RESUMEN
Objectives Accounts of initial and follow-up chest X-rays (CXRs) of the Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients, and correlation with outcomes, are sparse. We retrospectively evaluated MERS-CoV CXRs initial findings, temporal progression, and outcomes correlation. Materials and methods Fifty-three real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)-confirmed MERS-CoV patients with CXRs were retrospectively identified from November 2013 to October 2014. Initial and follow-up CXR imaging findings and distribution were evaluated over 75 days. Findings were correlated with outcomes. Results Twenty-two of 53 (42%) initial CXRs were normal. In 31 (68%) abnormal initial CXRs, 15 (48%) showed bilateral non-diffuse involvement, 16 (52%) had ground-glass opacities (GGO), and 13 (42%) had peripheral distribution. On follow-up CXRs, mixed airspace opacities prevailed, seen in 16 (73%) of 22 patients 21-30 days after the initial CXRs. Bilateral non-diffuse involvement was the commonest finding throughout follow-up, affecting 16 (59%) of 27 patients 11-20 days after the initial CXRs. Bilateral diffuse involvement was seen in five (63%) of eight patients 31-40 days after the initial CXRs. A bilateral diffuse CXR pattern had an odds ratio for mortality of 13 (95% CI=2-78) on worst and 18 (95% CI=3-119) on final CXRs (P-value <0.05). Conclusion Initially, normal CXRs are common in MERS-CoV patients. Peripherally located ground-glass and mixed opacities are common on initial and follow-up imaging. The risk of mortality is higher when bilateral diffuse radiographic abnormalities are detected.
RESUMEN
Phaeochromocytoma (PHEO) is a neoplasm that arises from chromaffin cells present in the adrenal medulla. The counterpart of the PHEO extra-adrenal is termed paraganglioma (PGL). The urinary bladder PGL is a rare tumour, and it accounts for less than 0.06% of all bladder tumours. In this report, we discuss a case of a young female who presented with symptoms of headache, dizziness, palpitations, and high blood pressure. After workup, she was diagnosed with concurrent urinary bladder PGL and adrenal PHEO, and the genetic study of the whole exon sequence indicated the presence of succinate dehydrogenase-B (SDHB) mutation. Both tumours were treated surgically; however, the patient ultimately developed recurrence, rapid progression, and metastasis. All secondary modalities were unsuccessful, and the patient was referred for palliative treatment and eventually lost to follow-up. PGL should be included in the differential diagnosis of bladder tumours, and testing for SDHB gene mutations should be considered in all urinary PGLs. Therefore, these patients need follow-up and genetic counselling.
