Epidural angiopomatosis of the thoracic spine: Case report and literature review

Spinal epidural angiolipomatosis [SEA] is a rare benign neoplasm of adipose tissue with a prominent vascular component. Classified as either idiopathic or secondary to chronic steroid therapy it accounts for 0.14% of all spinal axis tumours. The clinical and radiological features and treatment of a case in a 24-year-old male are described and discussed together with a review of the literature and previous reports

Pneumonia caused by moraxella catarrhalis in haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. Report of two cases and review of the literature

Moraxella catarrhalis is a gram negative diplococcus that causes a variety of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Patients with malignant, hematological disorders treated with intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy, and recipients of various forms of haematopoietic stem cell transplant receiving immunosuppressive agents are at high risk of developing severe infections and septic complications. Early detection of the organism and prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics provide both resolution of the infection and prevention of further consequences. Two patients with haematopoietic stem cell transplant who developed pneumonia caused by M. catarrhalis at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh are reported and the literature is reviewed. To our knowledge, these are the first case reports of M. catarrhalis pneumonia in haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients

Complicated septic shock caused by achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Infections caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans cause significant morbidity and mortality in debilitated individuals. Eradication of these infections requires prolonged therapy with antimicrobial agents and removal of any infected central venous catheter. The outcome is usually poor in patients with high risk malignancy, septic complications, and/or multi-organ dysfunction

Candidaemia in patients with haematological disorders and stem cell transplant

The incidence of non-albicans species of C and ida has recently increased, especially in patients with malignant haematological disorders receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. A retrospective study of patients who developed c and idaemia at Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital between January 1992 and December 2002 was carried out. Thirty one episodes of c and idaemia occurred in 27 patients with a variety of haematological disorders. Twenty-four episodes were caused by non-albicans species of C and ida and only 7 episodes were caused by C.albicans. The most frequent underlying haematological disorders were acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] followed by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia [ALL]. The main predisposing factors for the development of c and idaemia were: broad spectrum antibiotics, central venous catheters, neutropenia, cytotoxic chemotherapy, coexisting bacterial infections, steroid therapy, relapsing or untreated primary disease and fluconazole prophylaxis. Eight episodes were complicated by chronic disseminated c and idiasis. Amphotericin-B and amBi-some were used in the treatment of C and ida infections. The treatment was successful in 86% of the episodes of C. albicans and 50% of the episodes due to non-albicans species of C and ida. The highest mortality rate was encountered with C.tropicalis infections. C and idaemia is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with malignant haematological disorders and stem cell transplant. The predominance of non-albicans species of C and ida especially C.krusei and C.tropicalis is alarming. The early administration of appropriate antifungal therapy and the removal of infected intravascular catheters improve the outcome considerably