Anaphylaxis to Lumason Contrast Agent in Echocardiography after Immune Sensitization: A Case Report and Literature Review.

With the continued evolution of echocardiography techniques, novel contrast agents have been introduced to aid in evaluating cardiac structure and function. Lumason is an FDA-approved ultrasound-enhancing agent made of Sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres. We report a case of Lumason-induced immune sensitization and subsequent anaphylaxis on re-exposure in a middle-aged male patient presenting with symptoms concerning for a cerebrovascular accident. The patient was successfully treated with steroids and antihistamines. Providers, including physicians, echocardiography technicians, and mid-level providers should be aware of and be prepared to respond to the possibility of anaphylaxis to contrast-enhancing agents used in echocardiography.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Triggered by Obinutuzumab in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological disorder that can affect all age groups. It appears to have a higher incidence in the female population. Some common risk factors include hypertension, electrolyte abnormalities, sepsis, and chemotherapeutic medications such as Obinutuzumab. Our patient, who had chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), presented with altered mental status. She was recently started on Obinutuzumab less than a week before this presentation. MRI findings were consistent with PRES, including diffuse vasogenic cerebral edema predominately throughout the bilateral parietal and occipital lobes associated with some edematous extension into the posterior part of bilateral frontal lobes. This case aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis by appropriately identifying the MRI features of PRES to improve patient quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality.

Vaping-Induced Sepsis and Rapidly Evolving Pleural Effusion in a Young, Otherwise Healthy Male.

There have been increasing reports of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and the evolving literature demonstrates that the solvents used to dissolve flavors, including vitamin E, may be responsible, at least in part, for the injuries associated with this form of smoking. We present the case of a 26-year-old, otherwise healthy, African American male with a history of heavy use-cigarette use who presented with pleuritic chest pain. He was found to be septic and developed a rapidly accumulating pleural effusion with loculations during his hospitalization. He eventually underwent a thoracotomy due to his deteriorating respiratory status. This case highlights the importance of physician awareness regarding the growing evidence base suggesting that electronic cigarettes and vaporized tobacco products are not as safe as they have been perceived to be. Physicians should screen for and advise patients regarding the risks associated with the use of such products.

An Elderly Smoker Presenting With Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: An Unusual Demographic.

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare neoplastic condition that occurs almost exclusively in young smokers and presents with multiple solid and/or cystic nodules in a primarily upper lobe distribution on chest imaging. Frequently, suspicion arises incidentally on imaging performed for alternative reasons, such as lung cancer screening, but diagnosis requires biopsy studies. We describe an uncommon case of PLCH in an elderly female patient presenting with mild dyspnea and a significant history of smoking. Diagnosis was made with a biopsy of a new pulmonary nodule in her left lung found on lung cancer screening computed tomography (CT) scan. No gold standard therapy exists, and novel agents are being studied for future use. At present, she has been advised to quit smoking and is being followed with serial imaging studies to determine additional measures.

Pulmonary Fibrosis After COVID-19 Pneumonia.

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerged in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread across the world. Today, we present an interesting case of a patient with no prior history of pulmonary disease who was diagnosed with COVID-19, recovered after a prolonged hospital course, and was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis requiring oxygen therapy thereafter. The patient is currently on pirfenidone and has had a significant improvement in his functional status. His oxygen requirements have decreased, and repeat computed tomography (CT) scanning has demonstrated improvement in the extent of his pulmonary fibrosis. This case highlights the possibility of pulmonary fibrosis being a major complication among COVID-19 survivors and the importance of using pirfenidone in the management of such cases.

Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy: Clinical, Radiologic, and Histologic Correlation.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a clinicopathologic disease entity in which the tumor cells embolize to the pulmonary vasculature leading to a series of maladaptive reactions including the activation of coagulation and fibrocellular intimal thickening. The resultant stenosis of blood vessels leads to pulmonary hypertension and eventual death from cor pulmonale. In this report, we present a case of PTTM presenting as the initial manifestation of metastatic gastric carcinoma in a young man. Although unusual in its occurrence as the initial manifestation of gastric carcinoma, the case is illustrative in its clinical, radiological and histological presentation.

Ultrathin bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of peripheral cavitary lung lesions.

Ultrathin (UT) bronchoscopy has emerged as a useful tool to diagnose peripheral solid lung lesions of a malignant nature. This technology is superior to standard bronchoscopic techniques, which have low yield in identifying small lesions, especially as they extend further out along the bronchial tree. UT bronchoscopy can prevent the need to pursue more invasive open lung strategies to diagnose suspicious lesions. In this report, we present 3 distinct clinical scenarios where UT bronchoscopy was successful in diagnosing benign peripheral cavitary lesions after standard techniques failed. The use of UT bronchoscopy in each case was instrumental in allowing rapid initiation of appropriate therapy without need for more invasive surgical biopsies in the setting of a benign condition.

Exacerbations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis triggered by pulmonary and nonpulmonary surgery: a case series and comprehensive review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Acute exacerbations (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are well recognized in the progression of this uniformly fatal disease. Surgical lung biopsy and lung resection may initiate these acute events leading to a rapid deterioration and permanent decline in lung function. Our aim is to discuss the role of pulmonary and nonpulmonary surgery as a precipitating factor and to review the literature on the nature, course, and outcomes of acute exacerbations in the context of surgical interventions. METHODS: This study consisted of a retrospective case series of patients at the Johns Hopkins Hospital who experienced acute exacerbation following a surgical procedure. Patients included in the case series suffered from aggravation of dyspnea within 1 month after surgical intervention, with new infiltrates on imaging. There was no other more likely cause after diagnostic evaluation. A comprehensive review of the current literature pertaining to AEs of IPF in the context of a surgical intervention was performed. RESULTS: In a series of four patients from Johns Hopkins Hospital with AE in IPF, two of three patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lung biopsy had a fatal outcome. The fourth patient survived an AE after a total knee replacement but had a fatal outcome after a subsequent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We found no report in the literature of AE in an IPF patient who underwent nonpulmonary surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Acute exacerbations of IPF can occur postoperatively after both pulmonary and nonpulmonary surgery and are associated with a high mortality rate. As a next step, a prospective multicenter clinical study of patients with IPF undergoing both pulmonary and nonpulmonary surgeries would allow the identification of perioperative risk factors in the development of AE of IPF.

Ecstasy-associated acute severe hyponatremia and cerebral edema: a role for osmotic diuresis?

BACKGROUND: Ecstasy, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a drug of abuse with a wide range of toxicity affecting the brain, heart, and liver. Renal toxicity of MDMA is due either to acute kidney injury (e.g., non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis) or to water and electrolyte imbalance (i.e., hyponatremia). Although syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone has been recognized as a major mechanism for MDMA-associated hyponatremia, other factors (e.g., MDMA-induced polydipsia) have also been proposed. OBJECTIVES: Hypertonic saline has been used by most authors to treat MDMA-associated acute symptomatic hyponatremia. Our case is the second published report in which mannitol was chosen for management of this pathologic phenomenon. CASE REPORT: We present a case of MDMA-associated acute severe hyponatremia and cerebral edema in a young female, and analyze the underlying pathophysiology, the therapeutic strategy, and the course of disease. CONCLUSION: Based on this observation, coupled with the previous report and the complex pathophysiology of this phenomenon, we suggest that osmotic diuresis be considered a possible therapeutic option for MDMA-associated acute symptomatic hyponatremia.