Gout-Induced Cervical Deformity and Progressive Myelopathy Mimicking Infection Requiring Cervical Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study describes a rare case where gout, a condition primarily associated with joint inflammation, initially manifested as a progressive cervical kyphotic deformity, mimicking infection and causing myelopathy. The patient, a previously healthy 56-year-old woman, presented with severe jaw pain and a temporomandibular joint abscess, alongside 2 months of worsening balance and arm/hand tingling. Extensive clinical and radiographic assessments revealed a severe cervical kyphotic deformity with bony erosion at multiple vertebral levels, raising suspicion of an infectious cause of compressive myelopathy. METHODS: The patient underwent an urgent staged surgical intervention involving multilevel cervical decompression and fusion, coupled with cervical deformity correction. RESULTS: Post surgery, she received antibiotics for 7 days, during which pathologic analysis unveiled collections of macrophages reacting to urate crystal deposition in a pattern consistent with gouty tophus. This unexpected diagnosis marked a novel case of undiagnosed gout-induced severe cervical deformity presenting with myelopathic symptoms and successfully managed through cervical spine deformity correction. CONCLUSIONS: This report underscores the significance of considering gout as a potential cause when encountering unusual spinal pathologies, especially in cases where gout-related symptoms are atypical. The presented 540-degree surgical approach effectively addressed both the cervical deformity and gout-induced myelopathic symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first documented instance of a patient with undiagnosed gout-induced severe cervical deformity successfully treated through cervical spine deformity correction, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and innovative management approaches in such rare clinical scenarios. As of the 2-year follow-up, the patient exhibited significant symptom improvement and overall well-being.

Syphilitic Folliculitis: A Case Report With Demonstration of Spirochetes Showing Follicular Epitheliotropism.

ABSTRACT: We report a case of a 59-year-old man presenting with a widespread follicular-based papular rash with a several-month history of myalgias, lymphadenopathy, fatigue, and weight loss who was diagnosed with acute syphilitic folliculitis by tissue biopsy analysis with immunohistochemical demonstration of spirochetes in hair follicle epithelium. Serologic analysis also showed evidence of Treponema sp. infection. Owing to the rising number of syphilis cases in the last decade, it is important to recognize classic cutaneous findings of syphilis in addition to unusual presentations such as syphilitic folliculitis.

Severe Thrombocytopenia in Patients With Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumor Treated With Peptide Receptor Radioligand Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Peptide receptor radioligand therapy (PRRT) was Food and Drug Administration approved in 2018 for the treatment of unresectable somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and provides an important option for patients with advanced disease. A known adverse effect of this treatment is hematologic toxicity, although usually transient. We present 3 patients with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic NETs treated with PRRT who were evaluated for severe persistent thrombocytopenia. METHODS: Three patients who commenced therapy with PRRT were known to proceed to a bone marrow (BM) biopsy for persistent severe thrombocytopenia and were included in this study. These patients were identified retrospectively and evaluated for their tumor properties, including immunohistochemical markers, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: All 3 patients had metastatic NETs that progressed on prior lines of therapy and were treated with 1 to 4 doses of 177Lu-DOTATATE 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) before developing grade 3 (25,000 to 50,000/µL) refractory thrombocytopenia. All patients had concurrent bone metastases, and 2 of the 3 had baseline grade 1 thrombocytopenia. In all 3 cases, BM biopsy documented widespread tumor infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: Severe refractory thrombocytopenia after PRRT is rare and may result from numerous known causes, including radiation-induced myelotoxicity, myelodysplastic syndrome, and tumor BM infiltration. We present 3 cases of thrombocytopenia related to persistent or progressive BM metastasis. Although known bone metastasis is not a contraindication to PRRT, thrombocytopenia may be a manifestation of tumor progression and should be considered when making decisions about continuation of therapy.

Type and Screen Prior to Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer- Time for a Change?

PURPOSE: Despite low rates of transfusion associated with robotic prostatectomy, surgeons routinely obtain preoperative blood typing. Here we aim to understand the cost savings associated with eliminating blood typing prior to prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of our single surgeon radical prostatectomy database was performed. Patients receiving blood transfusions within 3 days of prostatectomy were identified and clinical characteristics were recorded. Cost information was obtained, and descriptive statistical analysis performed. RESULTS: 1,581 patients underwent prostatectomy from 2000 to 2019. Thirty-two patients (2.02%) received a transfusion within 3 days of surgery. The transfusion rate for open prostatectomy was 3.21% vs 1.37% for robotic prostatectomy. The cost of preoperative blood typing for all radical prostatectomies was $113,832, or about $5,812.70 per year. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion rates for prostatectomy are low and decline with experience. Significant cost savings is possible by avoiding routine preoperative blood typing in most patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Sudden Cardiac Death due to Coronary Artery Vasculitis in a Patient with Relapsing Polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by relapsing and remitting inflammation of the cartilaginous structures of the ears, nose, tracheobronchial tree, and joints. Diagnosis is challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations, the relapsing and remitting nature of the disease, the presence of coexistent diseases in at least one-third of patients, and the lack of a diagnostic blood test. Although RP-associated cardiac disease is the second most common cause of death behind tracheobronchial complications, coronary artery vasculitis is rare. This report describes a case of sudden cardiac death due to vasculitis affecting the coronary arteries in a patient with RP. The pathologic findings included obliterative coronary arteritis with plasma cells and storiform fibrosis, features suggesting that IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) may have contributed to the patient's cardiac disease. The literature on vasculitis and cardiac disease in RP and the possible role of IgG4-RD in this setting is also reviewed. The primary take-home message from this case report is the importance of frequent screening for cardiac disease, regardless of symptoms, in patients with RP. In addition, considering the diagnosis of IgG4-RD in some cases thought to be RP may also be warranted.

Osteochondroma of the Pubic Symphysis Involved With Aberrantly Placed Minisling: A Case Report.

Osteochondromas are benign bone tumors that rarely involve the pubic symphysis. This case report describes a 41-year-old woman with a pubic symphyseal osteochondroma associated with an aberrantly placed single incision sling. After an outside surgeon placed a single incision midurethral sling for stress urinary incontinence, she developed pelvic pain, dyspareunia and vaginal mesh sling exposure. Imaging demonstrated a 2.6 centimeter calcified mass posterior to the pubic symphysis. The patient underwent excision of the mass and the eroded mesh sling via vaginal and abdominal approaches. Pathology demonstrated osteochondroma aggregated around mesh. This is a rare case of a single incision sling placed aberrantly into a pubic symphyseal osteochondroma that required excision.

TNF-inhibitor associated psoriatic alopecia: Diagnostic utility of sebaceous lobule atrophy.

The increasingly successful and widespread use of Tumor Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi) to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions has also been accompanied by adverse reactions, both systemic and cutaneous. Psoriasiform cutaneous rashes are well described. Recently, TNF inhibitor associated psoriatic alopecia (TiAPA) is being more frequently reported. The purpose of this study is to describe the features of TiAPA, including marked atrophy of sebaceous lobules as a histologic clue to diagnosis, helping to distinguish it from other types of alopecia. Clinical and histopathological features of 3 patients who developed scalp alopecia while on TNFi treatment were examined. Clinical follow up was conducted after discontinuation of TNFi. A review of the previous literature on the subject was also conducted. Atrophy of sebaceous lobules is a potentially reversible, characteristic and conspicuous feature of TiAPA that can be distinguished from idiopathic psoriatic alopecia by clinical history of drug exposure and sometimes by histologic presence of a mixed inflammatory response including plasma cells and eosinophils.

Macrothrombocytopenia With Döhle Body-Like Granulocyte Inclusions: A Case Report of May-Hegglin Anomaly in a 33-Year-Old White Woman With an Update on the Molecular Findings of MYH9-Related Disease.

A 33-year-old white woman arrived at the hospital to undergo a hysterectomy due to uterine fibroids. Blood smear review identified macrothrombocytopenia and Döhle body-like cytoplasmic leukocyte inclusions. Genetic testing identified a mutation in exon 39 of the myosin heavy chain gene (MHY9; OMIM 160775), which confirmed the diagnosis of May-Hegglin anomaly. May-Hegglin anomaly is one of a spectrum of MYH9 disorders that also includes Sebastian, Epstein, and Fechtner syndromes. Herein, we describe the clinical and laboratory presentation of a patient with May-Hegglin anomaly and provide an update on the molecular findings and a discussion of the genotypic-phenotypic correlations in this potentially underdiagnosed disorder.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in association with verruca vulgares and HPV-2: a clinicopathologic study with p16 and p53 immunohistochemical studies and human papillomavirus in situ hybridization studies.

BACKGROUND: We observed cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas of the skin (SCCS) with histologic features suggesting they are arising in association with verruca vulgares (SCC-VV). We analyzed SCC-VV to determine what types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) could be detected by in situ hybridization. We also analyzed demographic and clinical features and performed immunohistochemical studies for p53, p16, and Ki-67. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five cases of SCC-VV were chosen and compared with 5 cases each of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with bowenoid features (SCC-BD), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with keratoacanthomatous features (SCC-KA). RESULTS: We identified HPV-2 in 3 of 5 SCC-VV and SCC-KA, and 2 of 5 SCC-BD. SCC-VV showed a decreased amount of p16 immunoexpression compared with the other types, particularly SCC-BD (P=0.0108 ). SCC-KA showed a decreased p53 (P=0.0096) and Ki-67 (P=0.0007) immunoexpression compared with the other types. CONCLUSIONS: SCC-VV seems to occur in older immunocompetent individuals and may be distinguishable from other SCCS types by histologic and immunohistochemical methods. HPV-2 and HPV-1 were the only types of HPV identified in this study, including SCCS with such diverse morphologic appearances as SCC-VV, SCC-BD, and SCC-KA. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Mitotic activity within dermal melanocytes of benign melanocytic nevi: a study of 100 cases with clinical follow-up.

It is generally accepted that otherwise benign intradermal or compound melanocytic nevi may show mitotic activity within dermal melanocytes. However, it is not known whether there is any clinical significance to this finding. Our objective is to analyze and describe the clinicopathologic features of benign nevi with mitotic activity (NMA). To do this, we collected 100 consecutive NMA during the usual course of business in our private dermatopathology practice. These cases were seen between the years 2000 and 2008. We then collected clinical and pathologic data on these cases and compared the findings with 100 control nevi without mitotic activity (CN). We compared these nevi with regard to demographic features, clinical history provided by clinician, and clinical follow-up, as well as anatomic site and season of biopsy, type of nevus, and selected histologic features (ie, trauma). We also estimate the incidence of NMA and describe the amount and location of mitotic figures within the NMA. Our results indicate that the incidence of NMA is 0.91%. Most (80) NMA revealed only one mitotic figure, whereas some (20) NMA revealed more than one mitotic figure. Most NMA (89) showed mitotic activity in the upper portion of the nevus, whereas some (11) showed mitotic activity in the lower portion of the nevus. NMA patients were of younger age than the CN patients (P = 0.0019). Compared with CN, the NMA were more likely to be from the extremities (P = 0.0113) or head and neck (P = 0.0237) and less likely to be from the trunk (P < 0.001). The NMA were also more likely to show histologic features suggesting a congenital onset (P < 0.001) and were more likely to be Spitz nevi (P = 0.0185). Compared with the CN, the NMA were more often reexcised (P = 0.0073) and more often, there was residual nevus in the reexcision specimen (P = 0.13), although the latter finding was not statistically significant. Anecdotally, 2 of our NMA were identified adjacent to invasive melanomas; however, on clinical follow-up, we were unable to detect any increased incidence of melanoma.

Multiple inverted follicular keratoses as a presenting sign of Cowden's syndrome: case report with human papillomavirus studies.

Inverted follicular keratosis is characterized by a squamous epithelial expansion of the infundibular portion of the hair follicle in an exophytic and endophytic pattern. The lesion is often associated with squamous eddies similar to an irritated keratosis and may have a superficial papillomatous architecture. The lesion most often arises as a solitary nodule on the face of middle age to elderly individuals. Inverted follicular keratosis has been described as a distinct entity by some while others believe that it is related to trichilemmomas and/or verruca vulgares. The cutaneous pathology of Cowden's syndrome is characterized by multiple trichilemmomas. We present a woman who fulfills the clinical criteria for Cowden's syndrome and who initially presented with multiple inverted follicular keratoses. Also, in situ hybridization studies performed on the patient's keratoses do not reveal evidence of human papillomavirus infection.

Cathepsin B and Cathepsin D Expression in Follicular Adenomas and Carcinomas of the Thyroid Gland.

Biologic features that distinguish follicular adenomas (FAs), minimally invasive follicular carcinomas (MICs), and extensively invasive follicular carcinomas (EICs) of the thyroid gland are not well understood. Endogenous proteases, including cathepsin B (CB) and cathepsin D (CD), have been linked to tumor progression in other malignancies and may be important in the different biologic behavior of these follicular thyroidal lesions. Archival paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 16 FAs, 12 MICs, and 4 EICs were studied for immunohistochemical expression of CR and CD. Percent of tumor staining, intensity of staining, and intracytoplasmic staining pattern were assessed. Increased intensity of staining with CD was observed in follicular carcinomas compared to adenomas and was greatest in the EIC (p < 0.04). An increase in diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern with CD (p < 0.008) and CB (p < 0.02) was observed in follicular carcinomas compared to FAs. The increased intensity of staining with CD in the follicular thyroid carcinomas and the increased diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern with CD and CR in these carcinomas suggest that these proteinases may play a role in their propensity to invade and metastasize and, therefore, their more aggressive behavior. Furthermore, this diffuse cytoplasmic staining suggests an altered intracellular processing of these proteinases in the carcinomas.