RESUMO
An 85-year-old woman presented to the hospital with a five-month history of dysphagia, productive cough, dyspnea, new-onset orthopnea, and weight loss. Thoracic CT revealed a sizeable ulcerative mass within the cervical esophagus with complete luminal obstruction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy demonstrated large neoplastic cells with distant nucleoli. The patient was diagnosed with poorly differentiated large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and was treated palliatively with esophageal stenting and radio and chemotherapy.
RESUMO
A 71-year-old male with a past medical history significant for chronic constipation presented to the emergency department for acute onset of severe abdominal pain. On presentation, the patient appeared to be in distress, exemplifying signs of peritonitis despite vital signs being grossly benign. CT scan established the diagnosis of a perforated jejunal diverticulitis. Initially, the patient was managed conservatively with IV fluids, antibiotics, and pain control medications. Diagnostic imaging in tandem with the patient's failure to improve incited surgical intervention with a jejunal resection and establishment of a primary anastomosis. This case illustrates additional differential diagnoses necessary for consideration in an elderly patient presenting with an acute abdomen.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a diagnostic modality utilized in patients with suspected active lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. CTA use in clinical practice is limited by the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy, and the loss of patients from direct physician observation while undergoing the test. Identifying clinical predictors of a positive result would be useful in guiding physician utilization of CTA studies. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective study to determine which clinical predictors are associated with a positive CTA. Binary logistical regression modeling was used to identify the independent predictors and the results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios with corresponding 95% CI . RESULTS: 262 patients met inclusion criteria and there were 61 (23.3%) positive CTA exams. In unadjusted analysis those who were CTA positive were more likely to require management in the intensive care unit (85.2% vs. 14.8%, p < 0.01) and being CTA positive was associated with a significantly increased in-hospital mortality (14.8% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.01). The use of a novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) in the week prior to presentation was associated with a positive CTA after adjustment for confounders (adjusted odds ratio = 3.89; 95% CI 1.05-14.43). Similarly, the use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was associated with a positive CTA (OR 2.36; 1.03-5.41). Only 8% of patients experienced contrast-induced nephropathy. CONCLUSION: Use of either NOACs or NSAIDs in the previous week is independently associated with a positive CTA in the setting of acute lower GI bleeding. CTA exams appear to confer a low risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.
