Otomastoiditis caused by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) is rare. Sub-optimal management of this condition can lead to significant morbidity and serious damage to the middle ear. Diagnosis is difficult, especially since most physicians are not familiar with the mode of presentation and symptoms. Presented here is a new case, followed ...

Diseases which are associated with relapses and disability accumulation that mimic MS may be effectively treated if they are appropriately diagnosed. Unfortunately, however, it can be easy to assume that a patient is presenting with unusual symptoms of MS rather than establish unequivocally that there is no other cause. This ...

In contrast with their colonic equivalents, noncolonic diverticula of the gastro-intestinal tract are much rarer and an uncommon site of inflammation. Symptoms and signs are generally nonspecific and before the advent and development of CT, clinical and radiological diagnosis was very difficult. As a result laparotomy was carried out in ...

AIM OF THE STUDY: To report a case of unilateral headache with two possibilities of diagnosis. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Patient with unilateral, intense, stabbing periocular headache with conjuntival injection and tearing. Although the duration of attacks was typical of SUNCT, there was complete remission of the pain with indomethacin, ...

BACKGROUND: Elastofibroma dorsi is a relatively rare soft-tissue tumor of the elderly with typical localization to the subscapular area. To date, few cases have been reported in the dermatology literature. The differential diagnosis includes frequently observed subcutaneous neoplasms such as lipoma, fibrolipoma or more aggressive tumors. The diagnosis is made ...

We report a case of sight-threatening secondary syphilis with HIV co-infection where atypical pattern of skin manifestations resulted in a delay in making the correct diagnosis. However, despite marked visual loss by the time correct diagnosis was made, the patient responded well, albeit slowly, to a course of intravenous benzyl ...

This study aims to highlight the difficulties faced in the clinical diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease (KD) presenting beyond the first week. This is a retrospective study of 25 cases of which only 36% met the criteria for classical and 8% was incomplete KD. Majority (56%) did not meet the criteria ...

Gastrointestinal mucormycosis has been reported more frequently in adults than in children. Due to high mortality diagnosis is usually made at autopsy. Only 3 cases of neonates surviving this disease have been described. We report two cases of preterm neonates presenting clinically with symptoms of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but lacking ...

This report describes the case of a 21-year-old male that presented in respiratory failure caused by laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) related to remote endotracheal intubation. The patient sought treatment for respiratory complaints in the weeks prior, and had a poor response to treatment for asthma. Currently, LTS is predominantly seen as ...

BACKGROUND: Hepatic cystic lesions are rare; however, their management and treatment is dependent on early recognition and diagnosis. METHODS: In this report, the authors discuss a 72-year-old woman who presented to their clinic for treatment of a hepatocystadenoma. RESULTS: The history, physical examination, and diagnostic modalities lead to surgical intervention ...

With advances in imaging technology and increased alertness by clinicians, the reported incidence of primary vertebral osteosarcoma (PVOS) has increased in recent times and, therefore, the importance of its correct diagnosis has repeatedly been emphasized. One such case of PVOS is reported, that presented with insidious clinical, radiological and pathological ...

The clinical presentation of lead intoxication may vary widely and in the absence of a high clinical index of suspicion, the diagnosis may be missed. The effects of lead on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and its interaction with calcium-mediated processes explain the heterogenous presentation. In this case report, the diagnosis was ...

Chronic ischemic gastritis is an unusual entity that is rarely distinguished from other forms of intestinal ischemia. On the basis of a case encountered and a subsequent review of the literature, the main features of this rare condition are described here. A better understanding and awareness of the disease should ...

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a primary cardiomyopathy, characterized mainly by anatomic and functional defects of the right ventricle. In many cases its diagnosis is quite difficult in spite of the existence of defined diagnostic criteria for the disease. We describe an interesting case of a patient with sustained ...

This case report describes a potential novel indication for the use of bedside ultrasound in the Emergency Department. The patient in this case had some of the signs and symptoms of diverticulitis. The "pseudo-kidney" sign, which was thought to represent acute diverticulitis, was appreciated on a rapid, bedside ultrasound and ...

Zoonotic diseases are randomly remembered in the differential diagnosis of jaundice of unknown origin. We present four characteristic cases of jaundice attributed to brucellosis and Coxiella burnetii infection and discuss the various pathogenetic pathways implicated in each case. We present a brief review of the relevant literature and, in an ...

PURPOSE: To compare polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results to presumptive clinical diagnosis in patients with vitritis. DESIGN: Retrospective review of PCR laboratory records from vitreous samples. METHODS: Fifty consecutive laboratory records of vitreous samples sent for PCR testing were reviewed. Three reviewers with uveitis training ranked the clinical suspicion of ...

We analysed 46 telecytology cases sent from two rural hospitals about 500 km from a tertiary cancer centre. The cases were submitted for second opinion over a period of two years and evaluated using a static store and forward telecytology approach. A total of 715 digital images were studied (average ...

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare ulcerative skin disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical features and excluding other causes of skin ulcers, as it does not have characteristic histopathology or laboratory findings. The etiology is poorly understood. Lesions can develop spontaneously, after surgery or after trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: We ...

Clinical toxoplasmosis was diagnosed antemortem in two cats being treated with therapeutic doses of cyclosporin. The diagnosis was made by detecting tachyzoites on cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from one case and pleural effusion from the other. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive treatment in both cases, only one cat ...

The clinical diagnosis of classic Crohn's disease (CD) of the small bowel is based on a typical history, tender right lower quadrant fullness or mass, and characteristic radiographic findings of the terminal ileum. Appendicitis may as well present with chronic or recurrent symptoms and this presentation may be confused with ...

This paper describes the clinical, radiographic and histologic findings of an aggressive infantile (desmoid-type) fibromatosis of the face in a seven-year-old black Jamaican male. This condition is rare in the head and neck region and its occurrence in the maxilla is exceptional. The differential diagnosis, management and long term follow-up ...

This report presents a unique case of a gastric trichobezoar in a relatively healthy, young female with no history of psychological or psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, unlike previously reported cases, this patient had no history of gastric surgery. The mode of presentation and the difficulties in diagnosis are discussed. The different ...

Most orthopedic conditions that affect dogs are well described established conditions. Often, the current literature is focused on refinements in diagnosis, treatment, and management of these conditions. Improvement in worldwide reporting of emerging conditions offers veterinarians a greater awareness of new conditions as they occur. This article compiles into a ...

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare benign disease characterized by the presence of osseous and cartilaginous submucosal nodules projecting into the tracheobronchial tree. Most cases are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally at post-mortem. We identified a case of TO on thoracic spiral CT and confirmed the diagnosis of bronchoscopy. This article ...

A case of an Ascaris infection of the gallbladder is reported in a 29 years old female. The biological check-up was normal. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography and the patient was cured by albendazole. Such a localization is uncommon (2.1% of the hepatobiliary ascariasis), and the abdominal ultrasonography is ...

We report a case of compartment syndrome of the left upper limb following hemorrhage due to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in a 45-year-old man. As far as we know, there is not such a report in the literature. We discuss clinical manifestations, electrophysiologic findings, differential diagnosis, and management of the patient. ...

Renal insufficiency because of obstruction may not always be represented by dilated pelvicalyceal system. This may make diagnosis and thence the management very difficult with the present available investigative armamentarium. Experience and clinical acumen may help with a decision of empirical treatment in the form of stenting or nephrostomy in ...

It is usually thought by emergency physicians that the diagnosis of a pneumothorax is straightforward and easy to make and to treat, but the diagnosis may sometimes pose a challenge. The present report describes a case of a giant pulmonary bulla in a 40-year-old man that progressed to occupy almost ...

Calcinosis universalis is characterized by the deposit of calcium salts in skin, subcutaneous tissue, tendons and muscles. Most cases become apparent during the first decade of life. Clinical aspects may vary from arthralgia to movement limitation, with calcification of soft tissues. Differential diagnosis should exclude fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive, progressive osseous ...

BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are increasing in incidence. They have been reported following multiple procedures, including dialysis, liposuction, soft tissue augmentation, pedicures, public baths, acupuncture, placement of contaminated foreign devices such as the Norplant (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegetown, PA, USA), intravenous catheters, and during surgery from contamination of medical instruments. OBJECTIVE: ...

BACKGROUND: Placenta percreta is a very rare but serious complication of pregnancy. Diagnosis is difficult. Uterine perforation and invasion into adjacent organs makes life threatening haemmorrhage inevitable. Management is usually based on intraoperative findings from case reports. METHOD: Literature on clinical decisions, diagnostic and treatment modalities were critically reviewed using ...

BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax is a potentially dangerous condition which may arise unexpectedly during anaesthesia. The diagnosis is one of exclusion, as initial changes in vital signs (cardiorespiratory decompensation and difficulty with ventilation) are non-specific, and other causes of such changes are more common, whereas local signs may be difficult to elicit, ...

We report an uncommon cluster of this rare condition which occurred within a very short period of time in our unit. We reviewed the current literature and observed that the diagnosis is often delayed, which can have very serious consequences for the outcome. Our 3 patients have had an uncomplicated ...

The objective of this presentation is to document the salient clinical findings in a case of aflatoxicosis and to review the literature on the same so as to increase the index of suspicion, enhance early diagnosis and improve management. The case was a 17-year-old schoolboy presenting with vomiting, features of ...

We report the cases of five female patients with high skin phototype affected by relapsing, hypochromic, non-scaling macules occurring after the summer on the back and spreading over large areas of skin. Histological features disclosed decreased epidermal melanin. Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) treatment proved to be beneficial, but new ...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly spreading, bacterial, soft-tissue infection reported in both humans and dogs. A review of the pathophysiology, clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is presented, with the goal of familiarizing veterinarians with this uncommon but potentially fatal condition. A case report highlighting the fulminant course ...

PURPOSE: To report the value of endoretinal biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of severe posterior uveitis. METHODS: A clinicopathologic report of three patients with severe posterior uveitis unresponsive to corticosteroids and with a negative systemic workup. These patients subsequently underwent vitrectomy and endoretinal biopsy. RESULTS: Endoretinal biopsy provided an accurate ...

OBJECTIVE: Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is an uncommon entity characterised by the diffuse overgrowth of large parts of the brain by glial cells. Reports in the literature often refer to adult patients, its occurrence in children being even more rare. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with ...

In the present review, we will discuss the Schistosoma mansoni form, which is the most widely distributed schistosome in humans and is found both in the Old and New Worlds. The main features of the natural history of mansonic schistosomiasis are reviewed, with emphasis on the clinical forms of the ...

Visiting lakes and cottages is a common leisure activity during summer among most Canadians and paradise for some. Various leisure activities are involved during these visits, including cleaning and 'airing' the cottage after long-winters, activities at the lakes and dock building etc, exposing the Canadians to moist soil and decaying ...

BACKGROUND: To date, no studies have evaluated the usefulness of the Duke vs the modified Duke criteria for the early diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE), nor is it known whether a probabilistic approach may be useful in establishing an early clinical diagnosis of IE. The aim of this study was ...

Synchronous multicentric osteosarcoma is a rare entity with fewer than 100 well documented cases in the medical literature. The disease usually progresses rapidly in young patients and slightly slower in adults. We present a case of synchronous multicentric osteosarcoma with some peculiarities in a 73-year-old woman. The diagnosis was made ...

Back pain is a major cause of disability worldwide. A case of a 29 year old Caucasian woman with low back pain secondary to an uncommon benign condition called osteitis condensans ilii is presented and the literature is reviewed. Limited information in the literature combined with poor awareness across the ...

The descriptions of catatonia are complex and unclear. More than 40 different signs and symptoms have been included, but coma is not among them. Recently, a case report of coma in relation to catatonia was presented. We report two further cases where coma was a part of this syndrome of ...

Pneumoperitoneum after diving is a rare symptom. Diagnosis and treatment strongly depends on the primary source of the air in the abdominal cavity. There are two main sources of air entering the perineum: perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and pulmonary barotrauma. The management is different and additionally, in both cases, ...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to review the etiology, presentation, treatment, and prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma of the larynx using an illustrative case example. STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. METHODS: A case is reported, and a review of all available published cases of osteosarcoma of the larynx is ...

The report presents two cases where diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis was confirmed by Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus PCR. The extrahepatic osseous involvement and the absence of initial hepatic involvement are unusual in both cases. Due to limitations of serological interpretation, PCR was useful to diagnose atypical echinococcosis.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is an uncommon, systemic xanthogranulomatous disorder, with distinct clinicopathological features, that is rarely expected preoperatively. We describe a case that presented in the brain of a 26-yr-old male patient and clinically mimicked the appearance of a neoplasm. The final diagnosis was a surprise. In retrospect, the diagnosis ...

In this retrospective study, the usefulness of a PCR performed on serum for primary diagnosis and monitoring of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (MVL) was assessed. In the case of primary diagnosis of MVL, the serum PCR showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 95%, with positive and negative predictive ...