Pancoast's Syndrome due to Fungal Abscess in the Apex of Lung in an Immunocompetent Individual: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Malignant tumours in the apices of the lungs, especially bronchogenic carcinoma (Pancoast tumours), are the most common cause of Pancoast' syndrome which presents with shoulder or arm pain radiating along the medial aspect of forearm and weakness of small muscles of hand with wasting of hypothenar eminence due to neoplastic involvement of C8 and T1 and T2 nerve roots of brachial plexus. There are a number of benign conditions which may lead to Pancoast's syndrome; fungal abscess located in the apex of lung is one of them. Oral or intravenous antifungals are the treatment of choice in this case and complete recovery is usual, whereas, surgical resection followed by chemoradiotherapy is the treatment of choice in case of Pancoast's syndrome due to lung cancers. Hence, tissue diagnosis is mandatory. Here, we report a case of apical fungal abscess causing Pancoast's syndrome in an immunocompetent individual of 35 years of age to raise the awareness among the clinicians regarding this rare clinical entity.

Cervical lymphadenopathy--pitfalls of blind antitubercular treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in the TB-endemic zone, like India but it can also mimic other diseases. Four cases of cervical lymphadenopathy presented to us as initial treatment failure after completion of six months of antitubercular drugs (ATD), including rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. All were diagnosed as having tuberculosis either by fine needle aspiration cytology or clinically from outside our institution. In one case, tuberculosis was the final diagnosis but, unfortunately, it was multidrug-resistant. In other three cases, Hodgkin disease, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Kikuchi's disease were the diagnoses. In resource-poor countries, like India, which is also a TB-endemic zone, TB should be the first diagnosis in all cases of chronic cervical lymphadenopathy, based on clinical and/or cytological evidences. So, they were correctly advised antitubercular therapy (ATT) initially. Sometimes, TB mimics other aetiologies where apparent initial improvement with ATT finally results in treatment failure. Hence, investigations for microbiological and histopathological diagnosis are warranted, depending on the resources and feasibility. If these tests are not routinely available, the patients should be under close monitoring so that lymphoma, drug-resistant TB, or other aetiologies of cervical lymphadenopathy are not missed. Patients with cervical lymphadenopathy rarely presents acutely; so, a physician can take the opportunity of histopathological study of lymphnode tissue.

A rare case of Kartagener's syndrome.

A young boy presented with cough and intermittent breathlessness for 3 months. He used to suffer from frequent cough and cold since childhood. Clinical examination revealed bilateral coarse basal crepitations and rhonchi. His apex beat was on right 5(th) intercostal space in mid-clavicular line. Investigation revealed situs inversus, bi-lateral bronchiectasis, and chronic sinusitis. His semen analysis revealed the complete absence of sperm. The Saccharin test revealed impaired nasal ciliary movement. Considering all the finding, he was diagnosed as a case of Kartagener's syndrome. We are reporting this case because of its rarity and rare presence of aspermia in Kartagener's syndrome.

Delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture with herniation of the left kidney and bowel loops.

Rupture of the diaphragm mostly occurs following major trauma. We report a case of delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia on the left side in a 44-year-old male who presented two weeks after a minor blunt trauma. Left kidney and intestinals coils were found to herniate through the diaphragmatic tear. This case demonstrates the importance of considering the diagnosis in all cases of blunt trauma of the trunk. It also illustrates the rare possibility of herniation of kidney through the diaphragmatic tear.

Cerebral tuberculoma as a manifestation of paradoxical reaction in patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Expansion of cerebral tuberculomas or their new appearance as a manifestation of paradoxical reaction in patients under antituberculous chemotherapy is well documented. Distinguishing paradoxical reaction from disease progression or treatment failure is an important issue in tuberculosis management. Five cases of cerebral tuberculomas are reported here as manifestations of paradoxical reaction in patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis on antituberculous treatment. Case 1 and 2 had tuberculous meningitis, Case 3 had miliary tuberculosis, Case 4 had miliary tuberculosis and destructive vertebral lesions, and Case 5 had pulmonary tuberculosis. Continuation of antituberculous drugs and addition of steroids led to full recovery of all patients.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Thrombocytopenic purpura as a manifestation of pulmonary tuberculosis is very rare. We report a case of 25-year-old female who presented with thrombocytopenia-induced purpuric spots and an abnormal chest X-ray. There was no hepatosplenomegaly while the bone marrow examination revealed normal maturation of myeloid and erythroid series with increased megakaryocytes. Acid fast bacilli were seen in the sputum microscopy. A diagnosis of sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis along with immune thrombocytopenia was made. High dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy along with antituberculous drugs corrected the thrombocytopenia and also cured pulmonary tuberculosis. This case report illustrates the causal association between immune thrombocytopenia and tuberculosis.

Rare association of eventration of left hemidiaphragm with ipsilateral thyroid agenesis.

Eventration is a well-known congenital malformation of the diaphragm, usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally on chest radiography. It is sometimes associated with a number of other congenital syndromes and anomalies. We report a rare case of eventration of left hemidiaphragm associated with gastric volvulus, ipsilateral thyroid agenesis and microphthalmia.

Bifid sternum.

A bifid sternum is a rare congenital anomaly generally diagnosed as asymptomatic at birth. It is sometimes associated with other congenital anomalies. The sternal defects are best corrected surgically during the neonatal period within the first month of life. Sometimes the defect may be diagnosed only in adult life. We here report a case of bifid sternum which was diagnosed incidentally in a 23-year-old male.

A study on central corneal thickness and optic disc size in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

The aim of the study was to evaluate a possible relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and optic disc area in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Patients with POAG and age matched control group underwent routine ocular examination along with optic nerve head evaluation by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) and CCT measurement by ultrasound pachymetry. Pearson's coefficient was calculated in both groups to find out correlation between these two parameters. In this series 90 eyes of 45 control subjects and 94 eyes of 47 POAG patients were studied. In the control group 40% were female, 60% male and among the POAG patients 34% female, 66% male. Mean CCT in control subjects was 566.98 micron (SD = 19.36, n = 90) and in POAG patients was 526.61 micron (SD = 29.93, n = 94). There was a significant difference in two groups (p = 0.0002). Disc area in control group had mean of 2.32mm(2) (SD = 0.305, n = 90) and in POAG group 2.982mm(2) (SD = 0.566, n = 94). Statistically significant difference was found among the two groups (p = 0.0). CCT was inversely correlated with optic disc size. In control subjects, r = -0.141, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.092). In POAG group, r = -0.256 and the correlation was statistically significant (p = 0.0063). CCT was significantly less in POAG patients compared to control subjects. Mean disc area was significantly higher among the POAG group compared to control subjects. CCT was inversely correlated with disc area in both groups, but was statistically significant in POAG patients.

Diagnostic yield of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and postbronchoscopic sputum cytology in endoscopically non-visible lung cancers.

Diagnostic yield of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and postbronchoscopic sputum (PBS) cytology is very high in endoscopically visible bronchogenic carcinoma, but they are also helpful in diagnosis of those lung cancers which are not visible bronchoscopically. Objective of this prospective study is to analyse the diagnostic yield of BAL fluid and PBS cytology in endoscopically non-visible lung cancer. Thirty patients with chest radiographic abnormality suspicious of lung cancer without endobronchial abnormality underwent BAL fluid and PBS cytology examination in the department of respiratory medicine of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital over 1 year and 3 months. The final diagnosis was bronchogenic carcinoma in 21, tuberculoma/tuberculosis in 5, bacterial pneumonia in 3 and encysted empyema in 1. Among the 21 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, BAL was positive for malignant cell in 13 patients (62%). The diagnostic yield of the BAL was influenced by size, location, radiographic pattern and cell type of the tumour. PBS cytology was positive in 3 patients (14%) only, all of which were positive with BAL fluid also. BAL fluid cytology proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool in diagnosis of endoscopically non-visible lung cancer. Size, location, radiographic pattern and cytological type of the lesions were important determinants of the diagnostic yield. PBS cytology provided no additional benefit.

Presenting experience of managing abdominal tuberculosis at a tertiary care hospital in India.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal tuberculosis remains the great mimic despite years of experience and awareness. Reliable epidemiological data on abdominal tuberculosis are lacking in India. OBJECTIVES: To define the most suggestive clinical features of abdominal tuberculosis, to evaluate the usefulness of the normally available investigations, and the response of anti-tuberculous drugs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 110 patients attending our hospital between July 2000 and June 2002, with clinical suspicion of abdominal tuberculosis, 46 patients had confirmed abdominal tuberculosis. Their clinico-radiological and cyto / histopathological profiles, side effects of anti-tuberculous drugs, and the outcome of the treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: Weight loss, abdominal pain, and bowel disturbances were the most common symptoms. Anemia and under- nutrition, abdominal tenderness, ascites, and hepato / splenomegaly were the most common findings. Chest radiography showed active or healed tuberculous focus in 16. Ultrasonography revealed abdominal lymphadenopathy, ascites, and mass lesions in 26, 12, and four patients, respectively. Barium examination showed abnormality in eight patients out of 18, among whom it was performed. An ascitic fluid study done in 12 patients showed high adenosine deaminase in all, and positive acid fast bacilli in one. Laparoscopic peritoneal biopsy was done in18 patients, and 13 showed tuberculous granuloma. Treatment success was achieved in 38 patients with anti-tuberculous drugs. Most patients tolerated the anti-tuberculous drugs well. CONCLUSION: With good clinical examination and appropriate investigations definitive diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis can be reached in a significant number of patients. Strongly suggestive clinical and laboratory data are also indications for anti-tuberculous therapy in an endemic country like India. Anti-tuberculous drugs are well tolerated and highly effective.

Serum magnesium and stable asthma: Is there a link?

BACKGROUND: Although magnesium is used through intravenous and inhalation route in the management of asthma, actual prevalence of hypomagnesemia in asthma is not known. We conducted this study: 1) to detect the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in stable asthma and 2) to assess the significance of hypomagnesemia in these patients. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata. PERIOD OF STUDY: Four months from January, 2007, to April, 2007. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients attending outpatients department of respiratory medicine with stable asthma were randomly selected. They were assessed clinically and their serum magnesium levels were measured. This was compared with the serum magnesium values of 45 nonasthmatic healthy controls. RESULTS: Out of 50 patients, 14 had hypomagnesemia. Possible relationship of hypomagnesemia with tachycardia, tachypnoea, severity of asthma, medication use, and previous and future exacerbations were analyzed. CONCLUSION: There was statistically significant association of hypomagnesemia with tachypnoea, severe asthma, use of long-acting ß-agonist, inhaled corticosteroids, theophylline, use of ≥ 3 medications, previous and future exacerbations but not with tachycardia or use of short-acting ß(2) -agonist or montelukast.

Tuberculosis in a bronchogenic cyst.

Bronchogenic cyst is one of the subtypes of congenital pulmonary cyst. Superadded infection, mostly bacterial is the commonest complication. Myobacterial infection is very rare. Here a case of tuberculosis in a bronchogenic cyst is reported because of its rarity.

A case of haemoptysis due to endobrnchial fibroma, a rare benign tumour of lung.

A case of recurrent haemoptysis due to fibroma is described in a 55 years old male patient. Clinical examination revealed anaemia and bilateral basal crepitations. Chest X - ray showed no abnormality. Bronchoscopy revealed polypoid fibroma in left main bronchus. It was removed bonchoscopically with no recurrence during 12 months follow up.

A study of comparison of efficacy and safety of talc and povidone iodine for pleurodesis of malignant pleural effusions.

Pleurodesis is considered as the best palliative therapy for the treatment of symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. Several chemical agents are used for this purpose with variable efficacy and safety. The present study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of talc and povidone iodine as chemical agents for pleurodesis in patients of malignant pleural effusion. Fifty-two patients with malignant pleural effusion admitted in the department of chest of Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata were selected for the study. Pleurodesis with povidone iodine and talc in slurry was done in 28 and 24 patients respectively. Efficacy and safety of these agents were assessed during a follow-up period of six months. Among the 52 patients, 42 were males and 10 females. Age ranged from 40 to 64 years with mean age of 56.4 years. In 41 patients effusion was secondary to bronchogemic carcinoma, 8 had effusion secondary to breast carcinoma, 1 had effusion due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, while primary malignancy was unknown in 2 patients. Among the 24 patients treated with talc pleurodesis, 20 had bronchogenic carcinoma, 3 had breast carcinoma and 1 had unknown primary malignancy. Out of the 28 patients treated with povidone iodine pleurodesis, bronchogenic carcinoma was present in 21 patients, breast carcinoma in 5 patients, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and unknown primary malignancy was present in 1 patient each. Pleurodesis with talc showed complete success in 19 patients, partial success in 3 patients and failure in 2 patients. Pleurodesis with povidone iodine showed complete response in 24 patients, partial response in 1 patient and failure in 3 patients. Chest pain occurred in 4 patients of talc pleurodesis and 5 patients of povidone iodine pleurodesis, 3 patients of each group had fever. There was no death in the peripleurodesis period. During the 6 months follow-up, 12 patients of talc pleurodesis and 18 patients of povidone iodine pleurodesis died. Talc is slurry and povidone iodine is equally effective and safe pleurodesing agent for symptomatic malignant pleural effusion. However povidone iodine can be preferred option because of easy availability and low cost.