Cervical cord compression secondary to mycetoma infection

Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous subcutaneous infection caused by actinomycetes [actinomycetoma] or by true fungi [eumycetoma]. Clinically the disease is characterized by swelling, and sinuses in the affected part. Another characteristic feature of mycetoma is the formation of aggregates of the organism [grains] in the tissues, which are visible to the naked eye and are discharged through sinuses in the skin. The grains vary in colour, size and consistency depending on the causative agent [1, 2]. These features are helpful in making a tentative diagnosis of the causative organism. We report a 75 year's Sudanese female with spastic paraplegia of gradual onset, she has discharging sinuses in her neck. Cervical X-RAY and cervical MRI showed destruction of cervical vertebrae. Identification of the agent was established by the histological examination of the grains, by culture and serologic techniques. Mycetoma is a local chronic and progressive infection of the skin, subcutaneous tissues and bone. It is characterized by swelling that is often grotesque and disfiguring and by multiple sinus tracts that drain granule-containing pus [3]

Hypoparathyroidism with severe hypocalcaemia in a patient with beta-thalassaemia major

Hypoparathyroidism [HPT] is a well recognized complication in beta-thalassaemia major patients. However; severe disease resulting in symptomatic hypocalcaemia is rare. We describe an 18-year old boy who had severe hypocalcaemia with convulsions, intracerebral calcifications and electrocardiographic abnormalities secondary to HPT