Primary malignant melanoma of vagina--a case report with review of literature.

Primary vaginal malignant melanoma is a very rare tumor with less than 300 cases reported to date. We describe a case of primary vaginal melanoma and review the literature. A 60 years postmenopausal female patient presented with painless mass coming out of the vagina with occasional bleeding for last 2-3 weeks. On vaginal examination there was a firm polypoidal growth of size 7 cm attached to the right lateral wall of vagina and coming out of the introitus. Histopathology of the mass showed features of malignant melanoma. Wide local excision was done and adjuvant therapy was given. However patient came back after three months with widespread metastasis and expired 6 months after the initial diagnosis. Vaginal melanoma is a very aggressive tumor and the overall prognosis is very poor despite the treatment modality.

Acute liver failure caused by hepatitis E virus and paracetamol.

Acute liver failure is characterized by severe and sudden liver cell dysfunction leading to hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic coagulopathy in a person without history of liver disease in the past. This catastrophic illness can rapidly progress to coma and death from cerebral edema and multi organ dysfunction. It carries a high mortality rate if liver transplantation is not carried out. In West, paracetamol is the main cause of hepatotoxicity whereas in the East viral hepatitis tops the list. This report describes a case of acute liver failure in which probably both the agents were involved. The patient recovered with antidote therapy and maximum supportive care.

Hepatitis E virus infection in chronic liver disease causes rapid decompensation.

Hepatitis E previously known as enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis, is a self limiting infectious viral disease of developing countries. Various issues regarding the pathogenesis of liver injury and its natural history remain unanswered after two decades of its discovery. A small proportion of patients develop fulminant hepatic failure. Mortality is very high if it is associated with pregnancy, especially during third trimester. After establishment of hepatitis A virus as a cause of decompensation of chronic liver disease, now there are reports that hepatitis E viruses also does the same. Acute hepatitis E in these patients has a protracted course with high morbidity and mortality. Many patients develop hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy and even liver failure after co-infection with hepatitis E virus. Now time has come to institute hepatitis E virus superinfection as one of the cause of acute on chronic liver failure. Hepatitis E is a problem of developing countries and Nepal is in the endemic zone. Sudden decompensation in chronic liver disease patient, who were otherwise stable and under regular follow up, should be carefully dealt with. Patient statistics at our unit shows that 7 cases of chronic liver diseases with superinfection with hepatitis E virus were dealt from April 2004 to August 2005. Two patients (29%) died and 5 recovered. In patients with recovery, there was deterioration of Child-Pugh grading and the duration of hospital stay was longer. Thus, hepatitis E in diagnosed chronic liver disease case should be taken apprehensively. Similarly patients of chronic liver disease traveling to endemic zone should take precaution. If vaccine against hepatitis E virus is developed, chronic liver disease patient would be the eligible candidate for vaccination beside pregnant ladies.