Cardiac Tamponade after Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke A Case with an Excellent Outcome.

Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the established treatment for acute ischemic stroke and has been highly effective in reducing the neurological deficit. Serious adverse events are not uncommon, with hemorrhage being the major complication. We describe the case of a patient with acute ischemic stroke that also presented with vague cardiac symptoms and was treated with rtPA, which was complicated by a hemopericardium causing cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was promptly performed, which resulted in rapid resolution of the cardiogenic shock. The patient recovered consciousness within a few minutes. A search of the MEDLINE database shows that this is the first report of cardiac tamponade after rtPA thrombolysis occurring in a patient with no history of recent myocardial infarction or aortic dissection. LEARNING POINTS: Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency and if not recognized and treated quickly results in cardiogenic shock and death. Hence, it is necessary to be aware that the established treatment for acute ischemic stroke can lead to cardiac tamponade.Cardiac tamponade after rtPA thrombolysis can occur in patients with no history of recent myocardial infarction or aortic dissection.

Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Presenting as a Suspected Case of Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) represents a diagnostic challenge. Bone TB is an uncommon and important presentation of extrapulmonary TB, which can lead to bone destruction, deformity and even paraplegia. Breast TB is rare and often confused with neoplasia, since the clinical and imaging presentations are not specific. Any of these extrapulmonary TB presentations, in the absence of cultural isolation of mycobacteria, oblige the exclusion of other diseases (secondary or infectious diseases). The authors report a case of multifocal extrapulmonary TB, as an example of the problem with the differential diagnosis of the disease. LEARNING POINTS: Extrapulmonary TB remains a diagnostic challenge.Consider breast TB as a differential diagnosis of mammary nodules.A high level of suspicion is necessary to make an early diagnosis and start appropriate treatment before irreversible damage takes place.