Right Atrium Invasion of Tumor Thrombus from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidentally Found on Transthoracic Echocardiogram.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy in which tumor thrombus can invade portal and hepatic veins in late stages. However, an antemortem diagnosis of right atrial invasion by tumor thrombus is very rare and confers a poor prognosis. We report a patient with antemortem diagnosis of tumor thrombus in the right atrium incidentally found by transthoracic echocardiogram which was later confirmed with CT scan of abdomen with IV contrast. The patient was also noted to have an acute increase in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Our case suggests the importance of imaging studies and monitoring AFP levels in patients with long standing HCC.

Streptococcus agalactiae mural infective endocarditis in a structurally normal heart.

A 38-year-old Caucasian man with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type 2 was admitted with a 1-week duration of fevers, chills, and a non-productive cough. He had a left ischiorectal abscess 1 month prior to admission. Physical examination revealed caries on a left upper molar and a well-healed scar on the left buttock, but no heart murmur or evidence of micro-emboli. Blood cultures grew Streptococcus agalactiae. A transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a mobile mass in the right ventricle that attached to chordae tendineae without valvular disease or dysfunction. A computed tomography (CT) with contrast revealed the mass within the right ventricle, a left lung cavitary lesion, and a splenic infarction. He was initially treated with penicillin G for a week. Subsequently, ceftriaxone was continued for a total of 8 weeks. A follow-up CT showed no evidence of right ventricular mass 8 weeks after discharge. This is the first reported case of S. agalactiae mural infective endocarditis in a structurally normal heart.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case of Nasal Mass, Necrotic Lung, and Normal Kidneys.

A diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) can be challenging given various clinical manifestations. We report an incident case of GPA presenting with chronic sinusitis and mimicking an early lung abscess without renal involvement. A 51 year-old woman with chronic obstructive sinusitis presented with subacute dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain and fever. Physical examination revealed a right nasal mass without discharge or bleeding. Decreased to absent breath sounds and dullness to percussion were noted at the left lung base. Laboratory findings were significant for leukocytosis but normal renal function. The chest CT demonstrated dense consolidation with hypo-enhancement of the lingula. The sinus CT revealed an enhancing mass in the right nasal cavity and anterior ethmoid sinuses with associated bony destruction. Patient did not improve with empiric antibiotics for lung abscess. Aspiration of the lingular fluid showed purulent material, however, microbes did not grow in culture. A positive C-ANCA screen was confirmed. A right nasal biopsy was performed which revealed granulomatous inflammation with focal necrosis and vasculitis. The final diagnosis was GPA. Given various clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of GPA can be difficult to distinguish from infectious etiologies. This can delay the treatment, which may be life-saving and organ sparing. We emphasize that an initial screening ANCA serology test is recommended in patients with suggestive clinical findings of GPA. Biopsy of an affected organ is paramount for the definitive diagnosis.

Effect of Beta-blocker therapy on rehospitalization rates in women versus men with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

Beta blockers are empirically used in many patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) because they allow more time for diastolic filling and because they improve outcomes in patients with systolic HF. However, recent data suggest that impaired chronotropic and vasodilator responses to exercise, which can worsen with beta blockade, may play a key role in the pathophysiology of HFpEF. We prospectively examined the association between beta-blocker therapy after hospitalization for decompensated HF and HF rehospitalization at 6 months in 66 consecutive patients with HFpEF (71 +/- 13 years old, 68% women, 42% Black). Subjects were stratified based on receiving (BB+; 15 men, 28 women) or not receiving (BB-) beta-blockers at hospital discharge. In men, HF rehospitalization occurred less frequently in the BB+ than in the BB- group, albeit nonsignificantly (20% vs 50%, p = 0.29). In women, HF rehospitalization occurred more frequently in the BB+ than in the BB- group (75% vs 18%, p <0.001). In univariate analyses, discharge beta-blocker was associated with HF rehospitalization in women (odds ratio [OR] 14.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.09 to 63.51, p = 0.001), but not in men (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.92, p = 0.18). In a forward logistic regression model that offered all univariate predictors of HF rehospitalization, discharge beta blocker remained an independent predictor of HF rehospitalization in women (OR 11.06, 95% CI 1.98 to 61.67, p = 0.006). In conclusion, this small observational study suggests that beta-blocker therapy may be associated with a higher risk of HF rehospitalization in women with HFpEF. The risks and benefits of beta-blocker therapy in patients with HFpEF should be evaluated in randomized, controlled trials.

Duration of vitamin K antagonist therapy for venous thromboembolism: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence on the optimal duration of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of VKA for VTE were identified by a computerized database search. Summary event rates for relevant outcomes were calculated using a random effects model with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Ten studies met inclusion criteria. The incidence of recurrent VTE (3 months, 7.9 VTE per 100 patient-years [95% CI, 5.2 to 10] versus 4-12 months, 4.9 VTE per 100 patient-years [95% CI, 3.6 to 6.2] versus continuous therapy, 0.7 VTE per 100 patient-years [95% CI, 0.3 to 1.1]) and total adverse events (3 months, 11.2 events per 100 patient-years [95%CI, 7.1 to 15.4] versus 4-12 months, 7.4 events per 100 patient-years [95%CI, 6.2 to 8.5] versus continuous therapy 3.1 events per 100 patient-years [95%CI, 2.2 to 4.0] declined as VKA therapy duration increased. Continuous reduced intensity therapy (INR 1.5-2) was associated with more recurrent VTE (2.3 VTE per 100 patient-years [95%CI, 1.5 to 3.0]). Continuous VKA therapy (INR 2-3) was beneficial for patients with a second VTE and antiphospholipid antibodies. The incidence of recurrent VTE was similar with 6 or 12 weeks of therapy for isolated calf DVT. CONCLUSION: Randomized controlled trials indicate that continuous VKA therapy (INR 2-3) for VTE is associated with better clinical outcomes than shorter durations. Patients with a second VTE or antiphospholipid antibodies also benefit from continuous anticoagulation. Patients with calf DVT should be treated for at least 6 weeks.

Accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to summarize systematically the published evidence describing the accuracy of contrast-enhanced helical CT for diagnosing pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected all systematic reviews published before December 2003 that evaluated the accuracy of CT angiography for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. We also selected all prospective studies from the same time period in the primary literature in which all subjects underwent both CT and conventional angiography, the latter being considered the reference standard. Articles were identified through a computerized MEDLINE search and by other means. The quality and content of each article were evaluated independently by pairs of researchers. RESULTS: Six systematic reviews and eight primary studies were selected. The combined sensitivities of CT for detecting pulmonary embolism ranged from 66% to 93% across the systematic reviews and the combined specificities ranged from 89% to 97%. Only one of the reviews reported a combined sensitivity of greater than 90%. Among the eight primary studies, the sensitivities ranged from 45% to 100% and specificities ranged from 78% to 100%. Only three of the eight primary studies reported a sensitivity greater than 90%. None of the primary studies used scanners with four or more detectors. CONCLUSION: A systematic literature review revealed a wide range of reported sensitivities, only a minority of which exceeded 90%. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity reported by systematic literature reviews should be interpreted with caution because of potential selection bias and heterogeneity in the reviewed studies. Accuracy studies of recent generations of MDCT scanners are not yet available despite the current dissemination of this technology.

Usefulness of clinical prediction rules for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To summarize the evidence on the predictive value of clinical prediction rules for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism. METHODS: We selected all studies in the English literature in which a clinical prediction rule was prospectively validated against a reference standard, and calculated likelihood ratios, predictive values, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for each prediction rule. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies met our eligibility criteria: 17 evaluated prediction rules for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis and six evaluated rules for pulmonary embolism. The most frequently evaluated prediction rule for deep vein thrombosis was the Wells rule, which had median positive likelihood ratios of 6.62 for patients with a high pretest probability, 1 for moderate pretest probability, and 0.22 for low pretest probability. The median area under the ROC curve was 0.82. Addition of the D-dimer test to the prediction rule increased the median area under the curve to 0.90. The Wells prediction rule was the most commonly studied for pulmonary embolus and had median positive likelihood ratios of 6.75 for those with high pretest probability, 1.82 for moderate pretest probability, and 0.13 for low pretest probability. The median area under the ROC curve was 0.82. CONCLUSION: The Wells prediction rule is useful in identifying patients at low risk of being diagnosed with venous thromboembolism. The addition of a rapid latex D-dimer assay improved the overall performance of the prediction rule.

Outpatient therapy with low molecular weight heparin for the treatment of venous thromboembolism: a review of efficacy, safety, and costs.

PURPOSE: To summarize the evidence comparing the efficacy, safety, and costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism. METHODS: We searched the literature through March 2002 for studies comparing outpatient and inpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism with low molecular weight heparin or unfractionated heparin, and for studies addressing the costs of low molecular weight heparin use in any setting. We included studies with comparison groups or decision analyses. RESULTS: Eight studies (three randomized trials and five cohort studies) compared outpatient use of low molecular weight heparin with inpatient use of unfractionated heparin in 3762 patients. The incidence of recurrent deep venous thrombosis was similar in the two groups (median, 4% [range, 0% to 7%] vs. 6% [range, 0% to 9%]), as was major bleeding (median, 0.5% [range, 0% to 2%] vs. 1% [range, 0% to 2%]). Use of low molecular weight heparin was associated with shorter hospitalization (median, 2.7 days [range, 0.03 to 5.1 days] vs. 6.5 days [range, 4 to 9.6 days]) and lower costs (median difference, 1600 dollars). Comparisons of outpatient and in-hospital use of low molecular weight heparin reported no difference in outcomes, but there were savings in hospitalization costs. Low molecular weight heparin was also found to be more cost saving and cost-effective than unfractionated heparin, with savings of 0% to 64% (median, 57%). CONCLUSION: The evidence indicates that outpatient treatment of deep venous thrombosis with low molecular weight heparin is likely to be efficacious, safe, and cost-effective.