Presumptive pulmonary toxocariasis in a patient affected by acute myeloid leukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma: case report and review of the literature in immunocompromised hosts.

Toxocariasis is a zoonosis transmitted by the nematode Toxocara spp. Immunocompromised hosts are more susceptible than general population to bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. In this population toxocariasis may present as exacerbation or reactivation and could have severe or atypical manifestations being a diagnostic challenge for healthcare providers. We report a case of a presumptive pulmonary toxocariasis during chemotherapy in a patient affected by acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and Hodgkin lymphoma and we summarize current evidence of pulmonary involvement in immunocompromised population with Toxocara spp infection in a narrative review. The aim of this work is also to revise the current literature on pulmonary involvement during Toxocara spp infection in immunocompromised hosts to improve knowledge on clinical presentation, treatment and outcome. A 66 years old man who had undergone to a cytarabine and idarubicin chemotherapy induction scheme for AML, complained of febrile neutropenia and dry cought. At the chest computed tomography (CT) there were multiple nodular pulmonary lesions with subpleural consolidations. The lung biopsy revealed inflammatory infiltration with diffuse small granulomas with minor eosinophil component. The laboratory analysis showed high immunoglobulin E (IgE) count with normal peripherical eosinophils, among the extended parasitological analysis, Toxocara immunoblot assay resulted positive. In the most accepted hypothesis of a polmunary toxocariasis infection, the patient was treated with a combination of albendazole plus corticosteroids for four weeks, with a positive outcome. Infection complications during chemotherapy are not uncommon, however, this is the first reported case of pulmonary toxocariasis during cytarabine and idarubicin treatment in AML. The revised literature shows male gender and younger age as possible risk factors, nevertheless the majority of cases of seropositivity for Toxocara was reported in solid organ malignancies. In this case, the suspect was mainly based on laboratory total elevated IgE, confirmed by serological, anatomo-pathological and radiological findings. Hypereosinophilia is often not present in chronic infection. In conclusion, pulmonary toxocariasis should be ruled out in patients with pulmonary involvement and high IgE titre, with or without peripheral eosinophilia, especially in those with known immunocompromised status.

Disseminated Enterovirus Infection in a Patient Affected by Follicular Lymphoma Treated with Obinutuzumab: A Case Report and a Narrative Review of the Literature.

Background and Objectives: the principal purpose of this literature review is to cluster adults with hematological malignancies after treatment or on maintenance with obinutuzumab who experienced disseminated EV infection to understand clinical characteristics and outcome of this rare condition in these patients. We report the first clinical case of a male affected by follicular lymphoma treated with immune-chemotherapy including obinutuzumab who was affected by disseminated EV infection with cardiovascular involvement. Materials and Methods: this narrative review summarizes all the research about disseminated EV infection in immunosuppressed adult patients treated with obinutuzumab from January 2000 to January 2024 using the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) flow-chart. We performed a descriptive statistic using the standard statistical measures for quantitative data. Results: we included six studies, five case reports, and one case report with literature analysis. We collected a total of seven patients, all female, with disseminated EV infection. The most common signs and clinical presentations of EV infection were fever and encephalitis symptoms (N = 6, 85.7%), followed by hepatitis/acute liver failure (N = 5, 71.4%). Conclusions: onco-hematological patients who receive immune-chemotherapy with a combination of treatments which depress adaptative immunity, which includes the antiCD20 obinutuzumab, could be at higher risk of disseminated EV infection, including CNS and cardiac involvement.

Neonatal Respiratory Distress and Airway Emergency: Report of Two Cases.

We discuss two cases of congenital airway malformations seen in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aim is to report extremely rare events characterized by immediate respiratory distress after delivery and the impossibility to ventilate and intubate the airway. The first case is a male twin born at 34 weeks by emergency caesarean section. Immediately after delivery, the newborn was cyanotic and showed severe respiratory distress. Bag-valve-mask ventilation did not relieve the respiratory distress but allowed for temporary oxygenation during subsequent unsuccessful oral-tracheal intubation (OTI) attempts. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed complete subglottic obstruction. Postmortem analysis revealed a poly-malformative syndrome, unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia with a complete subglottic diaphragm, and a tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF). The second case is a male patient that was vaginally born at 35 weeks. Antenatally, an ultrasound (US) arose suspicion for a VACTERL association (vertebral defects, anal atresia, TEF with esophageal atresia and radial or renal dysplasia, plus cardiovascular and limb defects) and a TEF, and thus, fetal magnetic resonance (MRI) was scheduled. Spontaneous labor started shortly thereafter, before imaging could be performed. Respiratory distress, cyanosis, and absence of an audible cry was observed immediately at delivery. Attempts at OTI were unsuccessful, whereas bag-valve-mask ventilation and esophageal intubation allowed for sufficient oxygenation. An emergency tracheostomy was attempted, although no trachea could be found on cervical exploration. Postmortem analysis revealed tracheal agenesis (TA), renal dysplasia, anal atresia, and a single umbilical artery. Clinicians need to be aware of congenital airway malformations and subsequent difficulties upon endotracheal intubation and must plan for multidisciplinary management of the airway at delivery, including emergency esophageal intubation and tracheostomy.

Spontaneous Abscess of the Posterior Nasal Septum: An Unusual Cause of Nasal Obstruction in Children.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal septal abscess is a rare disorder in pediatric patients and is mostly diagnosed as a complication of trauma or secondary to dental or sinonasal infection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 10-year-old girl presented with acute nasal obstruction, otalgia, and headache. Medical history was negative; physical examination and anterior rhinoscopy did not reveal signs of acute rhinosinusitis or septal abscess. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: A thorough nasal endoscopy was performed to rule out a posterior nasal infection, revealing a bilateral posterior septal bulging, in the absence of purulent discharge. CT scan and contrast-enhanced MRI were performed, confirming the diagnosis of a spontaneous posterior septal abscess. Trans-nasal endoscopic-assisted drainage was conducted under general anesthesia. Haemophilus influenzae was detected on culture. DISCUSSION: Although rare, nasal septal abscess in the pediatric age is typically anterior and secondary to local trauma or infection. Accurate medical history and anterior rhinoscopy are usually sufficient to make the diagnosis. In cases where the clinical presentation is consistent with a nasal septal abscess, with no history of recent local trauma or infection, or signs of anterior septal bulging, nasal endoscopy should be performed to rule out spontaneous posterior septal abscess. Delay in diagnosis and treatment could potentially cause the rapid onset of life-threatening complications, including intracranial abscess, meningitis, and cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Endoscopic transnasal craniectomy in the management of selected sinonasal malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Because of a better understanding of the anatomy from an endoscopic perspective, the acquisition of surgical experience, and concomitant technological advances, endoscopic resection of the anterior skull base (ASB) and overlying dura has now become a reality, opening new possibilities in the management of sinonasal malignancies. Here, the authors review a series of 62 patients, the largest reported to date, who underwent endoscopic transnasal craniectomy (ETC) and endoscopic dural repair for the management of selected sinonasal malignancies. Special emphasis is placed on the surgical technique, technical tricks, choice of materials for endoscopic dural repair, postoperative management, and complications. METHODS: From 2004, 62 patients underwent ETC at two referral hospitals, which extended anteroposteriorly from the frontal sinus to planum sphenoidale and laterolaterally from the nasal septum to the lamina papyracea (unilateral resection, n = 28; 45%) or from papyracea to papyracea (bilateral resection, n = 34; 55%). Duraplasty with a three-layer technique was performed using the iliotibial tract and fat tissue. RESULTS: The most frequent histotypes were adenocarcinoma (58%) and olfactory neuroblastoma (22%). Forty-five (73%) patients were previously untreated. The incidence of early (T1-2, Kadish A-B) and advanced (T3-4, Kadish C) tumors was similar. The complication rate was 15%, mostly cerebrospinal fluid leaks (13%). Its prevalence did not correlate with patient age, medical comorbidities, previous treatment, presence of ASB involvement, or whether ETC was mono- or bilateral, but tended to correlate with advanced tumor stage, dural involvement, and the period of treatment. After a mean follow-up of 17.5 months (range, 1-54 months), 58 (94%) patients had no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: In correctly selected patients with sinonasal tumors involving the ASB, ETC offers a less invasive alternative than resection by an open approach with an acceptable morbidity.