Duodenal Hemangioma as a Rare Cause of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Duodenal hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors caused by haphazard vascular proliferation within the duodenal wall. Although rare, duodenal hemangiomas could lead to rapidly progressive life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding that requires urgent intervention. The diagnosis of duodenal hemangioma often requires direct visualization of the lesion either endoscopically or surgically, as well as histopathological examination. Treatment options include endoscopic resection, laser coagulation, sclerotherapy, or in a specific subset of patients, open or laparoscopic surgical intervention. We herein report a case of a 46-year-old female presenting with signs and symptoms of chronic GI bleeding. The patient underwent upper endoscopy and was found to have an ulcerated mass in the proximal duodenum consistent with the diagnosis of duodenal hemangioma. This case highlights the importance of including duodenal hemangioma in the differential of upper GI bleeding. It also underscores the significance of surgical intervention in treating duodenal hemangioma, as well as the crucial role of employing endoscopy in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of this condition.

Significant response to Pembrolizumab for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patient with Netherton syndrome.

Background: Netherton syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease that presents with a triad of symptoms which include atopic diathesis, ichthyosis linearis circumflexa, and hair shaft abnormality termed "Bamboo Hair". Netherton syndrome patients can develop cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in unusually young age. Pembrolizumab is the first line treatment for locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic cSCC. Case presentation: A 44-year-old man with a history of Netherton syndrome and multiple skin squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed with locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic cSCC two years ago. He was started on Pembrolizumab as a treatment for his cSCC. The immunotherapy course was well tolerated with no significant side effects including the expected immune related adverse events seen in patients treated with this medication. PET/CT scan showed significant regression of his disease consistent with partial response according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors. Discussion: Incurable and recurrent cSCC tends to metastasize, leading to an extremely poor long-term prognosis, and the treatment options for locally advanced or metastatic disease are few. Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed a benefit in patients with various tumors including squamous cell carcinoma, but using this drug which is working by enhancing the immunity against tumor in patient with altered immunity like Netherton syndrome was a bit of a challenge, in terms of both effectiveness and safety. Conclusion: Pembrolizumab had a effective and safe treatment profile when it was used as a monotherapy for treating a Netherton syndrome patient diagnosed with locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic cSCC.