ABSTRACT
Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical outcome of Q-SPECT/CT in pulmonary thromboembolic disease. @*Methods@#From Jan 2020 to Jan 2021, 30 consecutive patients (M:F = 8:22; median age = 52 year (21–89)) suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism (PE) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) were referred for non-contrasted Q-SPECT/CT. All patients were COVID-19 PCR negative. MSKCC Q-SPECT/CT and/or PISAPED criteria were used to determine the presence of thromboembolic disease in Q-SPECT/CT. Final diagnosis was made based on composite reference standards that included at least 2-month clinical cardiorespiratory assessment and follow-up imaging. @*Results@#Q-SPECT/CT was positive in 19 patients: indeterminate in 1 and 10 were negative. Three false positive cases were observed during follow-up. Of the remaining 16 true positives, all patients’ cardiorespiratory symptom were improved or stabilised after treatment with anticoagulants. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of Q-SPECT/CT were 100% (95% CI, 79.41–100%), 78.57% (95% CI, 49.20–95.34%), 84.21% (95% CI, 66.41–93.57%), 100% and 90.00% (95% CI, 73.47–97.89%) respectively. @*Conclusions@#In the current COVID-19 pandemic, Q-SPECT/CT can be an alternative modality to detect pulmonary thromboembolic disease. Normal Q-SPECT/CT excludes pulmonary thromboembolic disease with high degree of certainty. However, false positive has been observed.
ABSTRACT
@#Oesophageal perforation is a not uncommon condition, yet it carries a high mortality rate and has been observed as the most grievous trauma to the digestive tract. Common causes include iatrogenic instrumentation, foreign-body swallowing, and physical injury. This report highlighted a case of oesophageal perforation complicated by formation of proximal descending aorta pseudoaneurysm as a result of okra ingestion. The patient was successfully treated with conservative treatment. The possible mechanism of oesophageal rupture, diagnosis, treatment, and other complication will be further discussed.
ABSTRACT
@#Sarcoidosis is characterized by formation of inflammatory granulomas affecting all over the body, with pulmonary predilection (1). Neurosarcoidosis is a rare but potentially dangerous manifestation of sarcoidosis. We report a case of disseminated sarcoidosis presenting with a neurological diagnostic dilemma. Worsening mediastinal lymphadenopathy, together formation of lung and liver nodules making a sarcoidosis diagnosis favourable. Histology from these lesions showed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. She was treated as a rare case of disseminated sarcoidosis. To date, there is no specific or clear guideline on the management of disseminated sarcoidosis.
ABSTRACT
@#Sarcomas usually frequented in the head and neck region of young adults. Trachea is a rare site, and due to scarce clinical data, its clinical outcome is unclear. We reported a case of 60-year old patient presented with progressive worsening shortness of breath, cough, and progressive worsening dysphagia. Computer tomography scan revealed extensive 2 lobulated soft tissue lesions within and surrounding the trachea at the T4 level. Rigid bronchoscopy with mass cryo-debulking was performed and ultimately synovial sarcoma was diagnosed. Shortness of breath was completely relieved post-procedure.
ABSTRACT
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is usually asymptomatic and often associated with established cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension. The prevalence atrial fibrillation in patients admitted to Malaysian hospitals has been determined, but asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AAF) in hypertensive patients in the primary care setting is not established. This study reports the prevalence of AAF in hypertensive patients in Malaysia, in a primary care setting. The overall prevalence of AAF was 0.75% with no differences between the gender. The prevalence of AAF increases with age – in the age groups of 30-39, >40-49, >50-59, >60-69, 70-79 and >80 years old were 0%, 0.17%, 0.35%, 2.32%, 2.59%, and 0% respectively. Hypertensive patients with age of ≥ 61 year old were associated with a probability of 10.6 times higher for AAF. We suggest the age threshold to screen for AAF to be age of 60. It is estimated that there are 49,029 Malaysians with AAF in 2010. A large population is at risk of AAF-related complications. There is justification for an even greater emphasis on diagnostic, primary and secondary prevention strategies.