Not all Nodules Are Cancer and not all Fungal Infections Are Aspergillus.

Pithomyces, a dematiaceous fungus, is a common colonizer of dead leaves and stems of many different plants and is associated with facial eczema in some animals. We report a case of invasive fungal pulmonary disease by Pithomyces chartarum in a healthy, nonimmunocompromised patient. We aim to demonstrate our diagnostic and therapeutic approach and focus on the major challenges arising from the lack of scientific evidence regarding infection by this fungus in humans.

Pithomyces, um fungo demáceo, é um colonizador comum de folhas e caules de diferentes plantas e está associado a eczema facial em alguns animais. Neste trabalho, descrevemos um caso de infeção fúngica invasiva pelo fungo Pithomyces chartarum, numa mulher não imunocomprometida. O nosso objetivo é descrever a abordagem diagnóstica e terapêutica deste caso, realçando os principais desafios que surgem devido à falta de evidência científica relativamente à infeção deste fungo em humanos.

Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma in a 37-Year-Old Female: A Case Report.

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare and aggressive histologic subtype of cancer. Because of its rarity and heterogeneity, the management of these patients is challenging. Here, we present the case of a rapidly progressive MBC with mesenchymal differentiation in a 37-year-old female, treated with trimodal therapy consisting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin, followed by dose-dense cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (ddAC), modified radical left mastectomy, and adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite the need to anticipate the surgery after the first cycle of ddAC, because of a life-treating adverse event, there was a pathologic complete response. Nevertheless, 6.2 months after completing adjuvant radiotherapy, the patient had a recurrence on the central nervous system (CNS) (two lesions), which was managed with excisional biopsy and stereotactic body radiation therapy. The patient also started "complementary" chemotherapy with capecitabine. Still, 18 months after being diagnosed, she died due to CNS disease progression.

Magic mushroom: all is not as it seems.

BACKGROUND: The late adverse effects of radiotherapy are caused by microvascular injury or depletion of differentiated cells. METHODS: Here we describe a clinical case of a late and unusual complication related to radiotherapy, in a patient with a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. RESULTS: The patient presented with a large perianal vegetating lesion suspicious of local recurrence, however the biopsy of the lesion did not show malignancy. CONCLUSION: Fortunately, all is not as it seems, and what appeared as a suspected relapse turned out to be a benign reactive lesion, consequence of radiotherapy.