Granulomatosis with polyangiitis or its mimic? A case report.

Differentiation between granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) limited to the upper airways and cocaine-induced midline destructive lesion (CIMDL) may be particularly difficult because of their common histopathologic features and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) profiles. We herein present a case involving a young woman with an initial diagnosis of GPA based on upper and lower airway manifestations and constitutional symptoms, histopathologic evidence of granulomas, a positive cytoplasmic ANCA indirect immunofluorescent test result, and proteinase 3 positivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CIMDL was confirmed based on the appearance of a hard palate perforation, positivity for methylecgonine on urine toxicology, a positive perinuclear ANCA indirect immunofluorescent test result, and subsequent human neutrophil elastase (HNE) ANCA positivity by ELISA. Finally, based on the coexistence of CIMDL, constitutional symptoms, and lower airway manifestations, the diagnosis was modified to cocaine-induced GPA mimic. Urine toxicology for cocaine and HNE ELISA are indicated in young patients with GPA who develop limited airway disease to check for the presence of CIMDL and cocaine-/levamisole-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis. Continued abstinence from cocaine is the first-choice therapy for both CIMDL and cocaine-induced GPA mimic.

A study on the type of lesions achieved by three electrosurgical methods and their way of healing.

The technical progress in the medical sector in the past decades has continuously driven the development of electrosurgical techniques. The controversies surrounding the superiority of a certain technique relative to another - electrocautery, laser and radiofrequency - have determined us to carry out a histopathological design with the aim of comparing the healing sort of the shallow wounds generated by the three types of electrosurgical devices. The experimental study has investigated the healing process inflicted by the electrosurgical devices mentioned beforehand on 12 Wistar albino rats. The wounds were inflicted under intravenous general anesthesia with Xylazine and Ketamine and were performed lateral to the spine region, using laser, radiofrequency and electric cautery. The histological samples harvested at one, three, five, and seven days were sent to pathological examination. We followed by comparison the evolution of the first two phases of the wound healing produced by the three electrosurgical methods analyzed. We described the histopathological changes occurred in the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis and also the subcutaneous soft tissues in all of the three types of lesions. Electrocautery remains the most frequently used electrosurgical device, even if it has unquestionable disadvantages as compared to other modern instruments. Laser-assisted surgery and radiofrequency are refine energy-based instrumentation, being utilized at a multidisciplinary surgical level.

Ultrasonographic and histopathological features of cervical lymph node metastases.

OBJECTIVES: Different approaches have been made to differentiate benignant from malignant cervical lymphadenopathy using ultrasound examination. Assessment of nodal status is essential in patients with head and neck carcinomas as it predicts prognosis and helps in the selection of treatment options. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of ultrasound in the assessment of malignant cervical lymph nodes using the histological gold standard results. Gray-scale ultrasound assesses the nodal size, shape, border, internal architecture and color Doppler ultrasound evaluate the vascular pattern of lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 158 cervical lymphadenopathies evaluated by ultrasound in 100 patients over a period of 36 months (between January 2010 and December 2012) were evaluated for the presence of intranodal vascular pattern, which was considered benignant when it traversed through the node without disruption. RESULTS: Of the 158 cervical tumors evaluated, 114 (72.2%) were found to be malignant on pathologic review. Malignant vascular markings were present in 133/158 lymph nodes evaluated. The presence of malignant vascular pattern had a sensitivity of 97.37% and a positive predictive value of 82.84%. Malignant gray-scale ultrasound markings had a sensitivity of 23.3% and a positive predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of normal intranodal blood flow was associated with a benignant diagnosis in 87.5% of the masses evaluated. The addition of this color Doppler ultrasound finding improves the ability of ultrasound exam to predict the likelihood of malignant involvement.