5-Fluorouracil-induced acute leukoencephalopathy: Case report and literature review.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy (TL) refers to damage to the brain white matter following exposure to toxic agents. Multiple agents are incriminated in this condition, including chemotherapy drugs. 5-Fluorouracil, widely used in oncology, is responsible for neurotoxicity in less than 5% of cases. We report the case of a 54-year-old male patient who presented with neurological symptoms following 5-FU-based chemotherapy for gastric adenocarcinoma, and whose MRI scan revealed signs suggestive of toxic leukoencephalopathy. We also report on the evolution of the abnormalities described on his MRI after 1 year.

Cocaine-Induced Lung Damage and Uncommon Involvement of the Basal Ganglia.

Cocaine use is responsible for multiorgan damage, including the brain and lungs. Bilateral and symmetrical involvement of the basal ganglia may be due to toxic, metabolic, vascular, inflammatory, infectious, or tumoral causes. Cocaine-related encephalopathy mainly affects the white matter, while basal ganglia involvement is an uncommon finding. Cocaine-induced lung damage varies clinically and even radiologically, with signs that lack specificity. The diagnosis of cocaine-induced lung or brain injury is based on suggestive radiological signs in the context of cocaine consumption and after the elimination of other etiologies likely to present the same patterns. The context of cocaine use is often not spontaneously declared, making diagnosis more complicated. We report the case of a 28-year-old male patient, with a history of freebase cocaine use, admitted to the emergency room in severe coma with respiratory distress. Brain MRI showed bilateral and symmetrical abnormalities of the basal ganglia. A chest CT scan revealed interstitial lung damage dominated by the ground-glass pattern. The urine toxicology test was positive for cocaine. Cocaine-related lesions can be reversible, and therapeutic management is essentially based on supportive care.

Moya-Moya Disease Revealed by a Non-lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage in an Adult.

Moya-Moya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebral vasculopathy affecting children and adults. It is a progressive steno-occlusive arterial disease generally discovered during the etiological assessment of an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Its diagnosis is based essentially on imaging. Cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard. We report the case of a 42-year-old male patient admitted for the loss of consciousness with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 12/15. A brain CT scan revealed a right capsulo-lenticular hematoma with ventricular flooding and hydrocephalus. Cerebral CT angiography showed features of Moya-Moya vasculopathy, which was confirmed by a cerebral catheter angiogram.

An unusual case of diastatic perforation of the transverse colon: Case report and literature review.

Diastatic perforation corresponds to a bursting of the cecal wall caused by excessive distension resulting from a remote obstruction of the low large bowel. This perforation could be explained by Laplace's physical law, and by the particular vascular anatomy of the cecal wall. We report the case of a 75-year-old man admitted for peritonitis with an abdominal CT scan highly suggestive of a diastatic perforation of the cecum complicating colonic distension upstream of a stenosing tumor of the rectosigmoid junction. To our surprise, surgical exploration revealed the defect to be in the transverse colon and not in the cecum. Diastatic perforation of the transverse colon is exceptional, and would require other pathophysiological explanations than those for classical cecal perforation.

Peritoneal metastasis of a cerebellar medulloblastoma through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A case report.

Medulloblastoma is a frequent and aggressive pediatric tumor. It causes intracranial hypertension, necessitating ventriculoperitoneal shunting with surgical resection. Intraperitoneal metastases are rare and result from the migration of neoplastic cells through the shunt and into the peritoneal cavity. This metastatic form involving the ventriculoperitoneal shunt has a poor prognosis, making therapeutic management even more difficult. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with a history of medulloblastoma of the cerebellum who was initially treated with complete resection of the tumor with placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with good progression until he presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal symptoms. Imaging revealed multiple peritoneal masses with intra- and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathies. An ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed a metastatic medulloblastoma in the peritoneal cavity, and the patient underwent chemotherapy. The placement of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the tumor dissemination is therefore to blame.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Infants With Axial Hypotonia and Psychomotor Regression: Insights From a Moroccan Case Study.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a rare entity in the pediatric population. It is often of maternal origin in exclusively breast-fed infants. Its clinical manifestations are multiple and unspecific, encompassing hematological problems and neurodevelopmental consequences. Positive diagnosis and early treatment with vitamin B12 supplementation have a rapidly reversible effect on symptoms. Delayed diagnosis, however, may result in irreversible neurological sequelae. We report the case of a six-month-old infant, admitted with hypotonia and psychomotor regression since the age of four months. The laboratory work-up revealed macrocytic anemia with the presence of megakaryocytes and megaloblasts on the myelogram. Vitamin B12 levels were low, and homocysteine levels were high. A maternal workup showed vitamin B12 deficiency in the mother. A brain MRI showed bilateral frontoparietal cortical atrophy. The patient was put on vitamin B12 supplementation with good evolution. The aim of our work is to shed light on the misleading and varied clinical profile of vitamin B12 deficiency in an exclusively breastfed infant, the serious consequences of maternal vitamin B12 deficiency, and the importance of early diagnosis of this condition.

A Case Report of an Uncommon Association of Total Intracardiac Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return and Tetralogy of Fallot.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) represents a group of anomalies consisting of a lack of connection between the pulmonary veins and the left atrium. All oxygenated pulmonary venous return flows directly or indirectly into the right atrium. Survival is only possible with a right-to-left atrial shunt. It remains rare, accounting for less than 1% of all congenital heart diseases. Its association with tetralogy of Fallot is much rarer and has been documented in medical literature as isolated cases. Early prenatal diagnosis, rapid surgical repair, and optimal postoperative resuscitation appear to be the best guarantee of a favorable outcome following total repair of a pulmonary venous connection anomaly. Non-obstructed forms present as high-flow shunts with moderate cyanosis. The symptomatology of blocked forms is dominated by the obstruction to venous return; a clinical picture of respiratory distress with intense cyanosis and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension develops from the first days of life. Echocardiography is fundamental in diagnosing TAPVR. If the results are inconclusive, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are appropriate alternatives for establishing a complete and accurate diagnosis. We report a case of a two-month and 22-day-old infant who is a product of a twin pregnancy, presenting with a non-obstructed TAPVR associated with tetralogy of Fallot, and his twin who died on day 20 of life, likely due to a complex cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Beyond the Rib Cage: Unraveling Abernethy Syndrome as a Rare Cause of Cyanosis.

Abernethy syndrome is a rare congenital malformation stemming from a portosystemic shunt. Diagnosis proves challenging due to nonspecific clinical symptoms, with presentation varying based on age and disease severity. Consequences include hepatic, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, and neurological complications, and growth retardation. We report the case of a child presenting with perioral and digital cyanosis, observed in early childhood. Clinical examination revealed low saturation, telangiectasias, digital clubbing, and collateral venous circulation in the thorax. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of Abernethy syndrome.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid: A rare tumor with unusual metastasis: A case report.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid is a rare but severe tumor that causes functional and aesthetic damage and poses a significant threat to life through metastatic spread. It typically affects elderly individuals with fair skin and often develops from pre-existing lesions. Diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Imaging, using CT and MRI, is critical for assessing local and distant extension, guiding treatment, and monitoring progress. Primary treatment is surgical, aiming for complete resection and restoration of eyelid function, with radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy considered for metastatic cases on an individual basis. This report presents a case of unusual localization of eyelid SCC metastasis, showing the importance of performing a cross sectional imaging, particularly a CT NCAP, for distant extension assessment.

Wilson Disease in Children in the Eastern Region of Morocco: Analysis of 24 Cases.

Wilson's disease (WD), or "hepato-lenticular degeneration," is a rare genetic disorder of autosomal recessive inheritance causing toxic tissue accumulation of copper, mainly in the liver, brain, and cornea. Its phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity characterizes it. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features and spectrum of Wilson's disease in children from the eastern region of Morocco and to study the evolutionary profile and survival in this population while discussing and highlighting the various diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in the management of WD in our context. This retrospective study encompassed 24 children diagnosed with Wilson's disease, selected from the gastroenterology-hepatology and pediatric nutrition units at Mohamed VI University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco, over a span of nine years, from January 2015 to November 2023. Our series results show 14 boys and 10 girls; the median age of discovery was 11 years, with extremes ranging from 18 months to 15 years. The consanguinity was found in 13 patients. Clinically, the edemato-ascitic syndrome was noted in 14 patients with an alteration of the general state; icterus was found in 13 patients; signs of portal hypertension were present in six patients; and neurological signs in seven cases. Skin manifestations occurred in three cases, and arthralgia in three cases. Six children were diagnosed on the occasion of a family screening. Biologically, hepatic cytolysis was found in 20 patients, with signs of hepatocellular failure in 15 cases. Hemolytic anemia was present in nine patients. Ceruloplasminemia was decreased in 21 patients and cupremia in 19 patients. Cupruria was increased in 22 cases. The Kayser-Fleicher ring was found in 10 cases. Abdominal ultrasound showed ascites in 16 patients, hepatomegaly in 1, splenomegaly in two cases, hepatosplenomegaly in five cases, and cirrhosis in two. MRI showed signal abnormalities in 11 patients. Therapeutically, D-penicillamine was initially introduced in 18 patients and zinc acetate in 6 patients. The evolution was favorable for 15 patients still followed up in the department. Three patients died of hepatocellular failure, and two died of hepatic encephalopathy. Four patients were lost to follow-up.

Hydatid cyst of the liver rupturing into the portal vein: A rare complication.

Hydatid cyst of the liver is a zoonosis caused by parasite Echinococcus granulosus, which remains highly prevalent in Morocco. Current medical imaging modalities, particularly ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT), facilitate rapid and accurate diagnosis, enable effective treatment possibilities and allow for easy follow-up. Complications are typically dominated by infection and rupture, especially in the bile ducts, peritoneal cavity, and chest. Dissemination and development within vascular structures, especially the portal vein, are much less common. This underscores the significance of our case, which illustrates this rare complication of hydatid cyst of the liver.

Ortner's syndrome secondary to a thoracic thrombosed aortic aneurysm: Case report.

Ortner's syndrome refers to vocal cord paralysis resulting from compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by abnormal mediastinal vascular structures. We present a case of an 89-year-old man who was an active smoker, with a clinical history of hypertension, who presented hoarseness of voice with chronic evolution. Neck and Thoracoabdominal CT angiography was performed revealing a thrombosed aneurysm of the aortic arch.

Imaging of a cesarean-scar pregnancy: Case report.

Uterine scar pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that is life-threatening and functionally compromising due to complications such as hemorrhage or early uterine rupture. We report the case of a 41-year-old patient admitted for metrorrhagia at 13 weeks' amenorrhea. Transvaginal ultrasound allowed early diagnosis of pregnancy on uterine scar and MRI-guided therapeutic management indicating hysterectomy. This study and literature review aims to highlight the importance of imaging features in the diagnosis and management of this rare condition, knowledge of which may improve prognosis.

Cerebral actinomycosis following a facio-cranial trauma: A case report.

Cerebral actinomycosis is a rare, chronic, but curable bacterial brain infection. We report the case of an 18-year-old male patient with a history of facio-cranial trauma, admitted in our institution with severe headaches and behavioral disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed showing the presence of contiguous multiple small round and ovoid lesions in the right frontal lobe with "the dot in circle" appearance. The diagnosis of cerebral actinomycosis was confirmed by histological study of the biopsy sample. Despite it being a rare condition, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients with atypical post-traumatic neurological symptoms.

Miliary brain tuberculomas and tuberculous meningitis presenting with stroke.

Even though it is an uncommon presentation of tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis is one of the most deadly manifestations. We report a case of a 6-year-old female who presented to the emergency room for left hemiparesis. Cerebral CT and MRI showed a right ischemic stroke with severe leptomeningitis in the medial cranial fossa. Numerous miliary tuberculomas were demonstrated, as well as a moderate hydrocephalus. Lumbar puncture revealed meningitis, and the mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction from CSF was positive. Pulmonary micronodules on chest CT were suggestive of tuberculosis. The clinical and radiological features, as well as the management approaches of this unusual disease complex, are addressed.

Case report - Computed tomography diagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated with primary aortoduodenal fistula.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm has been described as a rare condition touching 1% of the population over the age of 50 years with a high percentage of mortality. Aneurysms progress in size, causing deadly complications such as ruptures and fistulas. Computed tomography angiography is considered the gold standard imaging exam for the evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms and their complications. We report the case of an elderly patient admitted to the emergency room due to recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. The computed tomography imaging findings were in favor of an abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated with a primary aortoduodenal fistula.

Abundant hemoptysis revealing an aneurysm of an aberrant systemic artery to the left lower pulmonary lobe: A case report.

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a congenital anomaly characterized by a lung region that is isolated from its normal bronchial and vascular connections. It typically receives blood supply from an aberrant systemic artery. An aneurysm of that aberrant artery is extremely rare. We report the case of a 55-year-old female patient who was incidentally diagnosed with intralobar PS after experiencing severe hemoptysis. The diagnosis was set by a chest contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), which also revealed an aneurysm of the aberrant systemic artery. A left lower lobectomy was successfully performed which confirmed the diagnosis. PS is characterized by a mass of lung tissue that lacks connection to the normal bronchial tree and is supplied with blood from the systemic circulation. There are 2 primary types: intralobar (ILS), located within a lung lobe, and extralobar (ELS), situated outside the lobes with abnormal vascular connections typically originating from the thoracic or abdominal aorta. In ILS, drainage usually occurs through pulmonary veins, whereas ELS often drains via the azygos or portal venous system. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are preferred for diagnosing PS. They can also reveal complications such as an aneurysm of the aberrant artery, as in our case. PS is a rare yet significant anomaly to consider in cases of recurrent pneumonia or persistent consolidative opacities, especially when involving the lower lobe of the left lung. CT and MRI are highly valuable for pinpointing the lesion and identifying the feeder blood vessel associated with it.

Triple barreled aortic dissection: The Mercedes-Benz sign.

Triple barreled dissection is an extremely rare form of aortic dissection with only a few cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by 3 lumens separated by 2 intimal flaps, resembling the appearance of the 'Mercedes Benz' sign. We present an unusual case of triple barreled aortic dissection in a 71-year-old patient with history of hypertension. Chest radiography showed a widened mediastinum. The CT images showed a thoraco-abdominal type B aortic dissection with three lumens giving the appearance of the 'Mercedes Benz' sign. As the CT-scan showed no complications of the aortic dissection, the patient received medical conservative treatment.

Exceptional case of a hemangioma-like rabdomyosarcoma in the hand's palm.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor in children that might mimic a benign tumor, such as infantile hemangioma, particularly when detected early. Although rhabdomyosarcoma rarely occurs in the hand, its prognosis is generally poor, and successful treatment relies on a complete and radical surgical excision. We present a case of rhabdomyosarcoma located in the palm of an infant's hand, initially presenting clinical and radiological features suggestive of a vascular tumor. The resection of this mass was radical, and histological analysis and immunohistochemistry returned in favor of embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma. In similar cases recorded in the literature, the diagnosis may be first mistaken for that of a hemangioma, then confirmed by histology. This underlines the importance of a systematic anatomopathological examination of all tissues removed surgically.