COVID-19-Related Incidental Pancreatitis Detected on FDG-PET Scan.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection predominantly affects the respiratory system, it has also been found to be responsible for several gastrointestinal effects due to its capability to attack angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) type 2 cells in various parts of the body. Several cases of radiologically confirmed thyroiditis, axillary lymphangitis, and acute pancreatitis related to COVID-19 infection have been reported, which seem to arise from a direct cytotoxic effect of the virus itself. This case report presents an incidental 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) finding of mild pancreatic inflammation/pancreatitis in an otherwise asymptomatic patient undergoing routine imaging as part of the staging process following stem cell transplant, who had recently recovered from a severe form of COVID infection. This case highlights the fact that COVID can trigger insidious inflammatory processes in a variety of organs often remaining clinically undetectable until resultant end-organ damage causes incipient clinical symptoms.

Treatment-induced mucositis in oncology.

Almost all cancer therapies lead to a wide array of side effects, owing to the disruption of normal physiological processes and alteration of immunological responses. Of these, mucositis is one of the most commonly encountered side effects, presenting in about 20-40% of all patients receiving chemotherapy and 80% of those being treated with radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies. This article provides a brief introduction and comprehensive overview of the various treatment modalities used in managing this complication. The key to management is a multidisciplinary approach, revolving around pain control, oral hygiene, nutritional support and management of superimposed infection. The scarcity of therapeutic options for prevention or treatment of mucositis has resulted in clinical difficulty in controlling it, which, in turn, seriously affects the patient's quality of life and cancer management, contributing to patient morbidity and mortality.