Arteritis de células gigantes: compromiso extenso de la aorta y grandes ramas demostrado por tomografía por emisión de positrones. Caso clínico / Extensive arterial involvement in giant cell arteritis: report of one case

Large vessel vasculitis and particularly Temporal Arteritis are systemic diseases that may affect the aorta and its major branches, mainly involving extra cranial branches of the carotid artery. We report a 72-year-old man presenting with weight loss, fever and malaise. Positron emission computed tomography (PET CT) showed an extensive inflammation of the aorta and its major branches. Temporal artery biopsy confirmed the presence of vasculitis with granulomas. Treatment with a high dose of steroids had an excellent clinical response. This case underscores the utility of PET CT in the assessment of this disease.

Tumor inflamatorio miofibroblástico peritoneal. Respuesta favorable asociada a infliximab: Caso clínico / Peritoneal myofibroblastic tumor successfully treated with infliximab: Report of one case

Myofibroblastic tumor (MIT) is characterized by the infiltration of different organs, most commonly the lungs, with nodular lesions composed of myofibroblasts and inflammatory cells, which can be identified by specific patterns in the immunohistochemical studies. When it involves the peritoneum it is difficult to eradicate, tends to relapse and it has an invasive behavior, requiring its differentiation from peritoneal carcinomatosis. Treatment may be surgical excision, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids. We report a 30 years old female with an unremarkable medical history, presenting with abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distention. A CT scan revealed multiple peritoneal nodular lesions. A surgical biopsy was reported as a myofibroblast and inflammatory cell infiltrate. Immunohistochemical staining was consistent with MIT. Given the extensive involvement of the peritoneum surgical therapy was not considered appropriate and treatment with NSAID and glucocorticoids was started. No response was observed after 6 months, therefore infliximab therapy was started. After 10 months of follow-up the patient is well, returned to normal life, ascites improved and resolved and CT scan showed partial regression or stabilization of the lesions.

Artritis por Parvovirus B19: Caso clínico / Parvovirus B19 arthritis: Report of three cases

Parvovirus B19 infection is highly prevalent in children and the most common manifestation is a facial rash. In adults, acute polyarthritis and skin rash are often the presenting features. We report three patients with the disease. A 40-year-old female presenting with fever, myalgias and painful swelling of elbows, knees, wrists and feet, with functional limitation, after having a respiratory infection. Additionally, an erythematous skin rash appeared in both extremities. IgM antibodies against Parvovirus B19 were positive. The skin biopsy disclosed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient was treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistaminics. A 40-year-old female, presenting with skin rash and pain in wrists and hands. IgM antibodies against parvovirus were positive. The patient was treated successfully with acetaminophen. A 38-year-old male with psoriasis, presenting with generalized and progressive polyarthralgia. A Parvovirus viral load determination found 239000 copies of the virus and IgM antibodies were positive. He was successfully treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Algunos problemas del razonamiento médico en el proceso de diagnóstico. Papel de algunas heurísticas y posibles soluciones / The heuristics of reaching a diagnosis

Making a diagnosis in medicine is a complex process in which many cognitive and psychological issues are involved. After the first encounter with the patient, an unconscious process ensues to suspect the presence of a particular disease. Usually, complementary tests are requested to confirm the clinical suspicion. The interpretation of requested tests can be biased by the clinical diagnosis that was considered in the first encounter with the patient. The awareness of these sources of error is essential in the interpretation of the findings that will eventually lead to a final diagnosis. This article discusses some aspects of the heuristics involved in the adjudication of priory probabilities and provides a brief review of current concepts of the reasoning process.

Colecistectomía laparoscópica: casuística del Hospital Militar / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: casuistic from the Military Hospital

Se presenta la casuística de la colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL) del Hospital Militar en la patología vesicular, revisando los resultados obtenidos en 1.102 pacientes en un lapso de 23 meses. El 22 por ciento de los pacientes son portadores de un cuadro vesicular agudo. El 10 por ciento de las CL recibieron una colangiografía endoscópica retrógrada (CER) preoperatoria en búsqueda de coledocolitiasis, encontrándola en un tercio de ellos. Durante la intervención se detecta un 1,8 por ciento de coledocolitiasis, llegando a un 5,3 por ciento de cálculos coledocianos en toda la serie. En el 1,6 por ciento de la serie se realizó exploración coledociana trancística, lo que permite resolver el 40 por ciento de los hallazgos de coledocolitiasis intraopereratoria. Se convirtió la técnica en el 6 por ciento de las CL, existiendo 3,8 por ciento de complicaciones médicas, 3,5 por ciento de complicaciones quirúrgicas, con 0,7 por ciento de reoperaciones, 06 por ciento rehospitalizaciones 0,18 por ciento de sección del colédoco y 0,09 por ciento de mortalidad. Las cifras refuerzan sólidamente el concepto de que la CL es la técnica quirúrgica para tratar la patología vesicular no neoplásica, con un adecuado margen de seguridad, buena recuperación postoperatoria y rápida rehabilitación