Acute myeloid leukemia with non-specific cutaneous manifestation.

Acute myeloid leukemia is not uncommon in upper Assam. Primary skin manifestation in AML though very rare, may be found. The skin manifestation may be the first presentation in AML. Here such a case has been discussed which presented with primarily skin manifestation, subsequently diagnosed as AML. Therefore routine investigations are mandatory in all patients before going for a sophisticated investigation so that the diagnosis is not missed.

A clinico-serological study of neurocysticercosis in patients with ring enhancing lesions in CT scan of brain.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: To study the clinical profile of neurocysticercosis and the utility of serological test using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with ring enhancing lesions in CT scan of brain. METHODS: A total of 51 patients presenting between April 2003 to March 2004 to the Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, with ring enhancing lesions in CT scan of brain suggestive of neurocysticercosis were included in the study. Serum samples for ELISA test were taken from all patients and controlled sera were taken from 20 patients admitted in the ward, who did not have clinical evidence of cysticercosis and whose CT scan of brain were either normal or revealed lesion other than cerebral cysticercosis. RESULTS: The maximum incidence of neurocysticercosis was found in the age group between 21 and 30 years (43.41%). Seizures were the commonest clinical presentation (100%). Eleven patients (21.56%) had ring enhancing lesions with central scolex. Fourty patients (78.44%) showed only ring enhancing lesions. ELISA test for definitive neurocysticercosis showed a sensitivity of 82.60% and specificity of 100%, while patients with CT scan features of neurocysticercosis had a sensitivity of 78.43% with ELISA. CONCLUSION: ELISA for cysticercosis showed a sensitivity of 82.60% and specificity of 100%. The study also shows that therapeutic effectiveness with albendazole is quite satisfactory. As the study population is small in number which was conducted in a span of one year, an evaluation with a larger number of patients will definitely throw more light on the subject.