ABSTRACT
The manifestations of cardiac mucormycosis may dominate the clinical picture of disseminated mucormycosis. These manifestations include myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, conduction system disease, valvular imcompetence and pericarditis. The development of such manifestations in a febrile compromised host with one or more predisposing factors should prompt consideration of disseminated mucormycosis in the differential diagnosis and initiation of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Mucormycosis/diagnosis , Aged , Cardiomyopathies/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Electrocardiography , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mucormycosis/pathology , Myocardium/pathology , NecrosisABSTRACT
We describe a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the pulmonary artery. The patient received, 25 years ago, at the age of 43 years, radiation therapy to the chest for squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung. We believe the patient's second tumor was induced by radiation and, to our knowledge, this case represents the first report of radiation-induced MFH of the pulmonary artery. The diagnosis was confirmed by findings from electron microscopy and extensive studies with immunohistochemical stains. We discuss the value of studies with immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MFH. The presentation of this case underlines that MFH can occur in the pulmonary artery and may be--as is the MFH in other locations--induced by radiation.
Subject(s)
Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous/pathology , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/pathology , Pulmonary Artery , Aged , Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous/metabolism , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Male , Microscopy, Electron , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/metabolism , Vascular Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
Five adults with primary intraventricular hemorrhage are described. The presenting features included headache, confusion and drowsiness. Focal neurological signs were minimal or absent. All five had a history of hypertension, three patients had bilateral internal carotid occlusion at its origin, one had unilateral occlusion of the left internal carotid artery with severe stenosis of the contralateral siphon. Unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery were present in the fifth patient. Pathological examination of the brain from one patient showed the presence of severe hemorrhagic "lacunar" infarcts adjacent to the left lateral ventricle, one showing direct continuity of blood in the lacune with the massive intraventricular hematoma. We hypothesize that such a finding illustrates one possible mechanism for this unusual type of hemorrhage. Patients with longstanding hypertension and severe occlusive disease of the internal carotid arteries may be predisposed to this unusual complication.
