Pituitary apoplexy: a rare cause of middle cerebral artery infarction.

Pituitary apoplexy is a well-known complication of a pituitary adenoma. However, an ischaemic event caused by pituitary apoplexy is rare. We reported a case of pituitary apoplexy with middle cerebral artery infarction in a 44-year old man who presented with a sudden onset of altered sensorium. Vasospasm is the most likely underlying cause of the infarction in this case secondary to transdiaphragmatic rupture of the sella tumour into the subarachnoid space.

Non-contrast Computed Tomography in Acute Ischaemic Stroke: A Pictorial Review.

Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) remains a widely used imaging technique and plays an important role in the evaluation of patients with acute ischaemic stroke. However, the task of identifying the signs of acute ischaemia and quantifying areas of brain involvement on NCCT scan is not easy due to its subtle findings. The reliability of early ischemic sign detection can be improved with experience, clinical history and the use of stroke window width and level on viewing the images. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was developed to overcome the difficulty of volume estimation in patients eligible for thrombolysis. It is a systematic, robust and practical method that can standardized the detection and reporting of the extent of acute ischaemic stroke. This article serves as an educational material that illustrates those findings which are important for all clinicians involved in acute stroke care.

An unexpected case of primary peritoneal carcinoma.

Primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) is a rare tumor that is histologically and immunohistochemically indistinguishable from epithelial ovarian carcinoma. The diagnosis is usually made after excluding gross ovarian involvement or the ovarian involvement is only confined to the surface. A 68-year-old lady presented with right iliac fossa pain and increasing CA125. The CT scan showed bilateral pelvic adnexal masses with peritoneal deposits within the right side of abdomen. She was initially diagnosed as carcinomatosis peritonei from the omental cake removed after exploratory surgery. She was managed as advanced ovarian tumor with peritoneal metastasis and was then administered six cycles of chemotherapy. Surgical intervention included debulking surgery consisting of total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy and omentectomy and also with right hemicolectomy. The histopathological findings were of primary peritoneal serous carcinoma with only minimal involvement of the serosal surface of the right ovarian capsule. No microscopic invasion into underlying ovarian cortex and stroma was observed. Multiple tumor deposits were also seen over the right paratubal and paraovarian tissue, both parametrium as well as serosal surface of the terminal ileum and periappendicular tissue. Immunohistochemically, the malignant cells were positive to CA125, focally positive to CK7 and negative to CD20 and Calretinin. PPC is one of important differential diagnosis which needs to be considered in cases of advanced ovarian tumor, although the former can only be ascertained after excluding the ovarian involvement microscopically.