Impact of COVID-19 on management outcome of cervicofacial infections in a maxillofacial centre

INTRODUCTION: Cervicofacial infections (CFI) are life-threatening and constitute some of the common emergencies seen by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon on a regular basis. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced human activities for most of 2020 including the first worldwide lockdown. At the height of the pandemic, it was expected that the number of patients presenting with cervicofacial infections would drop as with most health conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcome of cervicofacial infections in a tertiary maxillofacial institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who presented at the Maxillofacial clinic with cervicofacial infections and were subsequently admitted into the ward during the lockdown (2020) was compared with those of the previous year (2019) and the year after (2021).RESULTS: The total number of patients seen and admitted with cervicofacial infections in 2020 was 39(31.2%) which was lower than that seen the preceding year 48(38.4%) but higher than 38(30.4%) of the year after. 116 patients were treated while nine patients left hospital without treatment. All patients presented with extensive cervicofacial infections, involving more than three fascial spaces and were treated using parenteral antibiotics with surgical incision and drainage under local anesthesia. There were more deaths in 2020 (n=10) than in the preceding year (n=8) and the year after (n=7).CONCLUSION: A high percentage of CFI was admitted duringCOVID-19 period compared to the previous and following years. Involvement of multiple fascial spaces was also noted

INTRODUCTION: Les infections cervico-faciales (ICF) mettent la vie en danger et constituent certaines des urgences les plus courantes que rencontre régulièrement le chirurgien buccal et maxillo-facial. La pandémie de COVID-19 a entraîné une réduction des activités humaines pendant la majeure partie de l'année 2020, y compris le premier verrouillage mondial. Au plus fort de la pandémie, on s'attendait à ce que le nombre de patients présentant des infections cervico-faciales diminue comme pour la plupart des problèmes de santé. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer l'impact de COVID19 sur la gestion et le résultat des infections cervicofaciales dans une institution tertiaire maxillo-faciale. PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Une analyse rétrospective des patients qui se sont présentés à la clinique maxillo-faciale avec des infections cervico-faciales et ont ensuite été admis dans le service pendant le lockdown (2020) a été comparée à celles de l'année précédente (2019) et de l'année suivante (2021). RÉSULTATS: Le nombre total de patients vus et admis pour des infections cervico-faciales en 2020 était de 39 (31,2 %), ce qui était inférieur à celui de l'année précédente (48 (38,4 %)) mais supérieur à celui de l'année suivante (38 (30,4 %)). 116 ont été traités tandis que neuf patients ont quitté l'hôpital sans traitement. Tous les patients présentaient des infections cervico-faciales étendues, impliquant plus de trois espaces fasciaux et ont été traités à l'aide d'antibiotiques parentéraux, avec incision chirurgicale et drainage sous anesthésie locale. Il y a eu plus de décès en 2020 (n=10) que l'année précédente (n=8) et l'année suivante (n=7). CONCLUSION: Bien qu'un pourcentage élevé de FCI ait été admis pendant la période COVI-19 par rapport aux années précédentes et suivantes, l'implication de multiples espaces fasciaux a également été constatée

[Pancreatic beta-cell hyperplasia in adults. A clinical case]. / L'iperplasia delle beta-cellule pancreatiche nell'adulto. Caso clinico.

The author describe a rare case of pancreatic beta-cell hyperplasia. The patient was referred to us because of serious hypoglycemic crises. During hospitalization, endogenous hyperinsulinism was confirmed by hematochemical and instrumental tests. AngioCT of the pancreas evidenced a small lesion of the corpus, suspected of insulinoma. The patient underwent a corpus caudalis pancreatectomy: a small nodule with histologic neuroendocrine traits was ablated. A few days after the operation, new symptomatic hypoglycemia appeared. The hormonal tests confirmed a recurrence of endogenous hyperinsulinism. The patient underwent a new operation for pancreaticoduodenectomy: histological examination confirmed a pancreatic beta-cells hyperplasia. This condition has to be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of post prandial hypoglycemia. Besides, the observation of an insulinoma doesn't exclude the presence of a diffused disorder of islet cells as in the case above described.

[Magnetic resonance in the staging of renal carcinoma. The results compared with computed tomography in 42 cases]. / La Risonanza Magnetica nella stadiazione del carcinoma renale. Risultati a confronto con la Tomografia Computerizzata, in 42 casi.

In order to investigate the value of MRI in the staging of renal cell carcinoma and to compare the results of MRI and CT, the authors evaluated by means of MRI and CT 42 patients affected with renal cell carcinoma. All patients underwent surgery, and pathology of the surgical specimens was performed. A comparison was made between the surgical and pathologic data and MRI and CT results. Moreover, a comparative evaluation of MRI and CT findings was also made. From the comparison between pathologic data and CT and MRI results MRI was seen to have correctly staged 36 of 42 cases (85%), versus CT 33 of 42 cases (78%). Moreover, MRI proved to be superior to CT in evaluating venous involvement (stages III A and III C) and extra-fascial tumor spread (stage IVA). On the contrary, no significant differences were found between MRI and CT in the evaluation of perirenal involvement (stages I-II) and lymph node metastases (stage III B). MRI misdiagnosed 6 of 42 cases: 2 false negatives in evaluating extracapsular tumor spread, 1 false positive of mesenteric infiltration, 1 false positive of renal vein thrombosis, 1 false positive and 1 false negative in evaluating lymph node metastases. CT misdiagnoses (9 of 42 cases) were the same as those of MRI in 5 cases, while in the MRI false positive of renal vein thrombosis CT was correct. The extant 4 incorrect CT findings were: 2 false positive of renal vein thrombosis, 1 false negative of infiltration of diaphragm and psoas muscle, 1 false positive infiltration of the right liver lobe. As yet, therefore, MRI cannot be routinely employed to stage all renal cancer patients. On the contrary, MRI should be considered as a second-choice diagnostic tool to employ in selected cases when CT alone cannot solve all the problems relative to staging.

Right colon adenocarcinoma presenting as Bacteroides fragilis liver abscesses.

Pyogenic abscesses of the liver occur in association with a variety of diseases. Sometimes they are caused by anaerobic infections of liver metastases. Uncommonly, however, multiple hepatic abscesses caused by anaerobic bacteria are the presenting signs of unsuspected colonic cancer in the absence of liver metastases. We report a 60-year-old man who presented with febrile cholestatic liver disease initially thought to be metastases. Repeated ultrasound-directed liver biopsies yielded a diagnosis of multiple abscesses. Bacteroides fragilis was grown from the liver specimen and the patient responded well to metronidazole treatment. Two months later, however, overt symptoms of large bowel disease led to the diagnosis of colonic adenocarcinoma. After a 6-month postoperative follow-up, the patient is free of liver metastases. Anaerobic liver abscesses should always alert the clinician to possible silent colonic cancer.

Bone pulsating metastasis due to hypernephroma.

Bone pulsating metastasis due to hypernephroma is an exceptional occurrence. The authors present one case of bone pulsating metastasis due to hypernephroma localized in the proximal tibia. The primary renal lesion was located by ultrasonography and confirmed by CT scan.