Esophageal Melanosis: An Unknown Entity.

Esophageal melanosis is the proliferation of melanocytes in the squamous epithelium of the esophagus and the accumulation of melanin in the walls of the esophagus. Normal esophageal mucosa does not contain melanocytes. It is a rare disease of the digestive system, and its significance has yet to be fully understood. Various studies have attributed it to gastroesophageal reflux disease, but hard evidence supporting such a claim is lacking. Some studies also point towards it being a pre-malignant condition, and further evaluation is warranted for earlier detection and treatment. We hereby present a case of chronic iron deficiency anemia incidentally found to have esophageal melanosis, confirmed with histopathological examination.

Disseminated cysticercosis in an immunocompetent individual.

Cysticercosis is a major public health problem, particularly in developing countries. It is caused by the larvae of the cestode Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). It usually presents as a solitary lesion in the muscle or brain (neurocysticercosis). Disseminated cysticercosis is an uncommon manifestation, especially in an immunocompetent individual. We hereby report the case of a 31-year-old male who presented with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures and who also had multiple soft-tissue swellings all over his body. Imaging studies revealed multiple cysticerci in the brain parenchyma, extraocular muscles, and muscles of all the four limbs, which was subsequently established by histopathology also. The patient was started on anticonvulsants, steroids, and albendazole following which he made a complete recovery.

Résumé La cysticercose bovine est un problème majeur de santé publique, en particulier dans les pays en développement. Elle est causée par les larves du cestode Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Il se présente généralement comme une lésion solitaire dans le muscle ou du cerveau (neurocysticercose). La cysticercose disséminée est une manifestation rare, en particulier dans un individu immunocompétent. Nous rapportons le cas d'un 31 ans qui présentaient une apparition nouvelle tonico-cloniques et qui avaient également plusieurs gonflements des tissus mous sur tout son corps. Les études d'imagerie ont révélé plusieurs cysticerques dans le parenchyme du cerveau, des muscles extraoculaires, et les muscles de l'ensemble des quatre membres, qui a été établi par l'histopathologie également. Le patient a commencé à prendre des anticonvulsivants, stéroïdes, et de l'albendazole à la suite de laquelle il s'est complètement rétabli.