A Case of Spontaneous Remission of Acute Pulmonary Embolism / 결핵및호흡기질환

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) ranges from asymptomatic to often fatal, incidentally discovered emboli to massive embolism causing immediate death. Acute PE may occur rapidly and unpredictably and may be difficult to diagnose. Mortality and complications can be reduced by prompt diagnosis and therapy. Untreated PE is associated with a mortality rate of approximately 30 percents. Most patients with PE have endogenous fibrinolysis, although it is not effective enough to prevent PE. A case of spontaneous remission of untreated acute PE has not previously been reported. Here we present a case of spontaneously resolved acute PE without any treatment.

A Case of Peritoneal Tuberculosis with Poncet's Disease in a Patient Treated with Infliximab

Infliximab is a chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) that is used worldwide to treat rheumatic disease. However, the reactivation of tuberculosis, including extrapulmonary menifestation, is a severe side effect of anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Mycobacterium tubercluosis causes two forms of joint involvement, TB arthritis and Poncet's disease. Poncet's disease is a rare aseptic form of arthritis, known as reactive arthritis in tuberculosis. We encountered a case of tuberculous peritonitis with Poncet's disease in a 38-yearold man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis that was treated with infliximab. We report this case with a review of the literature.

External Compression of the Inferior Vena Cava by Tortuous Abdominal Aorta in the Elderly

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is an uncommon disease caused by obstruction of hepatic venous outflow. This results in centrilobular congestion and necrosis, ultimately leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver. Stenosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) can be a one of causes of BCS. We report the a case of a 72-year-old woman who presented significant IVC stenosis due to extrinsic compression resulting by a tortuous abdominal aorta which was incidentally detected by echocardiography and successfully treated by stenting. To the date the extrinsic compression of IVC resulting from tortous aorta has never been reported to cause of BCS.

A Huge Congenital Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Causing Cerebral Embolism and Hypoplastic Tricuspid Valve

Congenital sinus of Valsalva (SOV) aneurysm is a rare cardiac abnormality. Rarely the aneurysm enlarges without rupture, cause symptoms of the mass effect by compressing the adjacent structures, obstruction of the right ventricular outflow with tricuspid regurgitation, infectious endocarditis, thrombus formation and myocardial ischemia/infarction. And SOV aneurysm can also be a source of embolism. We observed a patient with cerebral infarction in whom a huge SOV aneurysm, was diagnosed as the presumed source of cerebral embolism and the cause of hypoplastic tricuspid valve.