A Case of Churg-Strauss Syndrome Affecting Lung and Neuromuscular System / 결핵

Churg-Strauss syndrome(CSS) is a systemic vascular disorder that has an unknown cause with multiorgan involvement and diverse presentations. The three main histologically distinct phases were necrotizing vasculitis, tissue eosinophilia and extravascular granulomas. A diagnosis of CSS can be made on four or more of the following six criteria : 1) asthma, 2) peripheral eosinophilia >10% on the differential leukocyte count, 3) mononeuropathy (including multiple) or polyneuropathy, 4) paranasal sinus abnormalities, 5) nonfixed pulmonary infiltrates, and 6) biopsy evidence of extravascular eosinophils in the skin, the nerves, or the lungs. CSS has a good prognosis with systemic steroid therapy. The 5 year survival is approximately 70 %. We experienced a 66-year-old man who presented with cough, sputum, edema and numbness in both legs. He presented with all of the 6 CSS criteria. A nerve and muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Here, we report this case with a review of the relevant literatures.

A Case of Churg-Strauss Syndrome Affecting Lung and Neuromuscular System / 결핵

Churg-Strauss syndrome(CSS) is a systemic vascular disorder that has an unknown cause with multiorgan involvement and diverse presentations. The three main histologically distinct phases were necrotizing vasculitis, tissue eosinophilia and extravascular granulomas. A diagnosis of CSS can be made on four or more of the following six criteria : 1) asthma, 2) peripheral eosinophilia >10% on the differential leukocyte count, 3) mononeuropathy (including multiple) or polyneuropathy, 4) paranasal sinus abnormalities, 5) nonfixed pulmonary infiltrates, and 6) biopsy evidence of extravascular eosinophils in the skin, the nerves, or the lungs. CSS has a good prognosis with systemic steroid therapy. The 5 year survival is approximately 70 %. We experienced a 66-year-old man who presented with cough, sputum, edema and numbness in both legs. He presented with all of the 6 CSS criteria. A nerve and muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Here, we report this case with a review of the relevant literatures.

Aortic Saddle Embolism Caused by Mitral Valve Vegetation

Aortic saddle embolus accounts for approximately 10% of all peripheral arterial emboli. The most common sources of emboli are left atrial thrombi associated with atrial fibrillation and vegetation. A 22-year-old male patient was admitted due to acute onset of orthopnea, tachypea and cough. Transthoracic and transeophageal echocardiography showed huge vegetation (3X2cm) of the posterior mitral valve leaflet which was associated with severe mitral regurgitation. On 14th hospital day, he suffered from sudden onset of weakness, pain, and coldness on both lower extremities. Follow-up echocardiography showed marked size reduction of the original mitral valve vegetation. Angiography showed aortic saddle embolus. The embolectomy of aortic saddle embolus was performed through the transfemoral approach with a Forgarty catheter. At the same time, removal of the infected mitral valve and mitral valve replacement were performed.

A Case of Fulminant Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia / 결핵

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) is a type of diffuse interstitial lung disease that has emerged in the past decade as an important cause of acute respiratory illness in adult. Clinically, the entity usually starts with a subacute influenza-like illness, followed by cough, progressive dyspnea, and weight loss. Organized inflammatory polypoid materials predominantly affecting distal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and peribronchial alveolar spaces are a key pathologic findings. BOOP is characterized by a good response to glucocorticoid and an excellent prognosis. However, there is a subset of BOOP who presents with a fulminant course leading to death or chronic severe fibrosis with marked impairment of lung function. Recently, we have experienced a case of rapidly progressive BOOP, diagnosed by open lung biopsy and showed a reluctant response to corticosteroid.

Roentgenogram of the Issue: Osteolytic Bone Lesion of the Rib / 결핵

A 29-year-old male patient was admitted due to subacute onset of right chest pain. He had no history of trauma, chest surgery or other medical disease. Chest roentgenogram showed an expansile, radiolucent lesion on the posterior segment of right seventh rib. Computed tomogram of the chest also showed lytic expansile mass with septation. He took an en-bloc resection of the involved rib. Pathologically there were multiple cystic spaces, filled with blood and collagenofibrous tissue proliferation and locally areas of new bone formation and giant cells of osteoclastic type, which was compatible with aneurysmal bone cyst. We report a case of aneurysmal bone cyst of the rib with a brief review of literature.

A Case of Ruptured Tricuspid Valve Due to Nonpenetrating Cardiac Injury Detected by Echocardiography

Cardiac contusion is an increasingly recognized entity in patients with nonpenetrating chest injury. Unifortunately, the diagnosis of cardiac trauma, particularly cardiac contusion, is imprecise and may be confounded by the presence of associated injuries, hypoxia, shock, and metabolic abnormalities. Symptomatic cardiac injury follwing blunt chest trauma is relatively rare, and valvular injury is even rarer. The valves most commonly affected are mitral and tricuspid. Although tricuspid regurgitations are usually asymptomatic and can resolve spontaneously, recent developments in echocardiography made possible the precise diagnosis of valvular injuries noninvasively, The authors report the case of tricuspid regurgitation incidentally detected by echocardiography in a construction worker who had suffered multiple fractures.