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Pancreatic carcinoma has a poor prognosis, and early detection is essential for potentially curative resection. Despite a wide array of diagnostic tools, pre-operative detection of small pancreatic carcinomas is difficult. We report a case of pancreatic carcinoma that was bicentric and small. The head mass was diagnosed by computed tomography (CT), while the tail mass, which was suspected but indeterminate on CT, was diagnosed by positron emission tomography (PET). Thus, total pancreatectomy was performed. The PET results prevented our patient from undergoing tail mass biopsy, multiple surgeries and non-curative operation.
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Prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus or liver cirrhosis can be worsened by the development of a variety of infectious diseases. We describe a case of psoas abscess and bacterial peritonitis in a 58-year-old woman with type C liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus hospitalized after having an elevated temperature caused by urinary tract infection for 2 months. The cirrhosis had not been treated and daily self-administration of insulin had been discontinued for the previous 5 months. On day 2 of hospitalization, vomiting and decreased blood pressure developed. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed ascites, pneumoperitoneum, and psoas abscess. Laparotomy revealed psoas abscess and bacterial peritonitis without gastrointestinal perforation and psoas abscess perforation. Surgical drainage of the abscess and peritoneal cavity was performed. Immediately after the operation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, shock, hypoglycemia, and metabolic acidosis developed, followed by hepatic failure, renal insufficiency, and cerebral dysfunction. Death occurred on postoperative day 19. Upon autopsy, bacterial peritonitis residue of psoas abscess, and urinary tract infection were confirmed. We surmise that untreated liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus is a risk for urinary tract infection that may spread in iliopsoas and free peritoneal space.
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INTRODUCTION: We describe a case of pulmonary gas embolism caused by portal vein gas (PVG) observed using echocardiography. Echography revealed gas flowing through the hepatic vein, inferior vena cava, right atrium, and right ventricle, as well as pulmonary hypertension. The patient was diagnosed as having pulmonary gas embolism caused by PVG. OBJECTIVE: We consider PVG routes to pulmonary circulation, diagnosis of gas embolism caused by PVG, and treatment of gas embolism caused by PVG. METHODS: We reviewed reports of eight cases of gas embolism caused by PVG and compared these cases to cases of gas embolism without PVG. RESULTS: Mortality of gas embolism caused by PVG was 67%, positive blood culture was observed in six cases, and pulmonary edema was seen in three cases. PVG initially excites microbubble formation, which causes tissue damage in the liver and liver abscess. A large volume of PVG causes portal obstruction. As a result, portal hypertension, a portosystemic shunt or gastrointestinal congestion can occur. PVG can travel to the systemic vein through the liver or portosystemic shunt without anomaly and cause pulmonary gas embolism, followed by arterial embolism. In this environment, sepsis easily occurs. Echocardiography is useful for diagnosis of gas embolism caused by PVG, but the gas can be seen intermittently. The view of pulmonary edema is important for pulmonary gas embolism caused by PVG. CONCLUSION: It is important to treat the underlying disease, but PVG must be considered and treated as the gas embolism's source.
