A case of Cushing's syndrome in ACTH-secreting mediastinal paraganglioma

Paragangliomas are unusual neuroendocrine cell tumors arising from paraganglia, of which ACTH-secreting cases in the mediastinum are extremely rare. A 51-year-old woman was admitted for generalized edema and weakness which began 5 months ago. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a tumor mass in the anterior mediastinum. The plasma cortisol and ACTH levels were very high. Other sources secreting ACTH, except mediastinal mass, were not found. Surgical excision of mediastinal mass and left supraclavicular lymph node was performed. The postoperative microscopic finding and immunohistochemical staining revealed organoid tumor cell nests (zellballen) and S-100 protein positive sustentacular cells which are characteristics of paraganglioma. This was thus a case of Cushing's syndrome resulting from ectopic ACTH production in anterior mediastinal paraganglioma.

A Case of Ebstein's Anomaly Combined with Patent Foramen Ovale

Ebsteins anomaly is characterized by a downward displacement of the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. Its anatomical abnormality is displacement of septal and posterior leaflets of tricuspid valve from atrioventricular ring into the body of right ventricle and therefore a portion of right ventricle is atrialized. The primary hemodynamic anomaly producing symptoms in Ebsteins malformation is tricuspid regurgitation. Its natural history and clinical features depend on the drgree of displacement of tricuspid leaflets from atrioventricular ring. Although most patients with Ebsteins anomaly are diagnosed in early children, some patients with a mildly deformed tricuspid valve may remain asympto- matic well into adulthood. Most common complaints adult-onset disease are exertional dyspnea, fatigue, palpitation and cyanosis. In rnost cases the physical exarnination, electrocardiogram, and roentgenogram are sufficiently to allow the diagnosis. But, recently echocardiography has played an important role in the recognition of Ebsteins anomaly because two-dimensional echocardiography provides direct visualization of the abnormally displaced tricuspid valve apparatus. So echocardiography has replaced angiography as the procedure of choice for diagnostic and morphologic assessrnent of patients with Ebsteins anomaly. We experienced a 67-year-old female patient with Ebstein's anomaly that was definitely diagnosed by two-dimentional echocardiography. We report this case with literature review.

Reversal of Dilated Cardiomyopathy with medical therapy in a case of Pheochromocytoma

Dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma is rare but has been reported to be partially or completely reversible in some cases. A woman with hypertension and cardiac failure due to pheochromocytoma was found to have a dilated, hypokeinetic left ventricle and a restrictive left ventricular filling pattern on two-Dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms. Left ventricular cavity was normalized after aggressive drug treatment, and after sugery of pheochromocytoma,left ventricular filling pattern and blood pressure as well as left ventricular function in echocardiogram were also completely normalized on follow-up without any drug.

Reversal of Dilated Cardiomyopathy with medical therapy in a case of Pheochromocytoma

Dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma is rare but has been reported to be partially or completely reversible in some cases. A woman with hypertension and cardiac failure due to pheochromocytoma was found to have a dilated, hypokeinetic left ventricle and a restrictive left ventricular filling pattern on two-Dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms. Left ventricular cavity was normalized after aggressive drug treatment, and after sugery of pheochromocytoma,left ventricular filling pattern and blood pressure as well as left ventricular function in echocardiogram were also completely normalized on follow-up without any drug.

A Case of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome with Massive Pleural Effusion / 결핵

The ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a rare but serious complication of ovulation induction therapy with gonadotropin. The clinical manifestations are generalized edema, ascites with pleural effusion and may become life-threatening in severe cases. The pathophysiology is still unknown therefore, the treatment should be symptomatic and conservative. We report a case of severe OHSS with massive right pleural effusion in excess of ten liters after human menopausal gonadotropin therapy because of secondary infertility. Fluid and electrolyte imbalances were corrected and albumin was administered. A right chest tube was placed for a total of sixteen days, draining eleven liters of pleural effusion totally, resulting a dramatic decrease of pleural effusion and improvement of symptoms.