63 years old woman with progressive mechanical dysphagia and weight loss: a case presentation

When considering a patient with dysphagia, an attempt should be made to determine whether the patient has difficulty only with solid boluses [suggestive of mechanical dysphagia] or with liquids and solids [suggestive of a motility dysphagia]. Lesions such as an oesophageal tumor and external pressure effect from a lung tumor or aberrant vessel can lead to mechanical dysphagia. Endoscopy and / or a barium swallow are helpful in identifying the anatomical disarrangement. In this study a patient with progressive mechanical dysphagia is presented that finally diagnosed by as Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma. There were no respiratory symptoms. Diagnosis was made by a computerized tomography scan of the thorax, bronchoscopy and bronchial biopsy

Serum CA[19-9] in patients with solid pancreatic mass

This study evaluated the results and efficacy of serum CA[19-9] in determining the nature of a pancreatic solid mass in patients referred for investigation of possible malignancy. A wide variety of tumor markers have been proposed for pancreatic cancer but currently the only one with any practical usefulness for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment is "CA[19-9]". This present study is a single center 2 year descriptive, prospective and case series studying patients with a pancreatic solid mass. Serum CA[19-9] was checked in 159 patients .The majority of patients were male [68%] and 81% had mass in the head of pancreas. Pathologic assessment revealed 131 adenocarcinomas [82%], 10 other malignancies [6%], 7 benign lesion [4%] and was non-diagnostic in 11 cases [7%]. Mean level of this tumor marker in patients with adenocarcinoma, non-adenocarcinoma malignancy, benign and non-diagnostic pathology was 1094, 1004, 120, 259 U/ML respectively. With regarding 58 U/ML as a cutoff point; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of this tumor marker for diagnosing the adenocarcinoma were 85%, 67%, 88%, 60% and 81% respectively. There was no significant relationship between Serum CA[19-9] value and histopathology of solid pancreatic mass. This marker has limited sensitivity and specificity and cannot be used as a definite diagnostic test. So the use of CA[19-9] for the differentiation of pancreatic cancer should be applied on an individual case basis, depending on the clinical situation and imaging findings

Pancreatic tail hydatid cyst as a rare cause for severe acute pancreatitis: a case report

Iran is an endemic region for hydatid disease. Primary pancreatic hydatosis is a rare event; severe acute pancreatitis related to pancreatic hydatid cyst is extremely rare

We present the case of a patient with severe acute pancreatitis and hydatosis of the pancreas without liver or lung involvement. All etiologies for acute pancreatitis were excluded. The patient underwent a distal pancreatectomy which led to the diagnosis of pancreatic hydatosis

Since hydatid disease is endemic in some regions, it should be considered as one of the underlying etiologies for inflammation or infection of the pancreas [acute pancreatitis]

Pancreatic tail hydatid cyst as a rare cause for severe acute pancreatitis: a case report

Iran is an endemic region for hydatid disease. Primary pancreatic hydatosis is a rare event; severe acute pancreatitis related to pancreatic hydatid cyst is extremely rare

We present the case of a patient with severe acute pancreatitis and hydatosis of the pancreas without liver or lung involvement. All etiologies for acute pancreatitis were excluded. The patient underwent a distal pancreatectomy which led to the diagnosis of pancreatic hydatosis

Since hydatid disease is endemic in some regions, it should be considered as one of the underlying etiologies for inflammation or infection of the pancreas [acute pancreatitis]