Left main coronary artery thrombus after cannabis consumption: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Left main coronary thrombus is a rare angiographic finding associated with serious outcomes such as sudden death and cardiogenic shock. Rupture of an underlying atherosclerotic plaque is the main risk factor. The role of cannabis consumption in the pathophysiology of acute cardiovascular disease is controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction characterized by a mobile left main coronary thrombus in a young male cannabis consumer successfully treated with manual aspiration, dual anti-platelet, and unfractionated heparin therapy. CONCLUSION: Cannabis consumption could be a risk factor for coronary artery thrombosis. The pathophysiology mechanism of action is not well understood. Reaching an optimal management is a potential challenge for physicians.

Pulmonary embolism originating from germ cell tumor causes severe left ventricular dysfunction in a healthy young adult with full recovery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cancer associated thrombosis is recognized. However, pulmonary embolism (PE) from testicular cancer is rarely reported. Right ventricular (RV) function and PE are closely related. The RV cannot cope with a sudden increase in afterload because of PE and this causes dysfunction, but isolated left ventricular dysfunction in this context is not reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual association of pulmonary embolism and testicular germ cell tumor complicating severe left heart failure and full recovery at three months follow up in a 33-year-old patient with no prior medical history. The diagnosis was made after comprehensive history taking and physical examination with the help of different imaging modalities. Full recovery was achieved after optimal medical therapy. CONCLUSION: This case raises our awareness of unusual clinical presentation as we report associated left-sided severe heart failure in cancer-related pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism in healthy young adults warrant in-depth causative exploration.

Patent foramen ovale presenting with platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome and stroke after multi-organ resection.

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is defined by oxygen desaturation and dyspnoea in upright position that improves by lying down. It results from a right to left shunt at the intracardiac or intrapulmonary level. A 53-year-old ovarian cancer patient presented with POS that was refractory to oxygen therapy. The symptoms began after an extensive abdominal and pelvic surgery as treatment of her cancer with a complex hospital course. A patent foramen ovale was found with the use of transoesophageal echocardiography. A percutaneous closure was done with positive outcome and dyspnoea disappearance. In this case with its challenging clinical setting, we present a unique clinical scenario of an immediate postoperative POS syndrome. We address the different therapeutic modalities and the need for a multidisciplinary medical approach.

Efficacy and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutation: a network meta-analysis.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with positive EGFR mutation. MATERIALS & METHODS: Following a systematic literature review until December 2019, we conducted a random-effects pairwise and network meta-analyses (NMA). We ranked treatments for efficacy and safety based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). RESULTS: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR-TKI) improved survival outcomes with fewer grade 3 or higher adverse events compared to chemotherapy. Overall survival results suggest that osimertinib has the highest probability of being the most efficacious (SUCRA, 79.9%), followed by dacomitinib (SUCRA, 75.8%). Adverse events results suggest that osimertinib (SUCRA, 84.3%) and gefitinib (SUCRA, 78.9%) has the highest probability of being the safest. CONCLUSION: In this NMA, we found that osimertinib is the most efficacious and safest EGFR-TKI. These results may guide clinicians in choosing the most appropriate treatment option among EGFR-TKIs for their patient's individual clinical characteristics.

Utility of enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in Kounis syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Kounis syndrome is the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome precipitated by an allergic reaction in the presence or absence of underlying coronary artery disease. The syndrome is explained by the effect of released inflammatory mediators on the coronary arteries and platelets. CASE SUMMARY: We report an uncommon case of Kounis syndrome Type II in a 65-year-old man 24 h after being bitten by a hymenoptera. Clinical context, electrocardiogram, coronary angiography, and enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging modality are presented. DISCUSSION: Awareness and understanding of this syndrome is essential for starting early and appropriate therapy, thereby preventing life-threatening events. Accordingly, we highlight the importance of enhanced cardiac MRI to complete the assessment of this entity.

Dysphagia as an early sign of cardiac decompensation in elderly: case report.

BACKGROUND: Several clinical entities may be misdiagnosed in elderly if we consider dysphagia as a normal aging process in our daily practice. On top of usual aetiologies like motor dysfunction, investigations may uncover serious underlying conditions. CASE SUMMARY: We report an unusual case where dysphagia was the warning sign for acute heart failure in a 76-year-old patient known to have dilated cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction. It was due to an external oesophageal compression by the left atrium. A transthoracic echocardiography, an enhanced thoracic computed tomography-scan and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were used for the diagnosis. Diuretics were the cornerstone treatment with symptomatic improvement. DISCUSSION: Despite the fact that cardiovascular dysphagia is an uncommon medical entity, but it remains a potential differential diagnosis, especially in elderlies with high risk for atrial enlargement.

Incidental discovery of right ventricular lipoma in a young female associated with ventricular hyperexcitability: An imaging multimodality approach.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac lipomas are rare benign tumors commonly found in the right atrium or left ventricle. Patients are usually asymptomatic, and clinical presentation depends on location and adjacent structures impairment. Right ventricle lipomas are scarce in the literature. Moreover, the previous published cases were reported in over 18-year-old patients. CASE SUMMARY: We report a giant right ventricle lipoma discovered incidentally in a 17-year-old female while performing preoperative work-up. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination, and a conservative approach was performed. CONCLUSION: Multimodal cardiac imaging and histopathological examination are required for a definitive diagnosis. The therapeutic approach depends on clinical presentation.

Late Presentation of a Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries and Hemodynamically Balanced Ventricles Associated with a Large Ventricular Septal Defect and Severe Pulmonary Stenosis: A Case Report and a Multi-Imaging Approach.

BACKGROUND Congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries (ccTGA) represents a distinct rare group of congenital heart diseases. Survival of unoperated ccTGA in the presence of large ventricular septal defect (VSD) is exceptional. Furthermore, late presentation of such patients in the absence of severe pulmonary hypertension or severe systemic right ventricle dysfunction is unusual. CASE REPORT We report a rare late presentation of ccTGA associated with large VSD in the absence of severe pulmonary hypertension or systemic ventricle dysfunction. An associated severe pulmonary valve stenosis maintained a balanced and stable condition up to the fourth decade of life. The patient has also dextrocardia, which is an unusual association. The diagnosis was reached using multimodality imaging including transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), transesophageal echography (TEE), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT). CONCLUSIONS The presence of pulmonary stenosis can provide a physiological protection that avoids unnecessary surgical correction of large VSD in ccTGA patients. However, such a decision should be made on an individual basis and following a careful anatomical and functional evaluation.

Mid-Ventricular Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy with Hawk's Beak Appearance: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a myocardial infarction-like clinical entity commonly occurring after a stressful incident, leading to reversible systolic dysfunction. It involves several subtypes, most often associated with a good prognosis; however, a late diagnosis can contribute to a poor cardiovascular outcome. CASE REPORT We report an unusual case of mid-ventricular takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a 76-year-old woman who presented with recent-onset shortness of breath and compressive chest pain, typically characterized by a hawk's beak shape on left ventriculogram, highlighting the importance of this helpful descriptive but little-known fluoroscopic sign. The final diagnosis was made using transthoracic echocardiography, contrast-enhanced pulmonary angiography, coronary angiography, and left ventriculography. She was successfully treated by beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, with a good clinical outcome evaluated at 3-month follow-up after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS Ventriculography is an important tool for use in making the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome without obstructive coronary artery disease. The hawk's beak shape is an early fluoroscopic diagnostic marker characterizing the mid-ventricular subtype of takotsubo.

A Case of Isolated Unilateral Right Renal Vein Thrombosis Associated with Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism Treated with Rivaroxaban a Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulant.

BACKGROUND Renal vein thrombosis is uncommon and can be associated with nephrotic syndrome. It is associated with high patient morbidity , and it may lead to thromboembolic event. CASE REPORT A 44-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath, chest pain and tightness, due to bilateral pulmonary embolism originating from right renal vein thrombosis. The diagnosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography and enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis. No underlying diseases were found. She was treated with heparin infusion therapy and rivaroxaban with good clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS A rare case is presented of isolated unilateral right renal vein thrombosis diagnosed following bilateral pulmonary embolism in a previously healthy 44-year-old woman, which was successfully treated with the DOAC, rivaroxaban.

A Rare Case of Candida Pericarditis Associated with Esophagopericardial Fistula.

BACKGROUND Candida albicans is the principal human fungal opportunistic organism commonly detected in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. Five species of candida (Glabrata, Tropicalis, Albicans, Parapsilosis, and Kruzei) are responsible for most cases of invasive candidiasis or candidemia, which is a growing public health concern due to the increasing complexity of patients, leading to a high fatality rate. CASE REPORT We report an extremely rare case of candida pericarditis due to esophagopericardial fistula in a young, heavy, alcoholic adult diagnosed by culture of the drained pericardial fluid, which showed a growth of Candida albicans. CONCLUSIONS We highlight the first case of candida pericarditis in immunocompetent adult successfully treated by pericardiocentesis and oral fluconazole.

Functional Mediastinal Paraganglioma Irrigated by Coronary Artery Collaterals Associated With Bilateral Renal Artery Fibro-Dysplasia in a Hypertensive Patient.

We present a symptomatic functional anterior mediastinal paraganglioma (PGL) in a 56-year-old woman. The patient was known to have renovascular resistant hypertension caused by fibromuscular dysplasia diagnosed several years ago. The diagnosis of PGL was confirmed by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, 18F-FDOPA positron emission tomography/computed tomography and a thoracic tomographic scan which revealed an anterior mediastinal tumor. Complete tumor resection was done through a sternotomy and extracorporeal circulation with cardiac arrest. The histological examination of the operative specimen was characteristic of PGL.