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The oesophageal adenocarcinoma was treated with a gastrointestinal endoscopic mucosal resection and subsequent oesophajectomy. The patient’s dermatomyositis was treated successfully with oral prednisolone and methotrexate.
Tuberculosis is a serious infection that is increasing in prevalence, affecting many people worldwide. The diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis is challenging and requires the correlation of clinical findings with often inconclusive diagnostic testing. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis comprises approximately 10% of all cases of tuberculosis, and cutaneous tuberculosis makes up only a small proportion of these cases. Discussed here is the case of a 61-year-old immunocompetent female with a large cutaneous lesion on her index finger secondary to Tissue cultures taken at biopsy were negative; however, empiric antimycobacterial therapy was initiated. The initial regimen was not tolerated, and antituberculous therapy was substituted for moxifloxacin and clarithromycin. The lesion improved significantly with a concurrent improvement in function.
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