Lymphangitic Melanomatosis: Case Report of Intralymphatic Spread of Melanoma in a 66-year-old Man.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma with lymphatic invasion has been associated with increased risk of metastasis, but the mechanisms and clinical implications are poorly understood. Although current reports have documented angiotropic spread of melanoma and suggest lymphatic spread of melanoma to increase the likelihood of metastasis, to our knowledge, lymphangitic metastatic melanoma resembling cutaneous carcinomatosis or presenting with facial hyperpigmentation has not been described. In this case report, we describe extensive cutaneous intralymphatic spread of melanoma, or lymphangitic melanomatosis, producing macular skin pigmentation in a 66-year-old man.

Clinicopathological studies on ulcerative lymphangitis in cattle: Alterations in serum inflammatory cytokines, anti-microbial, organs functions, and oxidative stress-related biomarkers.

Background: Affection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (C. pseudotuberculosis) and development of cellulitis and/or abscess formation with cutaneous lymphangitis in cattle is rare to some extent, so literature about the biochemical changes that would accompany this infection is rare. Aim: In this context, the present study was designed to screen the effect of the infection with C. pseudotuberculosis cutaneous lymphangitis on the release of some immune molecules, organ functions, and redox state in Baladi cows. Methods: Fourteen Baladi cows from a small dairy farm in El-Behira, Egypt, were selected to complete this study. After bacteriological culture confirmation, seven of them were found suffering from cutaneous lesions due to infection with C. pseudotuberculosis (Diseased group), while the others were healthy (Healthy group). Serum samples were obtained to evaluate the presumptive changes in some clinicopathological parameters. Results: Serum analysis revealed a significant decrease in the levels of interferon-gamma and interleukin-17 as well as a significant decrement in the concentration of beta-defensin (ß-defensin) and lipocalin-2. While serum level of interleukin-10 recorded a significant increase in these animals when compared to healthy control animals. Concurrently, the affected animals recorded a significant elevation in serum levels of hepato-cardiac enzymes, urea, and creatinine in addition to disturbance in the serum redox state. Conclusion: In conclusion, infection with C. pseudotuberculosis cattle may disturb the defensive immune state, body organ function, and redox state of the animals.

Afatinib treatment of severe respiratory failure due to malignant lymphangitis in a dialysis patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Patients on dialysis have limited treatment options for advanced lung cancer because some chemotherapeutic agents are unavailable due to renal dysfunction. A man in his 70s on peritoneal dialysis presented with persistent fever refractory to antibiotics for 2 weeks. Subsequent whole-body CT showed a 5 cm diameter mass in the right lower lobe of the lung with right-sided pleural effusion and osteolytic metastasis of the right iliac bone. The patient was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (cT3N2M1b, stage IVB) harbouring the p.Gly719Ala point mutation on exon 18 of the epidermal growth factor receptor. The patient developed severe respiratory failure due to malignant lymphangitis after a bronchoscopy. He received 30 mg/day of afatinib, resulting in tumour shrinkage and recovery from respiratory failure. We advocate for aggressive screening of driver oncogenes in patients with lung cancer on dialysis, including those with squamous cell lung cancer.

Prevalence and risk factors for epizootic lymphangitis among equids in ethiopia during 2002-2023: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in Ethiopia, Epizootic Lymphangitis (EL) is the most prevalent fungal disease of equids, which causes significant economic losses as well as a decrease in equid populations. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to pool the results of individual studies and estimate the prevalence of EL among equids in Ethiopia. A systematic search of research articles on the prevalence and risk factors of EL among equids in Ethiopia was conducted in registers, databases, and other sources. Cochrane's Q, inverse variance (I2), sensitivity analysis, funnel plot, Begg's, and Egger's regression tests were used to check heterogeneity and publication bias. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled burden of EL among equids. For this meta-analysis, a total of 7217 equids were included in the 14 eligible studies. The overall pooled prevalence of EL among equids in Ethiopia was 20.24% (95% CI: 16.27, 24.21). According to the subgroup analysis, the highest prevalence was observed in cart horses (20.98%), the Amhara region (21.46%), and studies conducted using sample sizes of 384 equids or greater (24.67%) and from 2002 to 2018 (25.52%) study periods. Harness-inflicted wounds, sharing stables or yards with harnesses, and the presence of preexisting wounds were identified as factors significantly associated with EL magnitude. Early diagnosis and proper medication, as well as implementing appropriate prevention and control measures, are necessary for the management of EL in equids.

Growth inhibitory effect of selected medicinal plants from Southern Ethiopia on the mycelial phase of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum.

BACKGROUND: Epizootic lymphangitis is an infectious and chronically debilitating disease of the equines. Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum, a thermally dimorphic fungi, is the causative agent for the disease. In Ethiopia, the disease significantly affects carthorses, posing threats to animal welfare, and resulting in substantial economic losses. Limited availability of widely accessible antifungals in addition to the chronic nature of the disease is the major challenge against management of epizootic lymphangitis. This study aimed to assess the in vitro efficacy of specific local medicinal plant extracts against the mycelial phase development of H. capsulatum var. farciminosum in southern Ethiopia. The leaves of Xanthium strumarium, Kanda (Family Rubiaceae), Croton macrostachyus (Bisana in Amharic), and Centella Asiatica (Echere waye as a local name in Zeyissegna) that are traditionally used for the treatment of different skin ailments were collected and extracted for the in vitro trial. RESULTS: The study revealed that methanol extracts of Xanthium strumarium, Kanda, Croton macrostachyus, and Centella Asiatica, at minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1.25 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, and 5 mg/ml, respectively, inhibited the growth of H. capsulatum var. farciminosum. CONCLUSION: This in vitro finding could serve as significant preliminary data in the exploration of effective alternative treatment options for epizootic lymphangitis. This study provides a crucial foundation for further research aimed at determining the chemical components and in vivo effectiveness of these plant extracts against both the mycelial and yeast forms of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum.

The socioeconomic impact of equine epizootic lymphangitis in working equids in low and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Equine epizootic lymphangitis (EEL) is a very infectious and contagious fungal disease that, with its ocular, respiratory and skin forms, causes severe effects on the health and welfare of working equids. Treatment is expensive and rarely available in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Epidemiological data is lacking in most countries where the disease is known to exist. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify the current knowledge on the socioeconomic impact of EEL in working equids in LMICs, to highlight knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for future research. Seven eligible papers were obtained from the search of four databases and backward citation searching. The review showed that the available research on this subject is very scarce and restricted to Ethiopia. From the results it emerged that EEL causes detrimental socioeconomic effects on working equids' owners, compromising their health and livelihood. Its economic consequences were attributed to the reduced working capacity and loss of sick animals. Among the social impacts, authors highlighted the stigma around sick equids and their owners. Further studies on the socioeconomic impact of EEL conducted in endemic areas are highly required. The integration of epidemiological data with socioeconomic impact studies from LMICs may promote funding allocation for the development of cost-effective treatments and vaccines and for implementing disease prevention and control programmes. Future research would gain from applying the One Health approach to better examine the multiplicity of the disease socioeconomic effects, therefore increasing the potential of research to orientate policy.

Comparative investigations into the growth details of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum on four different agar media.

Epizootic equine lymphangitis (EEL) is a chronic fungal disease that affects equids. The causative agent is a dimorphic fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum. Histoplasmacapsulatum var farciminosum field strain 7 (D 2878/2023) isolated from the eye socket of an EEL Ethiopian horse was sub-cultured on four different solid media and incubated at 26°C and 37°C for 6 weeks. Details of growth morphology were recorded and shown in images during 6 weeks of incubation. Histoplasmacapsulatum var farciminosum grew best at 26°C on all four agars, but only on sheep blood agar at 37°C as small, white dry colonies.

Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum was isolated from the eye socket of an equine epizootic lymphangitis infected Ethiopian horse on Mycosel agar, which was sub-cultured on four different solid media at two different temperatures for 6 weeks to show its growth pattern.

Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis: A peculiar presentation clustering in MET-amplified gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The clinicopathological features of MET-amplified gastric cancer (GC) and real-world data on the efficacy of MET-targeted therapies remain unknown. Pulmonary lymphangitis carcinomatosis (PLC) is a peculiar manifestation of GC, whose management has not been thoroughly described. METHODS: This study analyzed patients diagnosed with MET-amplified GC or GC with PLC at any time point of the disease course from 2011 to 2021 in two centers. Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of MET-amplified GC were analyzed. The clinical and molecular implications of GC with PLC were discussed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients with MET-amplified GC and 20 patients with GC accompanied by PLC were finally enrolled for analysis (including 13 overlapped patients). GC with PLC was more common in female patients (p = 0.010), diagnosed at a younger age (p = 0.002), presented with a higher baseline ECOG PS (p = 0.016), and was more likely to develop lung metastasis (p < 0.001), and serous effusion (p = 0.026) than GC without PLC. Patients with primary MET-amplified GC had a worse prognosis than those with secondary MET-amplified GC (p = 0.005). The application of anti-MET therapy was associated with numerically prolonged survival, but the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). MET amplification was concentrated in patients with PLC, in which anti-MET therapies elicited a high response rate. CONCLUSIONS: MET-targeted therapies are efficacious in real-world populations with MET-amplified GC. Patients with PLC have distinct clinical and molecular features and might benefit from MET-targeted therapies.

Study on prevalence and associated risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in equine in Nagele Arsi town, southeastern Ethiopia.

Epizootic lymphangitis is a contagious, chronic and overwhelming disease of equids, characterized by chronic discharging skin nodules. This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in equines at Nagele Arsi town, southeastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study using a random sampling technique was employed from December 2021 to June 2022 via clinical and microscopic examinations of the lesions. The overall prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis was 4.37% with a prevalence of 6.69%, 0.72%, and 0% in horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively. The sex, species, harness type, season, and body condition scores of equids have shown statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) with the prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis. Macroscopically, the lesions revealed varying degrees of nodule to ulcer on the sternum, limbs, face, and cervical region of the equine. Upon giemsa stain, fungal hyphae with a halo (unstained capsule-like) structure were observed. Histologically, pyogranulomatous inflammation with fibroplasia was appreciated. In conclusion, epizootic lymphangitis was rampant in the study area. This requires a detailed investigation incorporating a large sample size using fungal culture and other molecular techniques including PCR.

Ultrasonographic features of intestinal lipogranulomatous lymphangitis in 10 dogs.

Intestinal lipogranulomatous lymphangitis (ILL) is a granulomatous inflammation of the lymphatic vessels of the intestinal wall and mesentery characterized by lipogranulomas. The purpose of this retrospective, multi-center, case series study is to report the ultrasonographic features of canine ILL. Ten dogs with a histologically confirmed ILL undergoing preoperative abdominal ultrasound were retrospectively included. Additional CT was available in two cases. Lesion distribution was focal in eight dogs and multifocal in two. All dogs presented with intestinal wall thickening and two had a concomitant mesenteric mass adjacent to the intestinal lesion. All lesions were in the small intestine. Ultrasonographic features were altered wall layering with predominantly muscular and to a lesser extent submucosal layer thickening. Other findings included hyperechoic nodular tissue within the muscular, serosa/subserosal, and mucosal layers, hyperechoic perilesional mesentery, enlarged submucosal blood/lymphatic vessels, mild peritoneal effusion, intestinal corrugation, and mild lymphadenomegaly. The two intestinal to mesenteric masses presented heterogeneous echostructure, predominantly hyperechoic with multiple hypo/anechoic cavitations filled with mixed fluid and fat attenuation content on CT. Histopathological findings included lymphangiectasia, granulomatous inflammation, and structured lipogranulomas affecting mainly submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. The intestinal to mesenteric cavitary masses revealed severe granulomatous peritonitis with steatonecrosis. In conclusion, ILL should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with this combination of ultrasonographic features.

Nodular lymphangitis related to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection.

Nodular lymphangitis, also known as lymphocutaneous syndrome or sporotrichoid lymphangitis, presents with inflammatory nodules along the lymphatic vessels, typically involving the upper or lower extremities. Although the most common cause of nodular lymphangitis is infection due to Sporothrix schenckii, Nocardia brasiliensis, Mycobacterium marinum, or Leishmania braziliensis, it is important for clinicians to be aware of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a rare cause of nodular lymphangitis and perform gram stain, bacterial culture, and antibiotic sensitivity profiles when appropriate. History of recent travel or exposures, incubation time, presence of systemic symptoms, and presence of ulceration, suppuration, or drainage can serve as diagnostic clues, but microbiological tissue cultures and histopathologic studies confirm the diagnosis. Herein, we present a case of nodular lymphangitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); tissue culture and antibiotic sensitivities were used to guide treatment.

Cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa: a unique presentation of a rare disease.

A 75-year-old man with a three-year history of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphangitic carcinomatosa of unique morphology. He was admitted to our hospital for right neck swelling, erythema, and failure to thrive. Skin examination demonstrated an indurated, thickened, firm, hyperpigmented plaque extending from the right neck and chest to the right ear, cheek, and eyelids. Skin biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, morphologically consistent with metastasis from the patient's known pulmonary adenocarcinoma and showed dermal invasion, perineural invasion, and involvement of dermal lymphatics. The diagnosis was an atypical presentation of cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa from metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. This case presentation affirms that cutaneous lymphangitis carcinomatosa has a variety of atypical presentations, so physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating cutaneous lesions in patients with known or suspected internal malignancy.

Computed tomographic features of focal lipogranulomatous lymphangitis for differentiating from malignant intestinal lesions in a dog.

An eight-year-old Maltese dog presented with diarrhea and anorexia. Ultrasonography revealed marked focal wall thickening with loss of layering in the distal ileum. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a preserved wall layer with hypoattenuating middle wall thickening. In some segments of the lesion, small nodules protruding toward the mesentery from the outer layer were observed. Histopathology revealed focal lipogranulomatous lymphangitis (FLL) with lymphangiectasia. This is the first report to describe the CT features of FLL in a dog. CT features of preserved wall layers with hypoattenuating middle wall thickening and small nodules can assist in diagnosing FLL in dogs.