Leprous neuromyositis: A rare clinical entity and review of the literature.

Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy (Hansen’s disease), is a slow growing intracellular acid‑fast bacillus that affects the skin, peripheral nerves and respiratory tract. In patients with suppressed cell‑mediated immunity, the infiltration of the Bacilli can produce disseminated illness such as leprous neuromyositis. We reported a case of 56‑year‑old gentleman presenting with pyrexia of unknown origin, asymmetric sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy and was on chronic exogenous steroid therapy. On evaluation, his skin, muscle, nerve and bone marrow biopsy showed numerous globi of acid‑fast Bacilli suggestive of leprous neuromyositis, a rare form of disseminated Hansen’s disease. We reported this case in view of its rarity, atypical manifestation of a relatively rare disease and literature review on poor electrophysiological correlation in the diagnosis of leprous neuromyositis as compared to the histopathological examination.

Glomerulopathy in a patient with sarcocystis infestation.

To date, sarcocystis has been considered an asymptomatic infection in humans. Even though cases with glomerulonephritis have been reported in animals with sarcocystis, there have been no reports of a similar occurrence in humans. We report a case of acute proliferative glomerulonephritis and leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient with sarcocystis infestation.

Tectonic corneal graft for conjunctival rhinosporidiosis with scleral melt.

A 16 year old girl presented with irritation and watering of the right eye for 3 months. On examination, the superior perilimbal sclera was ectatic with incarcerated uveal tissue covered by conjunctiva. The conjunctiva showed discreet, yellow white mucoid spots. Excision biopsy of the conjunctiva showed subepithelial spherules of sporangia containing numerous endospores, suggestive of rhinosporidiosis. Diathermy was applied to flatten the staphyloma. The ectatic area was covered with a corneal patch graft. The patient was started on prednisolone acetate eye drops and oral dapsone for 6 months. Corneal graft was well incorporated and conjunctivalized by 3 months. Since the graft was not seen within the palpebral aperture, there was good cosmetic result. The corneal graft had the added advantage of transparency which allowed visualization of the underlying tissue to diagnose early recurrence. There was no recurrence at 6 months.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the seventh cervical vertebra.

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign bone tumor representing less than 0.5% of all bone tumors. It commonly involves the long tubular bones. Involvement of the spine is rare. A 35-year-old man presented with history of neck pain, restriction of neck movements, pain and numbness along the medial aspect of the left forearm and weakness with wasting of the left hand. A presumptive diagnosis of a bony tumor such as an aneurysmal bone cyst or a giant cell tumor involving the seventh vertebral body was made on plain X-rays, MRI and bone scan. He underwent C7 central corpectomy, incomplete intralesional curettage with iliac bone grafting and C6 to T1 interspinous wiring. The histological diagnosis was chondromyxoid fibroma. On eight years' follow-up, CT scan showed no progression of the tumor with good alignment and fusion of the graft at the site of the corpectomy. The authors conclude that corpectomy and iliac bone grafting for chondromyxoid fibroma has a good outcome on long-term follow-up.

Pathobiology of fungal infections of the central nervous system with special reference to the Indian scenario.

Ubiquitously present fungi in the environment find a nidus in the human body and adopt its metabolic machinery to be in symbiosis or become pathogenic. Immunocompromised states like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), systemic neoplasia and organ transplantation have enhanced the frequency of fungal infections. High-risk behavior, IV drug abuse and air travel have led to the emergence of new fungal infections hitherto geographically localized. The pathology in the central nervous system (CNS) is dictated largely by the size of the fungus - the yeast forms, by virtue of their small size enter the microcirculation to cause meningitis and microabscesses, while hyphal forms invade the vasculature to manifest as large pale or hemorrhagic infarcts. The growth kinetics of fungi, the antigenic character of the capsule. the proteases secreted by the mycelial forms and the biochemical milieu in the host also determine clinical manifestations. A hospital-based analysis of the available information from India suggests that in the non-HIV patient population, hyphal forms like Aspergillosis and Zygomycosis are the most common pathogens, while yeast forms like Cryptococcus and Candida are the prime pathogens in cases of HIV/AIDS, the altered macrophage function acting in synergy with suppressed cell-mediated immunity. In Northeastern states, systemic infection by Penicillium marneffei is reported in association with HIV though CNS involvement is not recorded. Although fungal infections of the CNS are reported from various hospitals in India, studies are limited by non-availability of relevant microbiological studies and the reported prevalence data is biased by the surgical practices, availability of postmortem and microbiology and laboratory support. Detailed clinical and mycological investigations related to the interaction between the fungus and host environment is a fertile area of research to understand the basic pathogenetic mechanisms.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma presenting with multiple intracranial metastases.

A 28-year-old man presented with history of raised intracranial pressure and one episode of generalized tonic clonic seizures. Computed Tomogram revealed multiple contrast enhancing intracranial lesions. Biopsy of one of the lesions was reported as metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma. He was advised whole brain radiotherapy.