Prenatal diagnosis of dilated cavum septum pellucidum et vergae.

The cavum septum pellucidum is a fluid-filled cavity located between the membranes of the septi pellucidi, which should always be visualized sonographically in normal fetuses between 18 and 37 weeks gestation and in approximately 50% of term infants. The cavum vergae, a cavity within the septum pellucidum, is located posterior to an arbitrary vertical plane formed by the columns of the fornix. We present a case in which markedly dilated cavum septum pellucidum et vergae noted at 29 weeks gestation was associated with midgut malrotation and volvulus, and review the literature pertaining to this unusual prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis.

Stage IV large B cell lymphoma presenting as gigantomastia and pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Gigantomastia is a rare complication of pregnancy usually associated with benign conditions, including end-organ hypersensitivity to normal hormone levels, penicillamine therapy, mirror syndrome, and benign or glandular fibroadenomas. CASE: A young woman presented at 30 weeks of gestation with chest pain and gigantomastia. Echocardiography performed because of the patient's tachypnea and tachycardia disclosed pulmonary hypertension. After spontaneous delivery, core needle breast and axillary lymph node biopsies and computerized tomography imaging were performed, and stage IV diffuse large B cell lymphoma with infiltration of the breasts was confirmed. The patient responded to systemic chemotherapy with resolution of the gigantomastia and pulmonary artery hypertension. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that systemic malignancies such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gigantomastia during pregnancy. In addition, malignancy-related pulmonary hypertension during pregnancy may be reversible after chemotherapy, as reported in nonpregnant patients.

Complete abortion of a nonviable cervical pregnancy following methotrexate treatment.

Cervical pregnancy is an uncommon ectopic pregnancy that accounts for approximately <1% of extrauterine gestations. This condition is associated with an extremely high risk of massive hemorrhage and previously often required hysterectomy. Current early ultrasonographic diagnosis and medical management in conjunction with other conservative measures, which include uterine artery embolization and intracervical balloon tamponade, have enabled conservation of the uterus. A young nulliparous patient ultrasonographically diagnosed with a cervical pregnancy and early fetal demise at 11 and 4/7 weeks gestation was managed with high-dose methotrexate and folinic acid rescue treatment. On the second day after treatment was initiated she spontaneously passed an intact gestational sac accompanied by minimal hemorrhage. Treatment was continued, with decreasing serum beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin levels and subsiding hemorrhage. Subsequent surgical measures were not required. This case suggests that complete abortion of a cervical pregnancy not necessitating surgical measures can occur.

Severe hypernatremia after cesarean delivery secondary to transient diabetes insipidus of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Transient diabetes insipidus is an uncommon complication of pregnancy, usually manifesting with polydipsia and polyuria. This condition is considered to result from excess placental vasopressinase activity and is managed with deamino D arginine vasopressin. CASE: While on restricted oral intake after cesarean delivery, the patient gradually became disoriented and agitated in conjunction with markedly increased urine output disproportional to her intravenous crystalloid fluid intake. Marked hypernatremia of 178 mEq/dL was noted. Urine osmolality was low at 248 mOsm/L. The clinical presentation and electrolyte abnormalities were considered consistent with transient diabetes insipidus of pregnancy. The patient responded well to nasal-spray-administered deamino D arginine vasopressin and increased intravenous fluid intake, with resolution of symptoms and gradual normalization of serum sodium levels. CONCLUSION: Transient diabetes insipidus of pregnancy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe hypernatremia in obstetric patients with restricted oral intake after operative delivery.