Solitary Bone Cyst in the Lumbar Spine: Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: To describe a rare case of solitary bone cyst in the vertebral body of the lumbar vertebra in an adult patient. The solitary bone cyst is defined as a cystic lesion with liquid content. Few cases have been described in the vertebral location without preference for the posterior arch or vertebral body. Most have been treated with resection, curettage, and/or grafting. No case described to date has been treated with polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) injection in the vertebral location. Case Presentation. A 50-year-old male patient was consulted for lumbar pain with no traumatic history and no neurologic deficit. The radiological study showed lumbar arthrodesis with L2-L4 instrumentation due to an L3 fracture twenty years earlier. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a lytic lesion occupying practically the entire vertebral body of L5, with incomplete septum and sclerotic edge, without cortical rupture. The previous steel instrumentation was removed, to avoid the presence of artifacts when performing the magnetic resonance (MR), and a biopsy of L5 vertebra was performed via transpedicular in the same act. The MR study findings and biopsy were compatible with the simple bone cyst. Finally, a new intervention was performed by filling the lesion with PMMA. Follow-up at 5 years was satisfactory without lumbar pain as well as the radiological study and with a return to previous activity. Conclusions: The spinal location of the simple bone cyst is extremely infrequent. Its diagnosis excludes other lesions and is made by imaging studies and biopsy. Treatment can be performed by excision, curettage, or filling with graft or as in this case, with PMMA.

Intestinal Spirochetosis in an HIV-positive Patient.

We present the case of an HIV-positive patient admitted because of costal pain secondary to neoplasia. During investigations, a colonoscopy showed non-specific ulcerations. Histological examination resulted in a diagnosis of intestinal spirochetosis. This infection can be asymptomatic or cause non-specific symptoms such as diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Intestinal spirochetosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of colon lesions in patients with HIV infection. LEARNING POINTS: Intestinal spirochetosis is associated with chronic diarrhoea and often with normal colonoscopy.This infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of HIV patients with digestive symptomatology in the absence of other more frequent causes.

Free disease long-term survival in primary thoracic spine leiomyosarcoma after total en bloc spondylectomy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: To describe an unusual primary vertebral leiomyosarcoma in thoracic spine. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An isolated lesion of the T11 vertebra in a 62-year-old woman with no neurologic deficit is reported. Imaging findings indicated a nonspecific high-grade malignant lesion. TC-guided biopsy failed thus open incisional biopsy was needed. A diagnosis of low-intermediate mesenchymal sarcoma was made. A total en bloc spondylectomy of T11 was performed with three-column reconstruction. The histology and immunostaining showed the appearance of leiomyosarcoma. After diagnosis, post-operative radiation therapy was performed. Metastatic lesion was ruled out by CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, in addition to total body radionuclide scanning and 18-F-FDG-PET. After five years of follow-up, no signs of local recurrence, metastasis or distant lesions suggesting a primary lesion were observed. DISCUSSION: Vertebral primary leiomyosarcoma is exceedingly rare. Primary vertebral leiomyosarcoma diagnosis must be performed when the metastatic origin is excluded. For the treatment of primary tumors, total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) is the technique of choice to achieve marginal or wide tumor resection, decrease the risk of local recurrence and remote lesions and increase survival. CONCLUSIONS: A well-planned pre-operative study and a wide surgical excision can result in local tumor control and long-term survival. This case presents the longest disease-free survival period of a primary leiomyosarcoma in spinal location after total en bloc spondylectomy.

Intractable hematuria secondary to systemic amyloidosis with bladder involvement.

OBJECTIVE: To present the therapeutic management of intractable hematuria secondary to systemic amyloidosis with bladder involvement. METHODS: We describe the clinical case, the medical management, the endo-urological technique used, and the results supported by relevant published literature. RESULTS: A 50-year-old woman with a 20-year history of rheumatoid arthritis in chronic treatment with corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in addition to chronic renal insufficiency not requiring hemodialysis. Twenty-four hours after resection of a hepatic hydatid cyst she presented intractable hematuria. The ultrasound and CT scan showed the formation of a large blood clot in the bladder not affecting the upper urinary tract. An intra-operative cystoscopy revealed a distended bladder showing signs of inflammation with diffuse, widespread bleeding. Hemostasis was achieved and a biopsy of the mucosa was taken, associated to bladder irrigation with potassium alum as a hemostatic. Given the persistence of the hematuria, further revision in the operating room as well as blood transfusion were carried out and, due to the hemodynamic instability that could not be controlled, finally selective embolization was performed. Intravesical instillation of dimethyl sulphoxide every 72 hours was used to control any remaining hematuria. The biopsy showed bladder amyloidosis. The addition of intravenous steroids and orally administered colchicine successfully controlled the patient's clinical status. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary amyloidosis of the bladder is a condition associated with hematuria that is difficult to manage. Hematuria control is often difficult, requiring aggressive treatment in addition to more conservative approaches.