Achilles insertion bone pathology not related to pain in a triathlete with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

This report concerns the unusual case of a 48-year old, world-class triathlete who has won 11 ironman competitions. She has reached the top level of international endurance sport in spite of being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. This patient presented with Achilles pain and severe bony pathology at her left Achilles insertion. Traditionally this condition is treated via tendon detachment and re-attachment or intra-tendinous surgery, followed by a protracted rehabilitation. These procedures were considered risky due to this patient's chronic disease with vulnerability to immobilization. Instead, she was treated by surgical removal of the superficial bursa alone, under local anaesthetic. This allowed the patient to become active and load her Achilles tendon immediately, and resulted in a significant symptomatic improvement. This case illustrates that despite the presence of severe tendon and bone pathology at the Achilles insertion, pain may originate in the superficial bursa; a structure ignored by traditional operations.

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Merkel-cell carcinoma of the upper limb

Abstract

Merkel-cell carcinoma is a rare form of aggressive cutaneous cancer that is associated with a poor prognosis. Despite significant advances, its pathogenesis is still poorly understood, and treatment remains controversial. Timely diagnosis and early management is essential in improving survival rate. We present a case of a 63-year-old patient with a rapidly growing upper limb Merkel-cell carcinoma. It was treated with wide-local excision and adjuvant radiotherapy.

https://ift.tt/2P85KGT

Unusual lymph node metastasis from cancer of the thoracic esophagus

Abstract

A 76-year-old male received concurrent chemoradiotherapy, at a dose of 60 Gy with low-dose 5-fluorouracil, for cT1bN0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the mid-thoracic esophagus. Because his primary tumor relapsed with mediastinal and right supraclavicular node metastasis 4 months after completion of chemoradiotherapy, right transthoracic esophagectomy with mediastinal and right cervical lymphadenectomy was performed. However, metastatic tumors developed deep beneath the anterior border of the trapezius muscle 2 months after esophagectomy. En bloc dissection of the adipose tissue including the tumor and the transverse cervical artery was performed, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy of 50.4 Gy to the area of dissection. The patient died of pneumonia 11 months after metastasectomy, with locally recurrent disease. We have had three cases of this unusual lymph nodes metastasis from cancer of the thoracic esophagus to date and here present the characteristic imaging findings and the possible mechanism of this unusual lymph node metastasis.

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Multiple myeloma concealed by adrenal Cushing syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Cushing syndrome coexisting with multiple myeloma has been previously described in a few reports. Overlapping clinical manifestations can lead to misdiagnoses.

https://ift.tt/2vC8nsj

Successful endobronchial treatment of a non-healing tracheoesophageal fistula from a previous histoplasmosis capsulatum infection using decellularized porcine urinary bladder matrix†

Abstract

Tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEF) are pathologic communications between the esophagus and the trachea or bronchi. The development of a TEF can result from malignant or benign etiologies. A common approach for the treatment of TEFs is the placement of endobronchial and esophageal stents to facilitate healing of the communication. This case report describes the successful treatment of a TEF resulting from calcified mediastinal lymphadenopathy due to a previous Histoplasmosis capsulatum infection. In addition to placement of endobronchial and esophageal stents, the non-healing TEF was treated with ACell (Gentrix^®) decellularized porcine urinary bladder matrix to facilitate complete closure of the fistulous tract.

https://ift.tt/2B1b9fP

Fibrous dysplasia and Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome: a rare association

Abstract

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare congenital disorder, with abnormal hypertrophy of affected bone. A 17-year-old girl with a protrusion on her right forehead presented and was diagnosed as craniofacial fibrous dysplasia. Although she had no gait problem, her right leg was longer than the other. She had vascular malformation on the right leg. The condition was diagnosed as Klippel–Trénaunay syndrome, which also is a rare disorder. As the prevalence of these disorders is scarce, the probability of coincidental association of them is extremely low. No previous report about the association of fibrous dysplasia and Klippel–Trénaunay syndrome could be found. We concluded that, those two rare congenital disorders arose coincidentally in this patient.

https://ift.tt/2vEnilI