Necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) and cutaneous sarcoidosis are granulomatous disorders with a largely unknown aetiopathogenesis. Evidence of co-existing NL and sarcoidosis in the same patient may suggest a degree of overlap between these entities through shared granulomatous inflammatory pathways. Occasionally, one condition can mimic the other, making their distinction difficult. We report a novel case of a non-diabetic woman who presented with concurrent NL, cutaneous sarcoidosis and erythema nodosum. We discuss some of the complexities distinguishing these entities and propose that they may represent different stages of the same granulomatous process linked through yet unknown pathomechanisms.
We report a case of nonuremic calcific arteriolopathy (NUCA) in an 82-year-old Caucasian woman from rural Australia. The patient had no history of kidney disease or dialysis. NUCA is rare disease suspected on cutaneous and clinical features and diagnosed by characteristic findings on skin biopsy and vasculature imaging. Calcification induced microvascular occlusion in the absence of renal failure may not be immediately apparent. Clinical suspicion and appropriate investigations are essential for making a diagnosis. A diagnosis of NUCA may be missed given the rarity of the disease, and dermatologists and patients alike would benefit from a greater awareness of this disease.
Background. The significance of the Hyperdense Middle Cerebral Artery Sign (HMCAS) is uncertain. Aims. This prospective study investigated the sensitivity, specificity, prevalence, prognosis, interobserver variability, and associated clinical features of HMCAS in acute ischemic stroke. Methods. Initial CT scans of 117 patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 65 age-matched controls were reported independently by two neuroradiologists blinded to diagnosis. Details of initial stroke severity and comorbidities were collected, and outcome on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was assessed at 3–6 months. Results. HMCAS was seen in 15% of all ischemic strokes and 25% of all middle cerebral artery (MCA) strokes; specificity was 100%. HMCAS was associated with more severe initial deficit and atrial fibrillation. Only 21% of patients with a first-ever MCA stroke and HMCAS had a good outcome (mRS≤2) compared to 55% of those without the sign (P<0.001). Interobserver agreement was only 0.747 (Kappa statistic). Conclusion. The prevalence, specificity, sensitivity, and clinical associations of HMCAS were similar to previous reports. This study confirmed prospectively that HMCAS was associated with a poorer outcome at 3 to 6 months and demonstrated interobserver variability in detection of the sign.
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