ABSTRACT
Pulmonary tumor embolism (PTE) is a rare phenomenon typically presenting as dyspnea in cancer patients. Primary pathophysiology is similar to the thromboembolic disease of the pulmonary vasculature, which involves large vessels to small arterioles. This phenomenon occurs mostly in lung, stomach, liver, and breast adenocarcinoma. The symptoms of hypoxemia and the signs of hemodynamic instability and high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans, along with a histopathological examination, are essential to make a confirmatory diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism. However, treatment options to effectively treat pulmonary tumor embolus are limited and still under investigation. We present a rare case of pulmonary tumor embolism in a patient with metastatic liver carcinoma and its management in a female with primary breast carcinoma.
ABSTRACT
Aggressive treatment of hyper or hypoosmolar conditions can trigger osmotic demyelination syndrome. We describe the case of a 53-year-old male who began using carbamazepine to treat bipolar affective disorder and was later diagnosed with carbamazepine-induced syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. The patient's mental state gradually improved once the hyponatremia was corrected using 3% normal saline and supportive therapy. The patient presented to the outpatient clinic with confusion and altered sensorium. Brain computed tomography showed diffuse cerebral atrophy and periventricular ischemia demyelination alterations, and magnetic resonance imaging showed an enhanced section in the brainstem that included the pons, suggesting osmotic demyelination alterations. Ventilatory support and supportive therapy were initiated, and hyponatremia was rectified. Although the patient did well with the treatment, his prognosis was still dismal, so he was sent home with instructions to follow up.
