[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the lumbar spine. Medico-surgical experience. A case report]. / Quiste óseo aneurismático de columna vertebral lumbar. Experiencia médico-quirúrgica. Reporte de un caso.

The aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) of the lumbar spine is an infrequent entity, of undefined nature and aggressive behavior; there are only a few reports in Mexico, so we present the case of a patient with radicular and lumbar pain that progressed to pelvic limb paresthesia. Lesions in the vertebral body of L1 were located with imaging studies and confirmed with biopsy; treatment with corticosteroids was started and later resection of the lesion was performed together with stabilization of the spine using first a posterior approach and at a second stage an anterior approach. Corticosteroid therapy led to remission of tumor progression, so only vacuolated areas and destruction of the posterior wall were found, leading to instability and radiculopathy. This type of lesions usually appears in long bones and less often in the spine, but it is even rarer in the lumbar spine. The prognosis of ABC is usually good, with the exception of the rare cases of extremely disseminated cysts located in the spine. It is therefore important to consider this before deciding what the best approach is for each patient, as well as the appropriate medico-surgical measures.

[HELLP syndrome. Hepatic subcapsular hematoma and infarction. 2 cases reports]. / Síndrome Hellp. Hematoma subcapsular e infarto hepáticos, presentación de dos casos clínicos.

Two patients with HELLP syndrome are presented and hepatic subcapsular haematoma and infarction were documented. The first clinical manifestation in both cases was hypotension. A surgical pregnancy interruption was required. These patients also presented leukocytosis, renal insufficiency, severe hepatic failure and the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (grade III-IV). One patient died in spite of medical intervention with multiple organ failure. The other patient is still alive but with minor liver dysfunction.

Urinary phencyclidine excretion in chronic abusers.

Data on usage patterns of 100 hospitalized chronic phencyclidine abusers was collected. Weekly urine samples were monitored using a new gas chromatographic nitrogen detector analysis for PCP. Abusers were found to be, on the average, young males who had used PCP for approximately 40 months (range 12 to 96 months) and approximately 3 to 4 d/week. Except for one subject, urines became negative for PCP within 30 d after last use with a mean of 14 d. There was rapid excretion during the first 9 d followed by a more gradual reduction in urine PCP levels.