Duodenal stricture secondary to IgG4-related chronic sclerosing duodenitis-A case report with review of the literature.

Key Clinical Message: This case highlights the importance of a definite diagnosis of an IgG4-related chronic sclerosing duodenitis based on histological and radiological findings to rule out any malignancy in the mass. While dealing with patients having concentric duodenal thickening resulting in stricture formation, one should think of inflammatory etiology as well. IgG4-related disease is one of these inflammatory disorders where we see soft tissue thickening without a large mass or any associated lymphadenopathy as in our case. Abstract: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is distinguished as an infiltration of IgG-4-positive plasmacytes involving inflammatory lesions across multiple organs which is accompanied by raised IgG4 levels in the serum. Several inflammatory disorders are recognized as part of the IgG4-RD family based on shared histopathological features, which include Mikulicz's disease, chronic sclerosing sialadenitis, or Riedel's thyroiditis. Our case highlights a distinctive presentation of IgG4-related diseases; a 58-year-old man presenting with duodenal stricture highly suspicious of a duodenal mass/ampullary mass later found to be due to IgG4-related sclerosing duodenitis with negative malignancy on biopsy. We present the diagnostic challenges faced and relevant findings noted.

IgG4-related inflammatory pancreatic head pseudotumor mirrors pancreatic head tumor: A novel case series with a review of the literature.

Key Clinical Message: In this noteworthy case series regarding pancreatic pseudo tumors, we intend to spread knowledge among physicians for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach and eventual disease prognosis. Abstract: Inflammatory pseudotumor of pancreatic head greatly mimics pancreatic head tumor. One of them is IgG4-related pancreatic disease, which is commonly mistaken as neoplastic disease on imaging. In our novel case series, we report three cases of IgG4-related pancreatic head pseudotumor with patients ranging from 35 to 72 years of age. Patients presented with jaundice and abdominal pain. Alongside initial laboratory workup, abdominal CTs and serum IgG4 levels were also obtained. Imaging features in conjunction with IgG4 levels confirmed the diagnosis of IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis. Pancreatic pseudotumors are notorious for being often reported as real tumors. Through our noteworthy case series, we intend to highlight the imaging features and laboratory markers that are crucial in such cases to avoid invasive procedures.

Use of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence head injury guidelines among patients with delayed presentation after head trauma can lead to missed traumatic brain injury: a 5-year institutional review.

Introduction: In 2014, traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused 3 million ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, initially generated using data from patients presenting within 24 h of head trauma, are used to determine the need for head computed tomography (CT) scan in patients after 24 h. The authors wanted to determine the proportion of CT scans for head trauma performed at our center in late presenters (>24 h after head trauma), the incidence of intracranial pathology in early (24 h) versus late (>24 h) presenters, and the sensitivity of the NICE guidelines for TBI in these two subpopulations. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary care center in Karachi. All people (>16) who had a head CT for head trauma from 2010 to 2015 were included. Age, sex, primary diagnosis, comorbid disorders, mechanism-of-injury, duration (in hours) from head trauma to presentation, site, and extent of injury (injury severity scale), hospital stay, number and details of surgical procedures, CT scan findings, other injuries, and mortality were recorded. Means were compared using the Independent Sample t-test, while categorical variables were compared using χ2. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify TBI predictors. Results: The authors found 2009 eligible patients; seven were excluded due to incomplete medical records. The final statistical analysis comprised 2002 head trauma patients. Overall, 52% of early and late presenters had severe injuries, and 2.3% died. 32.2% of patients with head trauma had CT after 24 h. Early presenters were 46.7% traumatized, while late presenters were 63%. The NICE guidelines were 93% sensitive for early presenters and 83% for late presenters with traumatic intracranial injury. Conclusion: Patients coming to the emergency department after 24 h of head trauma are a large proportion of the overall head trauma population. The NICE guidelines for late-presenting head injuries are less sensitive and may overlook intracranial injuries if imaging is not performed.

Testicular choriocarcinoma with small bowel metastasis and active gastrointestinal bleeding.

Testicular choriocarcinomas make up less than 1% of all germ-cell tumors and are highly malignant, attributable to hematogenous spread. While the most common sites of metastasis are the lungs and liver, metastatic spread to the gastrointestinal tract is rare wherein patients may present with GI distress or even an upper GI bleed. In this report, we present a case of known testicular choriocarcinoma in a 40-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with severe anemia and a suspected upper GI bleed.

Primary esophageal tuberculosis mimicking esophageal carcinoma on computed tomography: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) has a rare extrapulmonary manifestation known as esophageal tuberculosis, accounting for 0.2% of total TB patients. Esophageal TB typically presents with dysphagia, with retrosternal pain or odynophagia, but generalized symptoms such as low-grade fever, decreased appetite, and weight loss are also observed. Esophageal carcinoma and Crohn's disease of the esophagus are important differential diagnoses with similar presentation. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a 25-year-old male, who presented with esophageal TB mimicking an esophageal carcinoma. Lab work-up, Mantoux test, and chest X-ray were normal. Barium-swallow examination showed moderate dilatation of distal esophagus with a nodular and irregular mucosa. Computed tomography showed significant thickening of thoracic and distal esophagus with infiltration into the lesser omentum and large, centrally necrotic lymph nodes on gastro-hepatic ligament suggestive of a possible malignancy. Esophagoscopy was performed and a biopsy of mural thickening was performed and sent for histopathological examination. The histopathology report and TB-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal TB. The patient was started on anti-tuberculous therapy (ATT), and complete resolution of symptoms and disease was achieved in 6 mo. CONCLUSION: Esophageal TB is an extremely rare, yet important differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with dysphagia. Esophageal TB can mimic esophageal carcinoma on computed tomography scan. The patient responded well to a complete course of ATT.

Risk of appendicitis in patients with incidentally discovered appendicoliths.

BACKGROUND: An appendicolith-related appendiceal obstruction leading to appendicitis is a commonly encountered surgical emergency that has clear evidence-based management plans. However, there is no consensus on management of asymptomatic patients when appendicoliths are found incidentally. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of appendicitis in patients with an incidental finding of the appendicolith. METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study of patients with appendicolith discovered incidentally on computed tomographic scan from January 2008 to December 2014 at our institution was completed. The size and position of the appendicolith were ascertained. The study group was matched by age and gender to a control group. Both groups were contacted and interviewed regarding development of appendicitis. RESULTS: In total, 111 patients with appendicolith were successfully contacted and included in the study. Mean age was found to be 38 ± 15 y with 36 (32%) of the study population being females. Mean length of appendix was 66 ± 16 mm, and mean width was 5.8 ± 0.9 mm. Mean size of the appendicolith was 3.6 ± 1.1 mm (1.4-7.8 mm). Fifty-eight percent of appendicoliths was located at the proximal end or whole of appendix, 31% at mid area, and 11% at the distal end of appendix. All patients of the study and control groups were contacted, and at a mean follow-up of 4.0 ± 1.7 y, there was no occurrence of acute appendicitis in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with incidentally discovered appendicolith on radiological imaging did not develop appendicitis. Hence, the risk of developing acute appendicitis for these patients does not seem higher than the general population.

Splenic rupture, secondary to G-CSF use for chemotherapy induced neutropenia: a case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy Induced neutropenia is a frequent and serious complication of cytotoxic cancer treatment.Granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) are frequently used to counter neutropenia, attempt rapid recovery of patients and allow for continuation of treatment without compromise on dose, especially in curative malignancies. Generally regarded as safe, G-CSF use has been very rarely reported to have resulted in serious side effects, such as, splenic rupture. CASE PRESENTATION: We are reporting a case of a twenty years old man, who was being treated for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and received colony stimulating factors for treatment of severe neutropenia and suffered from splenic rupture, He was treated with splenectomy. CONCLUSION: Although extremely rare, splenic rupture can be a serious and sometimes life threatening complication of high dose colony stimulating factors therapy.