Rapid emergence of cryptococcal fungemia, Mycobacterium chelonae vertebral osteomyelitis and gastro intestinal stromal tumor in a young HIV late presenter: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly changed the natural history of HIV infection, leading to a dramatic reduction of HIV-related morbidity and mortality. Late Presenters, Very Late Presenters and AIDS presenters still represent, also in Europe, including Italy, a huge challenge in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic management. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old male with a history of fever and back pain. HIV test resulted positive with a high HIV Viral Load and a very low T-CD4 number of cells (5 cells/mm3). Imaging investigations revealed multiple vertebral and pulmonary lesions together with abdominal and thoracic lymphadenopathy. Blood cultures were positive for Cryptococcus neoformans and for Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Lymphnode biopsy resulted positive in PCR for Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria (Mycobacterium chelonae). A gastric biopsy also revealed a GIST. The patient also had CMV DNA positive. Although we performed antiretroviral therapy and specific-therapies for each disease, he was transferred to intensive care unit where he died due to an Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. CONCLUSION: The reported case is unusual due to the relevant number of opportunistic diseases (both infectious and tumoral) emerging not long after the HIV infection had been diagnosed. Late presenters HIV patients and AIDS presenters still represent a challenge, which is often too complex for clinicians to deal with. In spite of proper management, the risk of suboptimal results cannot be excluded.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor as entry port for S. intermedius causing bacteremia and multiple liver abscesses. Case report and review of literature.

We report a case of a previously healthy 52-year-old man who presented with fever and liver lesions suspicious for metastatic disease, which proved subsequently to be abscesses. Further workup revealed a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the gastric corpus as entry port to Streptococcus intermedius-associated bacteremia and liver abscesses. After antibiotic treatment and surgical resection of the tumor, the patient recovered well. This unusual case indicates that gastrointestinal stromal tumors can remain undetected until they cause a life threatening infection. A review of recent literature pertaining to GIST and liver abscesses follows.

Reduction effect of bacterial counts by preoperative saline lavage of the stomach in performing laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery.

AIM: To investigate the effects of gastric lavage with 2000 mL of saline in laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery. METHODS: Twenty two patients who were diagnosed with a gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor were enrolled. In former term, irrigations of the stomach were conducted whenever it was necessary, not systematically (Non systemic lavage group). In latter term, the stomach was thoroughly cleaned with 2000 mL of saline using an endoscope with a water jet, and Duodenal balloon occlusion was conducted to prevent refluxed bile and pancreatic juice (Systemic lavage+balloon occlusion group). The gastric wall was sprayed with 20 mL of distilled water, and 20 mL of gastric juice was collected in a sterile tube and submitted for culture. 20 mL of ascites was also collected from the laparoscopic ports and submitted for culture. We compared WBC, CRP, BT between two groups, and verify the reduction effect of bacterial counts in Systemic lavage+balloon occlusion group. RESULTS: WBC count before, 1 d after, and 3 d after laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) were 5060 (95%CI: 4250-9640), 12140 (6050-14110), and 6910 (5320-12520) in Non systemic lavage group, 4400 (3660-7620), 8910 (6480-10980), and 5950 (4840-7860) in Systemic lavage+balloon occlusion group. Significant differences between two groups at the day after LECS (P = 0.029) and the 3 d after LECS (P = 0.042). CRP levels in Non systemic lavage group and in Systemic lavage+balloon occlusion group were significantly different at the day after LECS (P = 0.005) and the 3 d after LECS (P = 0.028). BTs (°C) in Non systemic lavage group and in Systemic lavage+balloon occlusion group were also significantly different at the day after LECS (P = 0.004) and the 3 d after LECS (P = 0.006). In a logarithmic comparison, bacterial load before gastric lavage, after lavage, and ascites culture were 6.08 (95%CI: 4.04-6.97), 0.48 (0-0.85), and 0.21 (0-0.56). The bacterial counts before and after gastric lavage were significantly suppressed (P = 0.007), but no significant difference between gastric juice culture after lavage and ascites (P = 0.154). CONCLUSION: Pre-LECS lavage with 2000 mL of saline exhibited a bacteria-reducing effect equivalent to disinfectants and obtained favorable results in terms of clinical symptoms and data.

Avances en los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal / A review of the recent advances in gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) son las neoplasias mesenquimales más comunes del tubo digestivo y representan uno de los mejores modelos de tratamiento farmacológico dirigido a dianas moleculares específicas. En general, el diagnóstico morfológico no plantea mayores problemas debido a que el cuadro histológico (celularidad fusiformes y/o epiteliode) e inmunohistoquímico (expresión de CD117, CD34 y, más eventualmente, de actina de músculo liso, desmina e incluso proteína S-100) suele ser bastante característico. No obstante, en el 5–10% de los casos la histología y los resultados inmunohistoquímicos no son los esperados y el diagnóstico debe descansar en la demostración mediante técnicas de biología molecular de mutaciones en KIT o PDGFRA, ya que el diagnóstico correcto es requisito necesario para la aplicación de la terapia específica. En el presente artículo llevamos a cabo una revisión sobre los avances acontecidos en 5 aspectos fundamentales sobre la biología y diagnóstico de estas neoplasias: nuevos marcadores inmunohistoquímico, factores pronósticos, biología molecular, síndromes clínicos asociados y respuesta tisular a los inhibidores de tirosin quinasa(AU)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the intestinal tract and are one of the best models for treatment with molecular target therapy. Morphological diagnosis does not usually present many problems due to the presence fusiform and/or epitheliod cells together with the characteristic immunohistochemical expression of CD117, CD34 and, less frequently, smooth muscle actin, desmin and even S-100 protein. However, unexpected histological and immunohistochemical results are found in 5 to 10% of cases. In such unusual cases, molecular biology is needed to demonstrate c-KIT or PDGFRA mutations in order to make a correct diagnosis, which is a necessary prerequisite for molecular target therapy. The present article reviews recent advances in five fundamental biological and diagnostic aspects of GIST: new immunohistochemical markers, prognostic factors, molecular biology, associated clinical syndromes and tissue response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors(AU)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor complicated by Streptococcus milleri bacteremia and liver abscess.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Often discovered incidentally, GISTs can present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms or more overt symptoms of bleeding, obstruction, or perforation. Despite a myriad of clinical presentations, bacteremia associated with a GIST has not been described. In this report, we present an unusual clinical case that illustrates how GISTs can become infected, and demonstrate the importance of Streptococcus milleri bacteremia as an indicator of possible underlying gastrointestinal neoplasm.